Motor vehicle registration by the Department of Transportation, historic military vehicles, and Kei class vehicles. (FE)

Another special registration category recognized under current law allows a former military vehicle to be registered as a historic military vehicle if the vehicle was manufactured for use in any country's military forces, is maintained to accurately represent its military design and markings, and either is a domestic vehicle or is imported and at least 25 years old. DOT issues special plates for these vehicles identifying them as historic military vehicles. Historic military vehicles are subject to significant operating restrictions and may be used only 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, DOT must 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. However, this prohibition against registration does not apply to a former military vehicle being registered under the special registration categories for collector vehicles or historic military vehicles.

This bill modifies this ground for refusing vehicle registration. Under the bill, DOT must refuse registration of a vehicle that was manufactured after 1969 and does not meet manufacturer or importer certification label requirements as specified in federal regulations or that is a Kei class vehicle. However, this prohibition against registration does not apply to former military vehicles, regardless of the registration category for which the vehicle is registered. The bill defines a "former military vehicle" as a vehicle, including a trailer but excluding a tracked vehicle, that was manufactured for use in any country's military forces. This prohibition against registration also does not apply to collector vehicles being registered under the special registration category for collector vehicles. As under current law, this prohibition against registration also does not apply to a former military vehicle being registered under the special registration categories for collector vehicles or historic military vehicles.

The bill also modifies an eligibility requirement for registering a collector vehicle that is not a former military vehicle. Under the bill, a vehicle is eligible for registration as a collector vehicle if the vehicle is at least 20 years old, the vehicle's body has not been altered from the original, and the vehicle is being preserved for its historic interest.

The bill expands the circumstances under which a vehicle registered as a historic military vehicle may be operated. The bill allows these vehicles to be operated for occasional personal use, but not for regular transportation, and specifies that use for special occasions includes club activities, exhibitions, and tours. The bill also specifies that an owner of a vehicle registered as a historic military vehicle may store unregistered, operable or inoperable, historic military vehicles and parts vehicles for historic military vehicles on the owner's property if the vehicles and parts vehicles and the outdoor storage area do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view.

Under current law, an "off-road utility vehicle" is defined as a motor vehicle that: 1) is designed and constructed to carry no more than two persons and to be used for collecting waste, such as garbage, recyclables, and yard waste, for landscaping, or for incidental street maintenance; 2) is not certified for on-road use or is certified as meeting the equipment standards for a low-speed vehicle under federal regulations; and 3) satisfies specified equipment standards under state law or the equipment standards under federal regulations for a low-speed vehicle. A "low-speed vehicle" for purposes of these provisions is a vehicle identified as such under applicable federal regulations.

Under current law, an off-road utility vehicle operated on a highway is exempt from motor vehicle registration with DOT if the vehicle is being operated in compliance with the following restrictions. A person may operate an off-road utility vehicle on a highway only if all of the following apply: 1) the highway has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less; 2) the person is employed by, or under contract with, the state or a local governmental unit; and 3) the off-road utility vehicle is being used for the state or local governmental purpose of collecting waste, landscaping, or performing incidental street maintenance and is operated on the highway for a distance of not more than half a mile.

Under this bill, a Kei class vehicle is an off-road utility vehicle. As such, the foregoing provisions relating to registration and operating restrictions apply to Kei class vehicles. A Kei class vehicle is prohibited from general vehicle registration with DOT but is afforded a limited registration exemption for operation as an off-road utility vehicle.