LRB-2792/1
ARG:kmg:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
July 7, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Petrowski, Owens, Albers,
Wasserman, Hines, Van Roy
and Hahn, cosponsored by Senator Roessler.
Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AB427,1,3 1An Act to amend 341.15 (3) (a) and 341.265 (1m); and to create 341.266 (2) (dm)
2of the statutes; relating to: the display of historical registration plates on
3special interest vehicles that are 20 or more years old and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, an owner of a motor vehicle that is of model year 1945 or
earlier may register the vehicle as an antique vehicle. Antique vehicles may be
driven only for special occasions such as display and parade purposes or for
necessary testing, maintenance, and storage purposes. Antique vehicles may
display a historical registration plate from or representing the model year of the
vehicle but must carry current registration plates in the vehicle.
Also under current law, an owner of a special interest vehicle that is 20 or more
years old may, under specified circumstances, register the vehicle as a special
interest vehicle for a one-time fee of twice the regular annual registration fee ($45
for most automobiles), plus a one-time processing fee of $50. A special interest
vehicle is a motor vehicle that has not been changed from its original manufacturer's
specifications and which is being preserved for its historic interest. Vehicles
registered as special interest vehicles are issued distinctive registration plates, and
may be reregistered for no additional fee if, with an exception, the vehicle is not
operated on the highways during the month of January.
This bill allows a motor vehicle registered as a special interest vehicle to display
historical Wisconsin registration plates from or representing the model year of the
vehicle if the historical plates do not bear the same registration number as that

assigned by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to any other currently
registered vehicle. The owner of the vehicle must carry the current distinctive
registration plates in the vehicle. The bill also requires the owner to notify DOT of
the historical plates' registration number and requires DOT to record that number
in the vehicle registration records maintained by DOT.
The bill allows the display of historical registration plates on special interest
vehicles only if DOT receives, prior to June 30, 2005, contributions totaling at least
$40,900 from interested persons to cover DOT's estimated costs of implementation,
and, if sufficient contributions are received, only after DOT has completed the
development work necessary for implementation. If DOT does not receive sufficient
contributions by June 30, 2005, DOT must return all contributions.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB427, s. 1 1Section 1. 341.15 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB427,2,72 341.15 (3) (a) A person who operates a vehicle for which a current registration
3plate, insert tag, decal, or other evidence of registration has been issued without such
4plate, tag, decal, or other evidence of registration being attached to the vehicle,
5except when such vehicle is being operated pursuant to a temporary operation
6permit or plate or, subject to s. 341.266 (2) (dm) 2., displays a historical plate under
7s. 341.265 or 341.266
.
AB427, s. 2 8Section 2. 341.265 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB427,2,139 341.265 (1m) A Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), a person who registers an
10antique motor vehicle under sub. (1) may furnish and display on the vehicle a
11historical plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle if the registration
12and plates issued by the department are simultaneously carried in or, with respect
13to an antique motorcycle, with the vehicle and are available for inspection.
AB427, s. 3 14Section 3. 341.266 (2) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB427,3,17
1341.266 (2) (dm) 1. Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1) and subject to subd. 2., a
2person who registers a special interest vehicle under par. (a) may, after the
3department has completed the development work specified in subd. 2., furnish and
4display on the vehicle historical plates previously issued by the department from or
5representing the model year of the vehicle if the registration and the plates issued
6by the department under par. (c) are simultaneously carried in or, with respect to a
7motorcycle, with the vehicle and are available for inspection. A vehicle displaying
8historical plates under this subdivision shall display 2 identical plates, one attached
9to the front and the other to the rear of the vehicle, except that a motorcycle shall
10display one historical plate attached to the rear of the vehicle. A person who displays
11any historical plate on a vehicle under this subdivision shall, not less than 10 days
12prior to displaying the plate, notify the department of the registration number of the
13historical plate and identify the vehicle, and the vehicle registration records of the
14department shall reflect the registration number of the historical plate along with
15the registration number assigned by the department under par. (c). This subdivision
16does not apply to any historical plate bearing the same registration number as that
17assigned by the department for another currently registered vehicle.
AB427,4,418 2. Upon receipt of contributions totaling at least $40,900 from persons
19interested in the display of historical plates under subd. 1, the department shall
20commence any development work necessary to implement the provisions of subd. 1.
21and shall complete the development work within 6 months of its commencement.
22The development work under this subdivision shall be funded only from the
23appropriation under s. 20.395 (4) (ch) from contributions received by the department
24for the purpose of implementing the provisions of subd. 1. If the department does not
25receive contributions totaling at least $40,900 for the purpose of implementing the

1provisions of subd. 1. by June 30, 2005, the department may not commence
2development work to implement the provisions of subd. 1 and shall promptly return
3to each contributor all contributions received by the department for the purpose of
4implementing the provisions of subd. 1.
AB427,4,55 (End)
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