Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 186
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.990 (2026)

Penalties

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Any person who violates any of the provisions of KRS 186.020, 186.030, 186.040, 186.045(4), 186.050, 186.056, 186.060, 186.073, 186.110, 186.130, 186.140, 186.160, 186.170, 186.180(1) to (4), 186.210(1), 186.230, or KRS 186.655 to 186.680 shall be guilty of a violation.

(2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of KRS 138.465, 186.072, 186.190, 186.200, or 186.210(2) shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(3) A person who violates the provisions of KRS 186.450(4), (5), or (6) or 186.452(3), (4), or (5) shall be guilty of a violation. A person who violates any of the other provisions of KRS 186.400 to 186.640 shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.

(4) Any clerk or judge failing to comply with KRS 186.550(1) shall be guilty of a violation.

(5) If it appears to the satisfaction of the trial court that any offender under KRS 186.400 to 186.640 has a driver's license but in good faith failed to have it on his or her person or misplaced or lost it, the court may, in its discretion, dismiss the charges against the defendant without fine, imprisonment, or cost.

(6) Any person who steals a motor vehicle registration plate, temporary tag, or renewal decal shall be guilty of a Class D felony. Displaying a canceled registration plate or temporary tag on a motor vehicle shall be prima facie evidence of guilt under this section.

(7) Any person who violates the provisions of KRS 186.1911 shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(8) Any person who makes a false affidavit to secure a license plate under KRS 186.172 shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(9) Any person who violates any provision of KRS 186.070 or 186.150 shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

(10) Any person who operates a vehicle bearing a dealer's plate upon the highways of this Commonwealth with intent to evade the motor vehicle usage tax or registration fee shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for each subsequent offense.

(11) Any person, other than a licensed dealer or manufacturer, who procures a dealer's plate with intent to evade the motor vehicle usage tax or registration fee shall be guilty of a Class D felony.

(12) Any resident who unlawfully registers, titles, or licenses a motor vehicle in any state other than Kentucky with intent to evade the motor vehicle usage tax or the registration fee shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor if the amount of tax due is less than one hundred dollars ($100), or of a Class D felony if the amount of tax due is more than one hundred dollars ($100), and in addition shall be liable for all taxes so evaded with applicable interest and penalties. Effective: June 27, 2025 History: Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 39, sec. 8, effective June 27, 2025; and ch. 70, sec. 6, effective June 27, 2025. -- Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 15, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2008; and 176, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2008. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 65, sec. 8, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 103, sec. 5, effective June 24, 2003. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 441, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 198, sec. 17, effective October 1, 1996. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 463, sec. 20, July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 118, sec. 104, effective July 1, 1987; ch. 431, sec. 14, effective July 15, 1986; and ch. 498, sec. 6, effective April 1, 1987. -- Amended 1984 Ky. Acts ch. 373, sec. 7(1) to(9), effective July 13, 1984. -- Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 303, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1982. -- Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 296, sec. 5, effective July 15, 1980. -- Amended 1979 (1st Extra. Sess.) Ky. Acts ch. 7, sec. 2, effective July 1, 1979. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 101, sec. 1, effective June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1970 Ky. Acts ch. 92, sec. 58. -- Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 83, sec. 2. -- Amended 1960 Ky. Acts ch. 37, sec. 5. -- Amended 1958 Ky. Acts ch. 70, sec. 28. -- Amended 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 4. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739g-5c, 2739g-6, 2739g-7, 2739g- 65, 2739g-103, 2739g-104, 2739m-36, 2739m-48, 2739m-59, 2739m-69. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/27/2025). This statute was amended by 2025 Ky. Acts chs. 39 and 70, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/24/2003). 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 408, sec. 178, renumbered the former subsection (2) of KRS 186.045 as subsection (1), but that Act failed to include a conforming amendment to change the reference to that subsection in subsection (1) of this statute. Under KRS 7.136(1)(e), that change has now been made.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1952–2025 · leading case: Parson v. Commonwealth, 144 S.W.3d 775 (Ky. 2004).
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Parson v. Commonwealth, 144 S.W.3d 775 (Ky. 2004). · cites it 2× “020; no motor vehicle liability insurance ("no insurance"), KRS 304.”
McKenzie v. Oliver, 571 S.W.2d 102 (Ky. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 3× “045(9) provides that: Any person violating any provision of this section or any person refusing to surrender a registration or transfer certificate upon request of any person entitled thereto, is subject to the penalties provided in subsection (1) of KRS 186.”
Bishop v. Commonwealth, 237 S.W.3d 567 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Since theft of a license plate is a felony pursuant to KRS 186.990(6), Puckett and Gregory decided to accompany Reed to the location of Bishop’s car, a white Saturn.”
Owens v. Commonwealth, 291 S.W.3d 704 (Ky. 2009). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that a person who violates KRS 186.”
Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 355 S.W.2d 686 (Ky. Ct. App. 1962). “KRS 186.990(3). Many states have similar statutes.”
Johnson v. Commonwealth, 443 S.W.2d 20 (Ky. Ct. App. 1969). “170, which was a misdemeanor under KRS 186.990(1) as defined in KRS 431.060, for which the officer was authorized to make an arrest because it was an apparent misdemeanor committed in his presence.”
Harlow v. Dick, 245 S.W.2d 616 (Ky. Ct. App. 1952). “KRS 186.990(4). This is the very section upon which the cause rests in part.”
Ralya v. Commonwealth, 495 S.W.2d 506 (Ky. Ct. App. 1973). “Ralya was indicted for stealing the license plate, KRS 186.990(6), and for breaking and entering the office of the circuit court clerk, KRS 433.”
Owens v. Commonwealth, 244 S.W.3d 83 (Ky. 2008). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that a person who violates KRS 186.”
Dixon v. Commonwealth, 982 S.W.2d 222 (Ky. Ct. App. 1998). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that one who violates KRS 186.”
Kenneth Lamont Boone Jr v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “Boone does not dispute that the vehicle’s rear license plate was not illuminated, contrary to the requirements of Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 186.”
Harold Baker v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2022). “620(2), a Class B misdemeanor pursuant to KRS 186.990(3). 8 KRS 189.390, punishable by a fine as outlined in KRS 189.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.990(1) — 5 cases
Parson v. Commonwealth, 144 S.W.3d 775 (Ky. 2004). “020; no motor vehicle liability insurance ("no insurance"), KRS 304.”
McKenzie v. Oliver, 571 S.W.2d 102 (Ky. Ct. App. 1978). “045(9) provides that: Any person violating any provision of this section or any person refusing to surrender a registration or transfer certificate upon request of any person entitled thereto, is subject to the penalties provided in subsection (1) of KRS 186.”
Johnson v. Commonwealth, 443 S.W.2d 20 (Ky. Ct. App. 1969). “170, which was a misdemeanor under KRS 186.990(1) as defined in KRS 431.060, for which the officer was authorized to make an arrest because it was an apparent misdemeanor committed in his presence.”
Kenneth Lamont Boone Jr v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2021). “Boone does not dispute that the vehicle’s rear license plate was not illuminated, contrary to the requirements of Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 186.”
Mix v. West (W.D. Ky. 2023).
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.990(3) — 5 cases
Owens v. Commonwealth, 291 S.W.3d 704 (Ky. 2009). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that a person who violates KRS 186.”
Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 355 S.W.2d 686 (Ky. Ct. App. 1962). “KRS 186.990(3). Many states have similar statutes.”
Owens v. Commonwealth, 244 S.W.3d 83 (Ky. 2008). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that a person who violates KRS 186.”
Dixon v. Commonwealth, 982 S.W.2d 222 (Ky. Ct. App. 1998). “KRS 186.990(3) provides that one who violates KRS 186.”
Harold Baker v. Commonwealth of Kentucky (Ky. Ct. App. 2022). “620(2), a Class B misdemeanor pursuant to KRS 186.990(3). 8 KRS 189.390, punishable by a fine as outlined in KRS 189.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.990(4) — 1 case
Harlow v. Dick, 245 S.W.2d 616 (Ky. Ct. App. 1952). “KRS 186.990(4). This is the very section upon which the cause rests in part.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.990(6) — 2 cases
Bishop v. Commonwealth, 237 S.W.3d 567 (Ky. Ct. App. 2007). “Since theft of a license plate is a felony pursuant to KRS 186.990(6), Puckett and Gregory decided to accompany Reed to the location of Bishop’s car, a white Saturn.”
Ralya v. Commonwealth, 495 S.W.2d 506 (Ky. Ct. App. 1973). “Ralya was indicted for stealing the license plate, KRS 186.990(6), and for breaking and entering the office of the circuit court clerk, KRS 433.”
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