Wisconsin Introduces Bill to Restrict Eligibility and Increase Fees for Collector and Hobbyist Vehicles

You may use the following points in your message:
 

• A.B. 860 unfairly raises the minimum age of vehicles eligible for the following designations from at least 20 years old to at least 30 years old: “collector vehicle,” which includes unaltered historic and former military vehicles; and “hobbyist vehicles,” which includes street modified, replica, reconstructed, and homemade vehicles. The bill allows vehicles less than 30 years old currently registered as such to retain their status. 
   
• A.B. 860 unreasonably raises registration fees for all collector and hobbyist vehicles from double the fee for the type of vehicle being registered to triple that amount.
   
• A.B. 860 further restricts the operation of collector and hobbyist vehicles. The amount of time these vehicles are prohibited from operation on a highway would be lengthened from the month of January to the period between December 15th and February 15th. 
   
• A.B. 860 makes it more difficult and costly to register legitimate collector and hobbyist vehicles.
   
• A.B. 860 ignores the fact that collector and hobbyist vehicles represent approximately 4% of the vehicles on the road in Wisconsin and that owners of such vehicles are already required to own or lease another motor vehicle for regular use. 
   

Overview: SAN-opposed legislation (A.B. 860) has been introduced in Wisconsin to restrict eligibility and raise fees for collector and hobbyist vehicle registration. Currently, these vehicles must be more than 20 years old and are required to pay twice the registration fee as the type of vehicle being registered. A.B. 860 would further limit each designation to vehicles 30 years old and older, in addition to increasing the registration fee to three times the rate. The bill awaits consideration in the Assembly Committee on Transportation.