Poyhonen's Blog

Co-Sponsorship request for LRB 3267/1 The Registration Rights Act

SHORT DEADLINE:         Thursday, February 9, 2012.
Currently Wisconsin offers many ways to register vehicles; regular, hobbyist, collector, farm, etc.  Many types of motor vehicle registration impart operating restrictions ranging from regular registration, which is minimally restrictive, through HMV registration in which a vehicle can only be used to and from special events.

Up until a few years ago Wisconsin residents enjoyed the freedom to own and proudly drive on the roads their vehicle of choice.  Due to WI DOT cutting budgets and nonsensical internal philosophies, the agency has been relying more and more on their computer technology to cut corners. This is very problematic when dealing with the large variety of vehicles on the road today.

Many citizens are being improperly denied the registration of their choice based on such insignificant factors as a radio, color, or hubcaps.  I found that most of the problems stem from the WI DOT’s interpretation of prohibitions based on vehicle condition or equipment and in many cases the citizen’s options for proving compliance are limited or impossible.  In other cases, vehicles that were previously registered here in Wisconsin are now being denied registration upon change of ownership.

WI DOT’s actions have adversely affected citizens, and have had a detrimental impact on the agricultural, forestry, construction, and automotive industries. Their actions have also lead to multiple costly as well as time consuming appeals and ongoing problems for constituents.

This bill was created to address numerous citizen concerns as to the registration of motor vehicles in Wisconsin.

LRB 3267/1 Does the Following:

• Repeals       a state statute that contains an obsolete reference in law, and has       created confusion and misapplication.
• Repeals       a statute that has taken legally-complying vehicles off the road.
• Prevents       monetary losses to citizens encountered when a formerly-legal vehicle is       reduced to non-highway-legal status for the sake of clerical convenience       within the department.
• Gives       residents the ability to have second chance if the DOT denies registration.        The bill repeals two prohibitions which were problematic for motor       vehicle owners and instead applies an existing inspection procedure to       determine minimum applicable standards to make a vehicle eligible for       regular registration.  This bill still allows the DOT to deny       registration if they have concerns about vehicle condition or equipment,       but in the event the application is denied; LRB 3267/4 provides a simple       and low-cost way for the owner to verify compliance with the       requirements.
• Reduces       fiscal impact by the citizen bearing the cost of an inspection versus the       state employees expending substantial time and resources to determine       eligibility.
• Makes       a change to the requirements for collector car registration by allowing       vehicles which have been minimally modified (such as for improved safety       or drivability) to register as a collector, so long as they do not       substantially alter the vehicle.  Thus, remaining true to the intent       of the collector plate registration.

If you would like to cosponsor LRB 3267/1 please contact Sen. Grothman’s office at 608-266-7513 or sen.grothman@legis.wisconsin.gov by Thursday February 9, 2012.