AB 455

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.