Registration of motor vehicles by the Department of Transportation

Under current law, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 135 , there is a special category of vehicle registration for former military vehicles, which may be registered but are subject to operating restrictions. Under this registration category, a "former military vehicle" is a vehicle that was manufactured for use in any country's military forces and is maintained to accurately represent its military design and markings, regardless of the vehicle's size or weight. A former military vehicle may be registered as a "historic military vehicle" if it is at least 25 years old and has been imported into the United States from another country or if it has not been imported and is of any age. DOT must issue for the vehicle special plates showing it is registered as a historic military vehicle. It is the applicant's burden to show that a vehicle is eligible for registration as a historic military vehicle. A vehicle may be registered as a historic military vehicle even if the vehicle was originally designed and manufactured for off-highway operation and does not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. A vehicle registered as a historic military vehicle may only be used for special occasions such as display and parade purposes, including traveling to and from such events, and for necessary testing, maintenance, and storage purposes.

Also under current law, as created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 225 , DOT may register specific types of former military vehicles as special interest ("collector") vehicles, which are subject to only very limited operating restrictions, most notably that they cannot be operated on the highways in January. For purposes of collector vehicle registration, the term "former military vehicle" has a different definition, and means all of the following: 1) a Pinzgauer that is at least 25 years old; 2) a Kaiser Jeep M715 that is at least 25 years old; 3) a Humvee that is at least 22 years old; and 4) a Duck that is at least 25 years old.

This bill requires DOT to register any motor vehicle for which DOT receives a complete and proper application, unless registration of the vehicle is specifically prohibited by statute or the vehicle is a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or electric personal assistive mobility device (commonly referred to by the tradename "Segway"). The bill eliminates the statutory provision requiring DOT to refuse registration of a vehicle that was manufactured for use in any country's military forces and that does not meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill also eliminates the statutory provision requiring DOT to refuse registration of a vehicle that is originally designed and manufactured for off-highway operation unless the vehicle meets the provisions of a certain section of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, as amended. In addition, if DOT refuses registration of a vehicle based on vehicle requirements, including equipment or condition of the vehicle or documentation relating to the vehicle, the applicant for registration may have the vehicle inspected by any person authorized by DOT to conduct salvage vehicle inspections. If the inspector determines that the vehicle meets state vehicle equipment standards for the vehicle's year of original manufacture, the inspector must issue a certificate of inspection so stating and DOT must accept this certificate and register the vehicle.

This bill also changes the eligibility requirements for registering former military vehicles as collector vehicles. Instead of limiting registration to the four specific types of military vehicles listed in 1) to 4) above, the bill allows any former military vehicle to be registered as a collector vehicle, subject to the same requirements applicable to other collector vehicles. For purposes of collector vehicle registration, the bill defines a "former military vehicle" as a motor vehicle, including a motorcycle but excluding a tracked vehicle, that was manufactured for use in any country's military forces.

The bill also modifies an eligibility requirement for registering any collector vehicle, whether it is a former military vehicle or not. Under current law, a motor vehicle, other than a former military vehicle, may only be registered as a collector vehicle if it has not been altered or modified from original manufacturers specifications. Under this bill, a motor vehicle, including a former military vehicle, may only be registered as a collector vehicle if it has not been substantially altered or modified from original manufacturers specifications.

This bill does not change the authorization provided in 2009 Wisconsin Act 135 to register former military vehicles under the special registration category of historic military vehicles.