At all times while a motor vehicle required to be registered under this chapter is being operated upon the public highways, the registration license issued therefor shall be in the possession of the operator or carried in the vehicle and subject to inspection by any peace officer or other person authorized by the Director of Motor Vehicles. However, an operator shall be allowed 24 hours to produce the registration license before a conviction can be obtained under this subsection, if such license was legally issued at a time prior to his arrest.