Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows a person who registers a specified special interest,
reconstructed, replica, or street modified vehicle to provide and display historical
plates in lieu of the special plates issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Under current law, any person who is the owner of a special interest vehicle that
is a former military vehicle or that is at least 20 years old may register the vehicle
as a special interest vehicle. DOT is required to furnish the owner of the vehicle with
registration plates of a distinctive design that show that the vehicle is owned by a
Wisconsin collector. A person who registers a special interest vehicle manufactured
before 1979 may furnish and display on the vehicle one or two historical plates from
the model year of the vehicle. The historical plates may be displayed only while the
vehicle is being operated to or from a car show or parade and the registration plates
issued by DOT must be carried in the vehicle. Under this bill, historical plates may
be displayed on a special interest vehicle manufactured before 1985.
Under current law, any person who is the owner of a reconstructed, replica,
street modified, or homemade vehicle may register the vehicle as a reconstructed,

replica, street modified, or homemade vehicle. DOT is required to furnish the owner
of the vehicle with registration plates of a distinctive design that show that the
vehicle is owned by a Wisconsin hobbyist.
Under this bill, a person who registers a special interest vehicle manufactured
before 1985, a reconstructed vehicle assembled from a vehicle manufactured before
1985, a replica vehicle that is a reproduction of a vehicle manufactured before 1985,
or a street modified vehicle manufactured before 1985 may furnish and display on
the vehicle two historical plates. The owner is required to provide DOT with the
registration number on the historical plates and may be required to provide proof of
possession of the plates. DOT is required to issue the applicable special plate for the
vehicle and record in its motor vehicle registration database the registration number
on the historical plates provided to DOT.
Under this bill, the historical plates must be original Wisconsin plates that are
not special or personalized plates, were issued for a vehicle of the same type, and that
have a design that was issued during a time period that includes the model year of
the vehicle. The plates must be legible and both plates must display the same
registration number, which cannot be shared by any other vehicle registered with
DOT currently or within the two years preceding the registration, and cannot be
reserved. A vehicle owner displaying historical plates must display one to the front
and one to the rear of the vehicle, unless the vehicle is a motorcycle, upon which only
one plate to the rear is required. The historical plates may be displayed only if the
registration plates issued by DOT are carried in the vehicle. Failure to display the
plates as required may result in a forfeiture of not more than $200.
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:
AB455,1 1Section 1. 341.08 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,3,22 341.08 (2) (g) If the application is for registration of a special interest vehicle
3that meets the criteria under s. 341.266 (2m) (a), a space for the applicant to state
4that he or she wishes to display historical plates on the vehicle as provided in s.
5341.266 (2m) (a) and to identify the registration number displayed on these historical
6plates. The department may also require the applicant to demonstrate that the
7registration number on these plates is identical to the registration number stated in

1the application. The applicant may satisfy this requirement by any means approved
2by the department.
AB455,2 3Section 2. 341.08 (2) (h) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,3,114 341.08 (2) (h) If the application is for registration of a reconstructed, replica,
5or street modified vehicle that meets the criteria under s. 341.268 (2m) (a), a space
6for the applicant to state that he or she wishes to display historical plates on the
7vehicle as provided in s. 341.268 (2m) (a) and to identify the registration number
8displayed on these historical plates. The department may also require the applicant
9to demonstrate that the registration number on these plates is identical to the
10registration number stated in the application. The applicant may satisfy this
11requirement by any means approved by the department.
AB455,3 12Section 3. 341.12 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB455,3,1413 341.12 (3) (intro.) All registration plates issued by the department shall have
14displayed upon them the following:
AB455,4 15Section 4. 341.15 (1r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,3,2016 341.15 (1r) Whenever a person displays historical plates on a special interest
17vehicle as provided in s. 341.266 (2m) (a), or a reconstructed, replica, or street
18modified vehicle as provided in s. 341.268 (2m) (a), one plate shall be attached to the
19front and one to the rear of the vehicle. If the vehicle is a motorcycle, one plate shall
20be attached to the rear of the vehicle.
AB455,5 21Section 5. 341.15 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB455,4,222 341.15 (3) (a) A person who operates a vehicle for which a current registration
23plate, insert tag, decal or other evidence of registration has been issued without such
24plate, tag, decal or other evidence of registration being attached to the vehicle, except
25when such vehicle is being operated pursuant to a temporary operation permit or

1plate or displays a historical plate under s. 341.265 (1m) or, 341.266 (2) (dm) or (2m)
2(a), or 341.268 (2m) (a)
;
AB455,6 3Section 6. 341.15 (3) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,4,64 341.15 (3) (am) A person who responds affirmatively under s. 341.08 (2) (g) or
5(h) and who operates the vehicle without either the historical plates or the current
6registration plates issued by the department attached.
AB455,7 7Section 7. 341.266 (2) (dm) 1. (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB455,4,118 341.266 (2) (dm) 1. (intro.) Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), and subject to subd.
92., a person who registers under par. (a) a special interest vehicle manufactured
10before 1979 1985 may furnish and display on the vehicle one or 2 historical plates
11from or representing the model year of the vehicle if all of the following apply:
AB455,8 12Section 8. 341.266 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,4,1513 341.266 (2m) (a) Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), a person who registers under
14sub. (2) a special interest vehicle manufactured before 1985 may furnish and display
15on the vehicle 2 historical plates if all of the following apply:
AB455,4,1916 1. The historical plates are original Wisconsin plates that are not special plates
17or personalized plates, that were issued for a vehicle of the same type as the special
18interest vehicle, and that have a design that was issued during a time period that
19includes the model year of the special interest vehicle.
AB455,4,2120 2. Both historical plates display the same registration number, which matches
21the registration number provided to the department under s. 341.08 (2) (g).
AB455,4,2522 3. The registration number displayed on the historical plates is legible, is not
23identical to that of any other vehicle registered with the department within the 2
24years immediately preceding the registration application, and is not reserved at the
25time of the registration application.
AB455,5,3
14. If the department has requested verification of the registration number on
2the historical plates as provided in s. 341.08 (2) (g), the person has complied with this
3request.
AB455,5,64 5. The registration, and any plate issued by the department for the vehicle
5under sub. (2) (c) that is not displayed on the vehicle, is simultaneously carried in or,
6with respect to a motorcycle, with the vehicle and is available for inspection.
AB455,5,127 (b) If an applicant has responded affirmatively under s. 341.08 (2) (g) and the
8criteria under par. (a) are satisfied, the department shall issue the special
9registration plates for the vehicle under sub. (2) and record in its motor vehicle
10registration database the registration number provided to the department for the
11vehicle under s. 341.08 (2) (g). In addition to the fees in sub. (2) (b) and (3), there shall
12be a processing fee of $15.
AB455,9 13Section 9. 341.268 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB455,5,1814 341.268 (2m) (a) Notwithstanding s. 341.15 (1), a person who registers under
15sub. (2) a reconstructed vehicle assembled from a vehicle manufactured before 1985,
16a replica vehicle that is a reproduction of a vehicle manufactured before 1985, or a
17street modified vehicle manufactured before 1985 may furnish and display on the
18vehicle 2 historical plates if all of the following apply:
AB455,5,2319 1. The historical plates are original Wisconsin plates that are not special plates
20or personalized plates, that were issued for a vehicle of the same type as the
21reconstructed, replica, or street modified vehicle, and that have a design that was
22issued during a time period that includes the model year of the reconstructed,
23replica, or street modified vehicle.
AB455,5,2524 2. Both historical plates display the same registration number, which matches
25the registration number provided to the department under s. 341.08 (2) (h).
AB455,6,4
13. The registration number displayed on the historical plates is legible, is not
2identical to that of any other vehicle registered with the department within the 2
3years immediately preceding the registration application, and is not reserved at the
4time of the registration application.
AB455,6,75 4. If the department has requested verification of the registration number on
6the historical plates as provided in s. 341.08 (2) (h), the person has complied with this
7request.
AB455,6,108 5. The registration, and any plate issued by the department for the vehicle
9under sub. (2) (c) that is not displayed on the vehicle, is simultaneously carried in or,
10with respect to a motorcycle, with the vehicle and is available for inspection.
AB455,6,1611 (b) If an applicant has responded affirmatively under s. 341.08 (2) (h) and the
12criteria under par. (a) are satisfied, the department shall issue the special
13registration plates for the vehicle under sub. (2) and record in its motor vehicle
14registration database the registration number provided to the department for the
15vehicle under s. 341.08 (2) (h). In addition to the fees in sub. (2) (b) and (3), there shall
16be a processing fee of $15.
AB455,10 17Section 10. Initial applicability.
AB455,6,1918 (1) This act first applies to registration applications received by the department
19of transportation on the effective date of this subsection.
AB455,11 20Section 11. Effective date.
AB455,6,2221 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 12th month beginning after
22publication.
AB455,6,2323 (End)
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