Legislation (H.B. 409) to provide a limit on the number of inoperable motor vehicles allowed to accumulate on private property under “community decay” laws has been introduced in the Montana House of Representatives. Under the bill, four or more “junk vehicles” on private property would constitute community decay. The bill will be considered by the Montana House Local Government Committee.
We Urge You to Contact Members of the House Local Government Committee (List Attached Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 409
- In Montana, a "junk vehicle" means a motor vehicle, including component parts that is discarded, ruined, wrecked, or dismantled; is not lawfully and validly licensed; and that remains inoperative or incapable of being driven. Even vehicles that are permanently registered, but meet these criteria are considered junk vehicles.
- H.B. 409 limits to three the number of inoperable vehicles permitted on private property.
- H.B. 409 provides no reasonable concessions for legitimate automotive hobbyists that choose to work on more than three inoperable collector vehicles on private property.
- H.B. 409 could outlaw the repair or modification of certain motor vehicles that are undergoing restoration.
- H.B. 409 would limit the maintenance of parts cars available to hobbyists for motor vehicles undergoing restoration.
- H.B. 409 establishes no provisions that would enable vehicles located out of public view to avoid being classified as junk.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the Montana House Local Government Committee immediately to request their opposition to H.B. 409.
Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.
Montana House Local Government Committee
To e-mail all Committee members, copy and paste the email address block below:
liz@lizb4house.com; fitzpatricks@bresnan.net; kswansonforrep@live.com; tom@tomberrymt.com; Clarenabrockie@hotmail.com; Curtis.butte@gmail.com; Rahagan@msn.com; pathd13@blackfoot.net; stevelavin4hd8@gmail.com; mcnallyhd49@gmail.com; jonathanmcniven@gmail.com; Mooreformontana@gmail.com; oneil@centurytel.net; schreinerforlegislature@gmail.com; nicholas.schwaderer@gmail.com; Mtsteenberg@bresnan.net; Nwilson1538@gmail.com; Daniel.zolnikov@umontana.edu
Representative Liz Bangerter (Chair)
Phone: (406) 442-6071
Email: liz@lizb4house.com
Representative Steve Fitzpatrick (Vice Chair)
Phone: (406) 727-0826
Email: fitzpatricks@bresnan.net
Representative Kathy Swanson (Vice Chair)
Phone: (406) 563-5312
Email: kswansonforrep@live.com
Representative Tom Berry
Phone: (406) 698-3940
Email: tom@tomberrymt.com
Representative Clarena Brockie
Phone: (406) 673-3236
Email: Clarenabrockie@hotmail.com
Representative Amanda Curtis
Phone: (406) 782-4149
Email: Curtis.butte@gmail.com
Representative Roger Hagan
Phone: (406) 459-0773
Email: Rahagan@msn.com
Representative Pat Ingraham
Phone: (406) 827-4652
Email: pathd13@blackfoot.net
Representative Steve Lavin
Phone: (406) 212-3820
Email: stevelavin4hd8@gmail.com
Representative Mary McNally
Phone: (406) 671-1376
Email: mcnallyhd49@gmail.com
Representative Jonathan McNiven
Phone: (406) 672-5941
Email: jonathanmcniven@gmail.com
Representative Doc Moore
Phone: (406) 239-3499
Email: Mooreformontana@gmail.com
Representative Jerry O’Neil
Phone: (406) 892-7602
Email: oneil@centurytel.net
Representative Casey Schreiner
Phone: (406) 565-0372
Email: schreinerforlegislature@gmail.com
Representative Nicholas Schwaderer
Phone: (406) 493-7835
Email: nicholas.schwaderer@gmail.com
Representative Tom Steenberg
Phone: (406) 721-5869
Email: Mtsteenberg@bresnan.net
Representative Nancy Wilson
Phone: (406) 531-6994
Email: Nwilson1538@gmail.com
Representative Daniel Zolnikov
Phone: (406) 861-5210
Email: Daniel.zolnikov@umontana.edu