<VV> MD residents only - Senate Bill 13

[John Dozsa]

Attention MARYLAND Corvair owners.

The text of Senate Bill 13 is available here:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2005rs/bills/sb/sb0013f.pdf

My quick reading of it is to create a new class of vehicle registration,
Class R, called ANTIQUE, limited to original vehicles manufactured in
1946 or earlier.  This would add to the current Class L Historic and
Class N Street Rod.  The bill states Class R would be exempt from
periodic vehicle inspections and pollution equipment use.

Currently Class L vehicles, which includes Corvairs enjoy this exemption
status.  The bill also permits the display of old license tags (Maryland
tags for the year of vehicle manufacture) upon payment of a one time
$25.50 registration fee.  This is currently also allowed for Class L
vehicles.  The bill was pre-filed by Carroll County Senator Haines.  His
Web site is:
<http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/msa12149.html>
Telephone numbers and e-mail addresses for him are listed there.

I don't know what to make of the bill.  Senator Haines has more than a
few buddies that are antique car collectors.  The Maryland antique car
collectors have always wanted a true ANTIQUE registration class,
distinguished from the much broader HISTORIC class.  On the other hand
if this is an attempt to carve out antiques and in future years subject
class L and class N vehicles to pollution inspections it's something to
oppose.

John Dozsa

> Message: 10
> From: "Russ Moorhouse" <corvair65@verizon.net>
> To: "VV" <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
> Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 21:00:33 -0500
> Subject: <VV> MD residents only - Senate Bill 13
> 
> Does anyone know what impact this Senate Bill 13 will have on use Maryland
> Corvair  owners?  The newspapers have been very vague as to what this bill
> is all about, other than: Senate Bill 13: "Vehicle Laws - Antique Motor
> Vehicles - Registration" - Altering the definition of "historic motor
> vehicle;" defining the term "antique motor vehicle;" providing for the
> registration of antique motor vehicles; and requiring the Motor Vehicle
> Administration to issue a special registration plate. (committee: Judicial
> Proceedings).
> 
> Knowing Maryland, I'm just wondering how much of an impact this will have on
> our wallets?
> 
> Russ Moorhouse
> '65 Corsa coupe 140 HP
> Group Corvair Member
> Corsa Member
> Kent Island, MD
> 
> --__--__--
> 
> Message: 11
> From: "Bill Elliott" <Corvair@fnader.com>
> To: "Russ Moorhouse" <corvair65@verizon.net>,
>    "VV"
>   <virtualvairs@corvair.org>
> Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 21:25:22 -0500
> Reply-To: "Bill Elliott" <Corvair@fnader.com>
> Subject: Re: <VV> MD residents only - Senate Bill 13
> 
> I'm not _certain_... and I only heard a little bit about it.... but what I heard was that "Antique" plates were going to offered as a more restrictive option to
> "Historic"...with lower fees but more restrictions, but leaving "Historic" unchanged...at least for now.  As far as I can tell SEMA has not been involed.
> 
> If I had to guess... I'd guess that Maryland sees "Historic" as overly generous (especially in regards to exempting the Safety Inspection) and may be carving
> out this new category of older cars for future changes to the Historic rules... oh to be back in Wisconsin... the most car-friendly state I've ever lived in....
> 
> Bill Elliott