AB282: Bill Text

LRB-0961/1

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2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 282

April 18, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Petrowski, Hahn, Hines, Van Roy, Albers, Owens and Wasserman, cosponsored by Senator Roessler. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB282,1,5 An Act to amend 341.15 (3) (a), 341.265 (1m) and 341.266 (2) (c); and to create 341.15 (3) (d), 341.266 (2) (bm) and 341.266 (2) (dm) of the statutes; relating to: the display of historical registration plates on, and the renewal of registration of, special 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, which expire annually. The registration of a special interest vehicle may be renewed for no additional fee so long as the vehicle is not operated on the highways during the month of January. Like all registration plates, the distinctive registration plates of vehicles registered as special interest vehicles must display an indication of the period for which the plate is issued or the date of expiration of registration.

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 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.

This bill also clarifies that the registration of a motor vehicle registered as a special interest vehicle expires annually, but may be renewed without the payment of an additional fee.

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:

AB282, s. 1 Section 1. 341.15 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB282,2,6 341.15 (3) (a) A person who operates a vehicle for which a current registration plate, insert tag, decal, or other evidence of registration has been issued without such plate, tag, decal, or other evidence of registration being attached to the vehicle, except when such vehicle is being operated pursuant to a temporary operation permit or plate or displays a historical plate under s. 341.265 or 341.266.

AB282, s. 2 Section 2. 341.15 (3) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,2,12 341.15 (3) (d) A person who operates a vehicle that displays a historical plate under s. 341.266 and for which a current insert tag, decal, or other evidence of registration has been issued without such tag, decal, or other evidence of registration being attached to a current registration plate issued by the department under s. 341.266 (2) (c).

AB282, s. 3 Section 3. 341.265 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB282,3,5 341.265 (1m) A Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), a person who registers an antique motor vehicle under sub. (1) may furnish and display on the vehicle a historical plate from or representing the model year of the vehicle if the registration and plates issued by the department are simultaneously carried in or, with respect to an antique motorcycle, with the vehicle and are available for inspection.

AB282, s. 4 Section 4. 341.266 (2) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,3,9 341.266 (2) (bm) The registration of a vehicle under par. (a) expires annually. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle without the payment of any additional fee.

AB282, s. 5 Section 5. 341.266 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB282,3,15 341.266 (2) (c) The department shall furnish the owner of the vehicle with registration plates of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual registration plates, and those plates shall show that the vehicle is a special interest vehicle owned by a Wisconsin collector. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle without the payment of any additional fee.

AB282, s. 6 Section 6. 341.266 (2) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB282,4,10 341.266 (2) (dm) Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), a person who registers a special interest vehicle under par. (a) may furnish and display on the vehicle historical plates previously issued by the department from or representing the model year of the vehicle if the registration and the plates issued by the department under par. (c) are simultaneously carried in or, with respect to a motorcycle, with the vehicle and are available for inspection. A vehicle displaying historical plates under this paragraph shall display 2 identical plates, one attached to the front and the other to the rear of the vehicle, except that a motorcycle shall display one historical plate attached to the rear of the vehicle. Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1m), any registration decal or tag issued by the department for a vehicle on which any historical plate is displayed shall be placed on a plate issued by the department under par. (c) in the manner directed by the department. A person who displays any historical plate on a vehicle under this paragraph shall, not less than 10 days prior to displaying the plate, notify the department of the registration number of the historical plate and identify the vehicle, and the vehicle registration records of the department shall reflect the registration number of the historical plate along with the registration number assigned by the department under par. (c). This paragraph does not apply to any historical plate bearing the same registration number as that assigned by the department for another currently registered vehicle.

AB282,4,11 (End)