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An Act Regarding Street Rods and Custom Vehicles
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §101, sub-§19-A,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 321, §1 and affected by §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
19-A.  Custom vehicle.     "Custom vehicle" means:
 
A.  A motor vehicle that is:
 
(1) At least 25 years old;
 
(2) Maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest; and
 
(3) Not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods; or
 
B.  A motor vehicle that:
 
(1) Was manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old;
 
(2) Has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal material;
 
(3) Is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest; and
 
(4) Is not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §101, sub-§76,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
76. Street rod.   "Street rod" means a replica of or a modified antique auto manufactured prior to 1949 that complies with standards adopted by the Chief of the State Police, is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and is not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §457, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 321, §2 and affected by §6, is further amended to read:
 
1. Antique vehicle registration plates authorized.   The Secretary of State may issue registration plates for antique autos, custom vehicles, horseless carriages, street rods or antique motorcycles. These plates must bear the inscription "Maine" and the inscription "Antique Auto," "Custom Vehicle," "Horseless Carriage" or "Street Rod" or, for antique motorcycles, the inscription "Antique." Only a motor vehicle that is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and is not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods may be registered pursuant to this section.
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §457, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
3. Contemporary plates.   An owner of an antique auto, custom vehicle, horseless carriage, street rod or antique motorcycle may use registration plates that were issued in the same year the antique vehicle was manufactured, as long as the motor vehicle:
 
A.  Is over 25 years old;
 
B.  Is registered as an antique vehicle; and
 
C.  Carries a valid antique motor vehicle registration certificate and plates.
Sec. 5. 29-A MRSA §457, sub-§7,  as amended by PL 1999, c. 790, Pt. C, §1 and affected by §19, is further amended to read:
 
7. Registration fee.   The fee for registration of an antique auto, custom vehicle, horseless carriage or antique motorcycle is $15. The fee for registration of a street rod is $30.
Sec. 6. 29-A MRSA §458-B,  as enacted by PL 2005, c. 321, §4 and affected by §6, is repealed.
Sec. 7. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§3,  as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
3. Antique autos, custom vehicles, horseless carriages, street rods and antique motorcycles.   An antique auto, custom vehicle, horseless carriage, street rod or antique motorcycle registered under section 457;
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the definitions of "custom vehicle" and "street rod" in the laws governing motor vehicles to provide that a custom vehicle or street rod be maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods. It amends the definition of "custom vehicle" to provide that such a vehicle be at least 25 years old or manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old rather than at least 30 years old or manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle that is at least 30 years old as under current law and to eliminate the requirement that such a vehicle be of a model year after 1948 or manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle of a model year after 1948. It provides that only a motor vehicle that is maintained primarily for use in exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest and is not used as its owner's primary mode of transportation of passengers or goods may be registered pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 457. It provides that an owner of a custom vehicle may use contemporary plates on that vehicle. It eliminates an alternative method of registering custom vehicles and clarifies that custom vehicles, horseless carriages, street rods and antique motorcycles are exempt from motor vehicle inspection requirements.