Bill Text: TX SB951 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the registration and compulsory inspection of certain street rods and custom vehicles.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-08 - Referred to Transportation & Homeland Sec. [SB951 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB951-Introduced.html

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82R2576 NAJ-D
By: Davis S.B. No. 951

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the registration and compulsory inspection of certain
street rods and custom vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 501.038 to read as follows:
Sec. 501.038. CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR CUSTOM VEHICLE OR
STREET ROD. (a) In this section, "custom vehicle" and "street rod"
have the meanings assigned by Section 504.502.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if
the department issues a certificate of title for a custom vehicle or
street rod, the model year of the vehicle must be listed on the
certificate of title and must be the model year that the body of the
vehicle resembles. The certificate of title must also include the
word "replica."
(c) The owner of the custom vehicle or street rod shall
provide the department with documentation identifying the model
year that the body of the vehicle resembles.
SECTION 2. Section 504.502, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (i) and adding Subsections
(f-1) and (f-2) to read as follows:
(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for
a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or former military vehicle
that:
(1) [is at least 25 years old,] if the vehicle is a
passenger car, truck, or motorcycle:
(A) is at least 25 years old; or
(B) is a custom vehicle or street rod;
(2) is a collector's item;
(3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club
activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and is
not used for regular transportation; and
(4) does not carry advertising.
(b) The license plates must include the words "Antique
Auto," "Antique Truck," "Antique Motorcycle," "Street Rod,"
"Custom Vehicle," or "Military Vehicle," as appropriate.
(f-1) Notwithstanding Chapter 547, a custom vehicle or
street rod eligible to receive license plates under this section is
not required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment
unless the specific piece of equipment was required by statute as a
condition of sale during the year listed as the model year on the
certificate of title.
(f-2) On initial registration of a custom vehicle or street
rod, the owner must provide proof, acceptable to the department,
that the custom vehicle or street rod passed a safety inspection
that has been approved by the department. The department shall
create a safety inspection process for inspecting custom vehicles
and street rods.
(i) In this section:
(1) "Custom vehicle" means a vehicle:
(A) that is:
(i) at least 25 years old and of a model
year after 1948; or
(ii) manufactured to resemble a vehicle
that is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; and
(B) that:
(i) has been altered from the
manufacturer's original design; or
(ii) has a body constructed from materials
not original to the vehicle.
(2) "Former[, "former] military vehicle" means a
vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size,
weight, or year of manufacture, that:
(A) [(1)] was manufactured for use in any
country's military forces; and
(B) [(2)] is maintained to represent its
military design and markings accurately.
(3) "Street rod" means a vehicle:
(A) that was manufactured:
(i) before 1949; or
(ii) after 1948 to resemble a vehicle
manufactured before 1949; and
(B) that:
(i) has been altered from the
manufacturer's original design; or
(ii) has a body constructed from materials
not original to the vehicle.
SECTION 3. Section 548.052, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 548.052. VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION. This
chapter does not apply to:
(1) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile
home moving under or bearing a current factory-delivery license
plate or current in-transit license plate;
(2) a vehicle moving under or bearing a paper dealer
in-transit tag, machinery license, disaster license, parade
license, prorate tab, one-trip permit, antique license, custom
vehicle license, street rod license, temporary 24-hour permit, or
permit license;
(3) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile
home having an actual gross weight or registered gross weight of
4,500 pounds or less;
(4) farm machinery, road-building equipment, a farm
trailer, or a vehicle required to display a slow-moving-vehicle
emblem under Section 547.703;
(5) a former military vehicle, as defined by Section
504.502(i) [502.275];
(6) a vehicle qualified for a tax exemption under
Section 152.092, Tax Code; or
(7) a vehicle for which a certificate of title has been
issued but that is not required to be registered.
SECTION 4. Section 504.502, Transportation Code, as amended
by this Act, applies only to a registration period beginning on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.