SENATE BILL 412

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

AN ACT

RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; PROVIDING PERMANENT REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION PLATES FOR STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Motor Vehicle Code is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] CUSTOM VEHICLE AND STREET ROD REGISTRATION.--

          A. As used in this section:

                (1) "custom vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is at least twenty-five years old and manufactured after 1948, or a vehicle that was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle that is at least twenty-five years old, and that has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials;

                (2) "model year" means the year of manufacture of the motor vehicle model or brand that a custom vehicle or street rod most resembles in outward appearance; and

                (3) "street rod" means a motor vehicle that is a 1948 or older vehicle, or a vehicle that was manufactured after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949, and that has been altered from the manufacturer‛s original design or has a body constructed from nonoriginal materials.

          B. On application to the department, the owner of a custom vehicle or street rod may receive a certificate of title and permanent registration by:

                (1) paying a one-time registration and plate fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for the duration of that person's ownership;

                (2) submitting a witnessed bill of sale for the custom vehicle or street rod or an affidavit from the owner that the owner assembled the vehicle;

                (3) submitting an affidavit that the custom vehicle or street rod shall be maintained only for occasional transportation, exhibitions, vehicle club activities, parades, tours and similar limited uses and that the custom vehicle or street rod shall not be used for general or daily transportation; and

                (4) providing evidence acceptable to the department that the custom vehicle or street rod meets safety and equipment requirements pursuant to the Motor Vehicle Code; provided that a custom vehicle or street rod need not have equipment that was not required by state or federal law in its model year.

          C. The date of manufacture of a custom vehicle or street rod for title and registration purposes is the model year.

          D. Upon approval of an application, the department shall issue a special custom vehicle or street rod registration plate. The department, with the advice and consultation of the custom vehicle and street rod communities in the state, shall determine the color and design of the special plates.

          E. A motor vehicle to be registered or currently registered pursuant to this section is exempt from a state or local law or ordinance requiring periodic vehicle or vehicle emission inspections but, except as provided in Paragraph (4) of Subsection B of this section, is subject to Section 66-3-901 NMSA 1978.

          F. Upon the transfer of ownership of a custom vehicle or street rod, the new owner shall apply to the department for a new certificate of title and registration pursuant to Section 66-3-103 NMSA 1978 and shall pay the registration and plate fee specified in Subsection B of this section. The registration plate shall remain with the transferred vehicle.

          G. The registration and plate fee required in Subsection B of this section shall be distributed as follows:

                (1) fifteen dollars ($15.00) of each fee shall be retained by the department and is appropriated to the department for the manufacture and issuance of the special custom vehicle or street rod registration plates; and

                (2) eighty-five dollars ($85.00) of each fee shall be paid to the state treasurer for credit to the motor vehicle suspense fund for distribution in accordance with Section 66-6-23 NMSA 1978."

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