Please support any version of this bill by writing to your local representative. This version below is one that the Lowrider Community of Massachusetts supports 100% , but we all support any bill like this because having a custom vehicle in Massachusetts is becoming increasingly difficult to keep on the road.
H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212
Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing
in the 2002 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after section
2F thereof, the following section:-
Section 2G.
(a) Notwithstanding any general
or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the issuance of certificates
of registration and license plates for street rods and custom vehicles shall
be in accordance with this section.
(b) For purposes of this section
and section 7DD of this chapter, the following words shall have the following
meanings:
"Custom vehicle", a motor
vehicle (1) for which the year of manufacture is after 1948 and (a) for which
the model year is at least 20 years old, or (b) which was manufactured to resemble
a motor vehicle for which the model year is at least 20
years old, and which (2) (a) has been altered from the manufacturer's
original design, or (b) has a body constructed from non-original materials.
"Model year", the model
year indicated on a motor vehicle's certificate of origin or, if there is no
such certificate, the model year the body of such vehicle resembles.
"Street rod", a motor
vehicle (1)(a) for which the year of manufacture is prior to 1949, or (b) for
which the year of manufacture is later than 1948 and which was manufactured
to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to 1949, and which (2) (a) has been
altered from the manufacturer's original design, or (b) has a body constructed
from non-original materials.
"Year of manufacture",
the model year indicated on a motor vehicle's certificate of origin or, if there
is no such certificate, the model year the body of such vehicle resembles.
(c) Applications for the registration
of a street rod or custom vehicle shall be made by the owner thereof. The application
shall contain, in addition to such other particulars as may be required by the
registrar, a statement of the name, place of residence and address, date of
birth of the applicant and the number of the applicant's license to operate,
if one has been issued. The application shall also contain the apartment number
or unit number if the applicant's address is in an apartment house, or family
hotel, or a condominium, or a residential flat, or in a combined business and
residential property. The application shall also contain a brief description
of the street rod or custom vehicle, including the name of the maker, such number
or numbers as may be required by the registrar to properly identify the vehicle,
the character of the motor power and the type of transmission. The application
also shall contain a statement by the applicant under the penalties of perjury
that (1) there are no outstanding excise tax liabilities on said motor vehicle
which have been incurred by the applicant, any member of his immediate family
who is a member of the applicant's household, or any business partner of the
applicant, (2) the motor vehicle shall be maintained for occasional transportation,
exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours and similar uses, and (3) the motor
vehicle will not be used for general daily transportation. The application shall
be accompanied by a certificate, in such form as might be acceptable to the
registrar, that the street rod or custom vehicle has passed a safety inspection
approved by the registrar after consultation with the National Street Rod Association.
A one-time registration fee of $25 shall accompany such application. Applicants
for registration shall also comply with the provisions of chapter ninety D.
The registrar or his duly authorized agents shall register in a book or upon
suitable index cards to be kept for the purpose the motor vehicle described
in the application, giving to the vehicle a distinguishing mark or number to
be known as the register number for that vehicle, and shall thereupon issue
to the applicant a certificate of registration. The certificate shall contain
the name, place of residence and address of the applicant and the register number
or mark, and shall be in such form and contain such further information as the
registrar may determine.
The registrar shall further issue a special street rod or custom vehicle registration
plate, of a size and design to be determined by regulations promulgated by the
registrar after consultation with the National Street Rod Association.
(d) Street rods and custom vehicles
registered according to this section shall be exempt from any stature that requires
periodic vehicle inspections or the use and inspection of emission controls.
(e) The presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a street rod or custom vehicle registered under this section, unless the presence of such equipment was specifically required by another provision of the general laws as a condition of sale in the year of manufacture.
SECTION 2. Said chapter 90, as so appearing,
is hereby further amended by inserting, after section 7CC the following section:-
Section 7DD. Notwithstanding sections 7 and 7E of this chapter and any other
general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, street rods and
custom vehicles may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning indicator
lamps, rear hazard lamps and rear reflectors. For the purposes of this section,
a "blue dot tail light" shall mean a red lamp installed in the rear
of a motor vehicle containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than
one inch in diameter.
Pro-Hobbyist Street Rod and Custom Vehicle Bill
Introduced
in Massachusetts
SEMA model legislation (H.B. 2156 and H.B. 2212) has been introduced in Massachusetts
for consideration in the 2005 legislative session that would create a vehicle
registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide
for special license plates for these vehicles. Introduced by separate sponsors,
H.B. 2156 and H.B. 2212 define a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured
before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured
after 1948. Both bills allow kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a
certificate of title bearing the same model year designation as the production
vehicle it most closely resembles.
We Urge You to Contact Your Massachusetts State Legislators Immediately
in Support of H.B. 2156 and H.B. 2212
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 provide specific registration classes and license
plates for street rods and customs.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 exempt street rods
and customs from emissions inspections.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 only hold street
rods and customs to the equipment standards specified by law during the model
year listed on the title of the vehicle.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 provide for a safety
inspection based on criteria established in consultation with the National Street
Rod Association.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 provide that a replica
vehicle will be assigned the same model year designation as the production vehicle
it most closely resembles.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 provide for a one-time
registration fee of $25 for street rods and customs.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 permit street rods
and custom vehicles to display blue dot taillights.
" H.B. 2156/H.B. 2212 provide 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.
Contact your Massachusetts State Legislators in Boston immediately and request their support for this legislation. These bills strive to recognize and promote our hobby while providing fair and reasonable equipment standards for street rods and customs. If you need assistance in determining who your legislators are, please contact the Massachusetts State Legislature's General Information line: 617/722-1276.
This information can also be obtained by calling
the SEMA Washington, D.C. office at 202/783-6007, ext. 38 or you can access
this information via the Internet at http://www.semasan.com/san/ContactYourLegislator.aspx
Please e-mail a copy of your letters to us at
stevem@sema.org, fax to 202/783-6024 or mail to:
SEMA Washington Office
1317 F St., NW, Ste. 500
Washington, D.C. 20004
Attn: Steve McDonald
Here is a letter from Representative James Miceli:
Here is a letter from State Senator Sue Tucker:
