Chapter 310

2004 -- H 7031 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/03/04

A N A C T

RELATING TO REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Introduced By: Representative Roger A. Picard

Date Introduced: January 07, 2004

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-3 of the General Laws entitled "Registration of Vehicles" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections:

31-3-31.1. Registration of street rods and custom vehicles. – (a) Definition of terms:

(1) A "street rod" means a motor vehicle that:

(i) Is a 1948 or older vehicle; or the vehicle was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a

vehicle manufactured before 1949; and

(ii) Has been altered from the manufacturer's original design; or has a body constructed

from nonoriginal materials.

(2) The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of

a street rod vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle

resembles.

(b) Registration fee and application for street rods shall be as follows:

(1) For each such street rod, there shall be a one-time pre-registration surcharge of fifty

dollars ($50.00) which said sum(s) shall be accumulated by the division of motor vehicles until

such time as said sum reaches an aggregate of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000)

whereupon said division is authorized to proceed with the ordering/manufacturing of plates as

required by subsection (3) herein. In addition thereto, and from hence forth, there shall be paid

regular registration fees required for standard passenger vehicles as determined by the division of

motor vehicles.

(2) (i) In applying for registration of a street rod under this section, the owner of the street

rod shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the application is

made:

(A) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades,

tours, and similar uses; and

(B) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

(ii) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (i) of this subsection, when

applying for registration of a street rod, the new owner of the street rod shall provide proof

acceptable to the administration that the street rod passed a safety inspection that has been

approved by the administration in consultation with the street rod community in this state.

(3) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the administration shall issue a special

street rod vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the administration determines in

consultation with the street rod community in this state.

(4) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this

state as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title,

the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered

under this section.

(5) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires

periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspection of emission

controls.

31-3-31.2. Custom vehicles -- Definition -- Registration and fees. – (a) A custom

vehicle means any motor vehicle that:

(1) Is at least twenty-five (25) or more years old and of a model year after 1948; or was

manufactured to resemble a vehicle twenty-five (25) years old and of a model year after 1948;

and

(2) Has been altered from the manufacturer's original design; or has a body constructed

from nonoriginal materials.

(3)The model year and the year of manufacture that are listed on the certificate of title of

a custom vehicle shall be the model year and year of manufacture that the body of such vehicle

resembles.

(b) For each such custom vehicle, there shall be a one-time pre-registration surcharge of

fifty dollars ($50.00) which said sum(s) shall be accumulated by the division of motor vehicles

until such time as said sum reaches an aggregate of twenty-three thousand dollars ($23,000)

whereupon said division is authorized to proceed with the ordering/manufacturing of plates as

required by subsection (d) herein. In addition thereto, and from hence forth, there shall be paid

regular registration fees required for standard passenger vehicles as determined by the division of

motor vehicles.

(c) (1) In applying for registration of a custom vehicle under this section, the owner of the

custom vehicle shall submit with the application a certification that the vehicle for which the

application is made:

(i) Will be maintained for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades,

tours, and similar uses; and

(ii) Will not be used for general daily transportation.

(2) In addition to the certification required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, when

applying for registration of a custom vehicle, the new owner of the custom vehicle shall provide

proof acceptable to the administration that the custom vehicle passed a safety inspection that has

been approved by the administration in consultation with the custom vehicle community in this

state.

(d) On registration of a vehicle under this section, the administration shall issue a special

custom vehicle registration plate of the size and design that the administration determines in

consultation with the custom vehicle community of this state.

(e) Unless the presence of the equipment was specifically required by a statute of this

state as a condition of sale in the year listed as the year of manufacture on the certificate of title,

the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered

under this section.

(f) A vehicle registered under this section is exempt from any statute that requires

periodic vehicle inspections and from any statute that requires the use and inspections of emission

controls.

(g) Signal lamps and devices – Street rod vehicles and custom vehicles:

(1) "Blue dot tail light" means a red lamp installed in the rear of a motor vehicle

containing a blue or purple insert that is not more than one (1) inch in diameter.

(2) A street rod or custom vehicle may use blue dot tail lights for stop lamps, rear turning

indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps, and rear reflectors.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00212/SUB A

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