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Help Us Stop Ban Of HMVs In Wiscosnin

Many of you know the fight we are in here in the State of Wisconsin to keep the DOT from banning MV's from the public roads.

Working with the Wisconsin Legislature and the DOT and attorneys and Military Vehicle Collectors, a bill proposal has been created that will create a separate category for Historic Military Vehicles. The new category has restriction on use. No daily drivers or commercial use. A special license plate will be issued. Registration is a one time $30 per vehicle, non expiring.

The Bill is LRB-3284/4. It is being circulated to legislators this week and next for co sponsorship and support.

If you live in Wisconsin we need your help. Please contact your State Legislators and Senators and ask them to support LRB-3284/4.
The alternative will be no MV's driven on road in Wisconsin.

We have set up a blog and posted more documents, The Complete Bill text and FAQ's. The blog is at http://wihmvbill.blogspot.com

Check the blog for updates at Wisconsin Historic Military Vehicle Bill Update


John A-G
Editor, Military Vehicles Magazine

Wish you guys luck...

This sucks shit and dies!!!
I bought my truck to use as a truck, anytime I need to use it.
I didn't buy it to drive in parades and wash on weekends.
The worse the weather is the more likely I am to be out in it, several years ago I was out in the middle of the night working driving from customer to customer for several hours after they pulled the plows in because they couldn't keep up with the snow.
I bought my truck because of what its capable of not to wet myself at the thought of a scratch in the paint.
Now I have a new reason to hate every useless fuck in Madison.

Rich

Here in PA we have had those restrictions for years now but it applies to any vehicle over 25 years old if you register it as an antique, military or not. You also cannot drive ir after dark unless you are coming from an event. Permanent non expiring tags and registration. I'm not sure how it works if you register it as a regular vehicle however.
Greencom

if you register it as a regular vehicle however.

That is the problem. The proposed legislation does not allow a military vehicle to apply for or possess a regular registration. Those who already have a regular registered MV will have a year to convert to the new restricted used old MV plate system. That is what sucks. This whole thing started the year before last because a guy had trouble registering a Pinzgauer. The DMV treated it as an APC/assault / tracked / scout car type combat vehicle which was not safe to operate on public roads. Now we are all in for a real lowsy time here in Wisconsin with any ex MV.

We can only hope that common sense becomes a term that the legislators understand and we divide MV's into tactical assault and direct combat type vehicles and logistacle vehicles. Since the end of WWII all mV's that met federal laws for roadworthiness in affect at their time of construction were legal for everyday road use. Now we are moving backwards and saying they are not but the 1937 ford with a single tail light/brake light, single chamber master cylinder, and no seat belts is roadworthy and can get the cheaper antique plate.

Might want to check this post out on S.S. There is another bill pending and it seems better. The actual bill is at the end of the thread on pg2.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/politics-r ... -look.html

Here is the actual bill.
http://www.wisconsin-pinzgauers.org/sit ... -35621.pdf

So now what do I do?
My truck had a different engine and was converted to 12v when I got it,( so it never would have been registerable) now Im in the middle of installing a 318, not including the donor truck I bought to get the engine I've spent nearly 2 grand on parts, tires, brakes, fuel tank, etc.
The engine is sitting at the mechanic right now waiting to be rebuilt, who knows what that will cost, plus the additional work I wanted to do to the truck but if I cant register it, I wont even be able to sell it for what I've got into it. And wont that go over well with the wife.
Rich

So, since I have a Michigan title for my rig that calls is a 1954 dodge truck, no mention of military, can I still get regular plates for it.

What do they classify as "original design and specification?"

If this passes and I can't drive my rig, I'm moving, simple as that.

I refuse to pay taxes to a state that is that socialist and fascist that the trucks used to fight evil are no longer allowed to operate on the land they defened.

I personally don't think anyone will go that in depth enforcing this bill. How many trucks left service exactly as they were issued? I have seen many different engines installed, flames painted on tow tractors and even a M275 that was bobbed by a unit.

If this law passes I'm sure it will be enforced. It all starts at the DMV and I've always found them to be sticklers of the law.

One of the guys on the Steel Soldiers site said it best:

"Remember, this stuff is going to be read and interpreted by lawyers, and judges... Not by reasonable people."

Lyndon Johnson as a senator once said: " You should not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and harm it would cause if improperly administered."

This bill is too restrictive, and doesn't allow ordinary use of these vehicles. It too should be tabled.

WI MV owners should settle for nothing less than having their vehicles grandfathered into the DOT regulations at the date the design was first issued. After that is done, then a special class of registration for collectors of MV's that accurately represent their design and markings should be sought.
-Chuck

These quotes echo my feelings. Both bills allow the DMV to move all MV's into a special class effectively barring them from the standard registration fleet and leaving a tremendous amount of loose interpretation for the bureaucrat to fabricate into a steel shaft and deliver his favorite MV enema!


Think about this for a moment.

A 1955 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup is no more safe on a US Highway at 1100 PM than a 55 M37. The M37 throws more light to the front and has equal lighting in the rear and has comparable steering and braking effectiveness. Both can right now be registered and licensed in the standard category as long as they have seat belts in them and can be driven on Wisconsin highways without any additional restrictions.

The two bills will only open the door to more severely limit/restrict operation of your MV.

Great quotes Cuz.
Another thing to think about...Just because this is in WI do not for a minute think your safe because your in another state. If they can think this up, be assured some fool in your state or mine can and will as well.
I know I'll be keeping a eye on this issue to see how it unfolds...

A few great examples of what other places do and how they can affect different places is Health care in England and Canada and of course Gun Control in Australia. 3 examples of how it does not work. I relate these rediculous legislative adventures to the temperance movement and prohibition. "Please a few and screw the rest of the nation!"

Beauracrats are totally illiterate as far as techical details of any kind of machinery goes , logic cannot be used on these pencil necks. Sadly there is no help from the public at large either, most people I know think that an older vehicle should no longer be on the road, "they are a menace". This is mostly the views of women (my wife not included) but I know a lot of guys that look at me like I'm nuts for driving my M37 and Willys MB. To them I'm nothing but a redneck hick because of my love of these old machines. These are the prople that will win, they are the majority. Sorry for sounding so pessimistic, I hope I'm wrong.
Greencom