STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLES

House Bill 5467

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Sheltrown

Committee:  Tourism, Outdoor Recreation, and Natural Resources

Complete to 12-03-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5467 AS INTRODUCED 11-27-07

The bill would establish procedures for issuing titles, registrations, and special license plates to "custom vehicles" and "street rods."

Generally speaking, under the bill, a "custom vehicle" is a customized motor vehicle manufactured at least 25 years ago but not before 1949.  A "street rod" is a customized vehicle built before 1949.  Both classifications—that is, "custom vehicles" and "street rods"—would also include newer vehicles, such as kit cars and replicas, built to resemble vehicles of the specified periods, with customization.  The bill would have the titles of replicas or kit cars reflect the model year of the vehicle being copied, not the year that the vehicle was actually built. 

Blue dot taillights.  Both street rods and custom vehicles would be allowed to use "blue dot taillights" for stop lamps, rear turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.  A blue dot taillight would mean a red taillight with a blue or purple insert not more than one inch in diameter.  Currently, rear vehicle lights can only be red, clear, or amber.

Titles would reflect model and manufacturing year of vehicle being copied.  The certificates of title for both custom vehicles and street rods would reflect the model year and manufacturing year of the vehicle that the custom vehicle's body resembles, not the year that it was actually built.  There would be no indication on the title that the vehicle was a newly-built replica.

Registration.  For each custom vehicle and street rod, there would be a one-time registration fee of $100.  When applying to register a custom vehicle, the owner would have to certify that (1) the vehicle is maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours, and similar uses; and (2) the vehicle is not used for general daily transportation.  The term "occasional transportation" is not defined.  The vehicle's new owner would also have to provide proof acceptable to the Secretary of State that the custom vehicle passed an approved safety inspection.  [It is not clear whether a new registration and certification regarding use would be required when a custom vehicle or street rod is transferred to a new owner, or if a fee and certification that the vehicle is not used for general daily transportation would only be required from the initial registrant.]  The Secretary of State would be required to consult with Michigan's custom vehicle community in approving safety inspections for custom vehicles and with Michigan's street rod community in approving safety inspections for street rods. 

Upon registering a custom vehicle or street rod, the Secretary of State would issue a special custom vehicle or street rod registration plate. The Secretary of State would be required to consult with the custom vehicle community in determining the size and design of the special custom vehicle registration plate and with the street rod community as to the size and design of the street rod plate.

Custom vehicles and street rods not subject to equipment, inspection, or emissions control requirements.  No specific equipment would be required for the operation of a custom vehicle or street rod unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a Michigan statute as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title.  So, for example, seat belts would not be required in a newly-assembled kit car built to resemble a car at least 25 years old unless a seat belt was required by Michigan law in the year the car being copied was built.  In addition, any vehicle registered as a custom vehicle or street rod would be exempt from any statute that requires periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspection of emission controls.  [Note: periodic inspections and emissions control inspections are not currently required in Michigan.]

Definitions.  "Custom vehicle" would mean a motor vehicle that both (1) is at least 25 years old with a model year after 1948 (or was manufactured to resemble such a vehicle); and (2) has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials.  "Street rod" would mean a motor vehicle that both (1) is a 1948 or older vehicle (or was manufactured to resemble such a vehicle); and (2) has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials. 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Shannan Kane

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.