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NH Lawmaker Introduces Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill

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NH Lawmaker Introduces Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill

Postby Scott Hatch » Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:26 am

New Hampshire Lawmaker Introduces Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill

As legislatures across the country are back in action, enthusiasts in New Hampshire are rallying behind SEMA model legislation which will create special titling and registration classes for street rods and custom vehicles. Introduced by State Senator Rob Boyce, the bill (S.B. 288) provides special license plates for these vehicles. Senator Boyce is also a member of the SEMA-sponsored State Automotive Enthusiasts Leadership Caucus. For many vehicle enthusiasts in New Hampshire and throughout America, building, maintaining and enjoying their hot rods is a favorite pastime, commented Senator Boyce. This legislation represents an opportunity to acknowledge their commitment to the hobby and to protect it for future generations. Working with SEMA, we've managed to craft a piece of legislation that inserts common sense into the titling and registration requirements for customs and street rods.

Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia and Wyoming are among the states whose legislators have also introduced or are considering introducing street rod and custom vehicle titling and registration legislation in 2006. In addition, officials in Oregon are proposing to enact provisions of the SEMA bill through administrative regulations.
The SEMA-model legislation provides for special license plates and exempts rods and customs from periodic inspections and emissions tests. It also provides for the use of non-original materials and requires an initial safety inspection based on criteria established in part by the local hobbyist community. Under the legislation, a replica vehicle is assigned the same model-year designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles.
The bill stipulates that vehicles titled and registered as street rods and custom vehicles may be used only for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, etc. and not for general daily transportation.

The model bill is the product of consultation with the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA), local police departments, regulators and hobbyists. The bill has been previously enacted in Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island.

We are extremely gratified that, through the persistence of pro-hobby legislators like Senator Boyce, New Hampshire could join the list of states that recognize street rods and customs as distinct classes of vehicles, said SEMA Vice President, Government Affairs Steve McDonald. This legislation offers the added benefit of also including qualifying replicas and kit cars in these specialty-vehicle titling and registration classifications. Bills like these help avert complicated titling and registration processes that have created confusion among vehicle owners and DMV officials challenged with applying these laws at the ground level. Anyone interested in reviewing the model bill or obtaining
information on how to pursue a plan to enact the model into law in their state
should contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Caucus Corner
New Hampshire State Senator Rob Boyce: Resident of Alton, NH. Elected to the State House of Representatives in 1996; served two terms. Elected to the State Senate in 2000; currently serving in his third term. Prior to serving in the legislature, Senator Boyce ran his own computer consultant service and taught part time at the Laconia Community and Technical College. He has also been involved in retail and wholesale sales of automobiles and automotive parts.

New Caucus Members Michigan: Representative Joe Hune Virginia: Delegate William Fralin

• Editor's Note: Each month Driving Force will feature a member of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. The SEMA-supported caucus is a bi-partisan group of state lawmakers whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles.

Summary of SEMA-Model Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom vehicle as an altered vehicle manufactured after 1948.

Provides specific registration classes and license plates for street rods and custom vehicles.

Provides that replica vehicles and kit cars will be assigned the same model-year designations as the production vehicles they most closely resemble and allows the use of non-original materials.

Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions inspections.

Provides that vehicles titled and registered as street rods and custom vehicles may only be used for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, etc. and not for general daily transportation.

Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from a range of standard-equipment requirements.

Allows the use of blue-dot taillights on street rods and custom vehicles.
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Scott Hatch
 
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