I can't stand Ma. As my car nears completion I now facing the real possibility I may

[JoeT]

looks like it's almost over. . . I copied this from FFCobra.com


Here's the text of what we believe will be the final version of the bill when it gets out of Ways and Means:

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION
OF STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section 2G, the following section:-

Section 2H. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the issuance of certificates of registration and number plates for street rods, Replicas, specially constructed and custom vehicles shall be in accordance with this section.

(b) For purposes of this section, and sections 7DD and 33 of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:

“Custom Vehicle,” a motor vehicle for which the year of manufacture is after 1948 and for which the model year is at least 25 years old and which has been altered from the manufacturers original design, or has a body constructed from non-original materials.

“Replica Vehicle," a motor vehicle constructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that when assembled Replicates an earlier year, make and model vehicle.

“Specially Constructed Vehicle,” a motor vehicle reconstructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that has an exterior that does not Replicate or resemble any other manufactured vehicle.

“Street Rod,” a motor vehicle for which the year of manufacture is prior to 1949, and which has been altered from the manufacturer’s original design, or has a body constructed from non-original materials.

(c) Replica Vehicles shall be titled as the year, make, and model of the vehicle intended to be replicated. A label of "Replica" shall be applied to the title and registration card. The model year of a custom vehicle and street rod vehicle shall continue to be recognized as the manufacturer's assigned model year. The manufacturer's name shall continue to be used as the make with a label of "Street Rod" or “Custom Vehicle” applied to the title and registration card. Specially Constructed vehicles shall be titled and registered showing the make as "Specially Constructed," and the year the vehicle was built shall be the vehicle model year.

SECTION 2. Section 142M of chapter 111 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after the last sentence ending on line 137, the following new paragraph:--

Street rods and custom vehicles registered pursuant to this section shall be exempt from section 142M of chapter 111 or the rules and regulations made pursuant thereto. Specially constructed vehicles and replica vehicles, as defined in section 2H of chapter 90, which are registered on or prior to June 30, 2011 shall receive an emissions waiver certificate. Specially constructed vehicles and replica vehicles, as so defined, registered after June 30, 2011 shall be subject to emission control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle, whether the engine is an original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine.

i. Regulations for replica or specially constructed vehicle emissions compliance may establish maximum limits on the annual number of vehicle miles traveled by these vehicles, provided that in no case shall said limit be less than 3,000 miles per year;

ii. If the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic system, the vehicle shall be subject to an onboard diagnostic system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration.


SECTION 3. Section 33 of chapter 90 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:
(37) For the registration of every Street Rod, Replica Vehicle, Specially Constructed Vehicle or Custom Vehicle, as defined in section 2H of this chapter.

SECTION 4. A fee may be charged for the services provided under this act.


Please make a note of the legislators who helped us with the bill language and with our relations with DEP and RMV:

Rep. Carolyn Dykema
Rep. Brian Dempsey
Rep. Joseph Wagner
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell
Rep. Bill Bowles
Senator Stephen Baddour

Wagner and Baddour got this bill out of their Joint Transportation Committee THREE times for us.

Brian Dempsey filed the bill twice for us.

Linda Campbell and Bill Bowles have been on our side since day one and lobbied their fellow legislators for us.

Carolyn Dykema was instrumental in identifying the problems with RMV and DEP and helping us iron them out. She set up and attended several meetings with relevant regulatory personnel.

We also got quite a bit of support from MAAC (Massachusetts Association of Automobile Clubs). They have several members that are well versed in all of the laws that affect us and our hobby. We should all be a member of a MAAC club.

Dave Smith attended every statehouse meeting we had, and sometimes had only 1 or 2 hours notice.


Read the bill, but lets keep the comments low-key for now. Once the bill is out of Ways and Means, we'll start the phone calls to Beacon Hill.


Rep. Dykema is looking forward to a signing ceremony in October. I told her we'd have a fair number of cars there for the occasion. Who's up for burnouts in front of the statehouse?
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