HF 230 (LSB 1841YH (1) 86)

HOUSE FILE 230

BY  BYRNES

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to street rods and custom motor vehicles, and making penalties and fees applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLES
    Section 1.  Section 321.1, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  16A.  “Custom vehicle” means any car or motor truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than ten thousand pounds required to be registered under this chapter, with a model year that is at least twenty-five years old and that was manufactured by a generally recognized manufacturer of motor vehicles after 1948, which may contain a body or frame not manufactured by the original manufacturer or which may be altered from the manufacturer’s original design, or any motor vehicle designed and manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle with a model year that is at least twenty-five years old and that was manufactured by a generally recognized manufacturer of motor vehicles after 1948. For purposes of vehicle registration, the model year of a custom vehicle shall be the same as the model year of the motor vehicle that it is designed to resemble.
    Sec. 2.  Section 321.1, subsection 59, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   59.  “Reconstructed vehicle” means every vehicle of a type required to be registered under this chapter materially altered from its original construction by the removal, addition, or substitution of essential parts, new or used. “Reconstructed vehicle” does not include a street rod, replica vehicle, custom vehicle, or glider kit vehicle.
    Sec. 3.  Section 321.1, subsection 76, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   76.  “Specially constructed vehicle” means every vehicle of a type required to be registered under this chapter not originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model, or type by a generally recognized manufacturer of vehicles and not materially altered from its original construction.  “Specially constructed vehicle” does not include a street rod, replica vehicle, custom vehicle, or glider kit vehicle.
    Sec. 4.  Section 321.1, subsection 78A, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   78A.  “Street rod” means any car or motor truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than ten thousand pounds required to be registered under this chapter, manufactured by a generally recognized manufacturer of motor vehicles prior to the year 1949, which may contain a body or frame not manufactured by the original manufacturer or which may be altered from the manufacturer’s original design, or any motor vehicle designed and manufactured to resemble a motor vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949. For purposes of vehicle registration, the model year of a street rod shall be the same as the model year of the motor vehicle that it is designed to resemble.
    Sec. 5.  Section 321.23, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  a.  If the In the application for a motor vehicle to be registered is as a specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, replica vehicle, custom vehicle, or foreign vehicle, such fact shall be stated in the application all of the following shall be included:
   (1)  A statement that the vehicle to be registered is a specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, replica vehicle, custom vehicle, or foreign vehicle.
   (2)  A statement that the vehicle will be maintained for occasional transportation or exhibition in club activities, parades, tours, or other similar uses, but will not be operated for general, everyday transportation.
   (3)  A fee of ten dollars shall be paid by the person making the application upon issuance of a certificate of title by the county treasurer. For a specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, or replica vehicle subject to registration, the application shall be accompanied by a 
   (4)  A statement from the department authorizing the motor vehicle to be titled and registered in this state.
   (5)  Proof that the vehicle passed a safety inspection approved by the department. The department shall adopt rules regarding the form of the proof and the requirements of the safety inspection required by this subparagraph.
   b.  The department shall cause a physical inspection to be made of all specially constructed vehicles, reconstructed vehicles, street rods, custom vehicles, and replica vehicles upon application for a certificate of title by the owner, to determine whether the motor vehicle complies with the definition of specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, custom vehicle, or replica vehicle in this chapter and to determine that the integral component parts are properly identified and that the rightful ownership is established before issuing the owner the authority to have the motor vehicle registered and titled. The purpose of the physical inspection under this section is not to determine whether the motor vehicle is in a condition safe to operate.
   c.  The owner of a specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, custom vehicle, or replica vehicle shall apply for a certificate of title and registration for the vehicle at the county treasurer’s office within thirty days of the inspection inspections required by paragraph “a”, subparagraph (5), and paragraph “b”. For a foreign vehicle which has been registered outside this state, the owner shall surrender to the treasurer all registration plates, registration cards, and certificates of title, or if the vehicle to be registered is from a nontitle state, the evidence of foreign registration and ownership as may be prescribed by the department except as provided in subsection 2.
   d.  Upon completion of every specially constructed vehicle, reconstructed vehicle, street rod, custom vehicle, or replica vehicle, the owner shall certify on a form prescribed by the department that such vehicle is in compliance with all equipment specifications required under this chapter.
    Sec. 6.  Section 321.115A, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A motor vehicle may be registered as a replica vehicle, custom vehicle, or street rod. The annual registration fee is the fee provided for in section 321.109, 321.113, 321.122, or 321.124. The owner of a vehicle registered under this section may display registration plates from or representing the model year of the motor vehicle or the model year of the motor vehicle the registered vehicle is designed to resemble, furnished by the person and approved by the department, in lieu of the current and valid Iowa registration plates issued for the vehicle, provided that the current and valid Iowa registration plates and the registration card issued for the vehicle are simultaneously carried within the vehicle and are available for inspection to any peace officer upon the officer’s request.
    Sec. 7.  Section 321.115A, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  2A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a motor vehicle registered under this section is exempt from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions requirements imposed by the laws of this state.

DIVISION II
SIGNAL LAMPS AND LIGHTING DEVICES
    Sec. 8.  Section 321.1, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  06A.  “Blue dot tail light” means a red lamp installed in the rear of a street rod or custom vehicle, containing a blue or purple insert no more than one inch in diameter, and used for a rear lamp, rear signal lamp, rear hazard lamp, or rear reflector.
    Sec. 9.  Section 321.387, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   321.387  Rear lamps.

   Every motor vehicle and every vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with a lighted rear lamp or lamps, exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear.  The light shall be red unless the vehicle is a street rod or custom vehicle with a blue dot tail light, in which case the light shall be red, blue, or purple. All lamps and lighting equipment originally manufactured on a motor vehicle shall be kept in working condition or shall be replaced with equivalent equipment.
    Sec. 10.  Section 321.393, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  No lighting device or reflector, when mounted on or near the rear of any motor truck or trailer, shall display any other color than red, except that the stop light may be red, yellow, or amber, or if the motor truck is a street rod or custom vehicle with a blue dot tail light, the lighting device or reflector may be red, blue, or purple.
    Sec. 11.  Section 321.395, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   321.395  Lamps on parked vehicles.

   Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a roadway or shoulder adjacent to the roadway, outside of a business district whether attended or unattended during the times mentioned in section 321.384, such vehicle shall be equipped with one or more lamps which shall exhibit a white or amber light on the roadway side visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle and a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear, except that a street rod or custom vehicle with a blue dot tail light may display a red, blue, or purple light from the rear, and except that local authorities may provide by ordinance or resolution that no lights need be displayed upon any such vehicle when stopped or parked in accordance with local parking regulations upon a highway where there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred feet upon such highway. Any lighted headlamps upon a parked vehicle shall be depressed or dimmed.
    Sec. 12.  Section 321.404, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   321.404  Signal lamps and signal devices.

   Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a signal lamp or signal device which is so constructed and located on the vehicle as to give a signal of intention to stop, which shall be red or yellow in color, which signal shall be plainly visible and understandable in normal sunlight and at night from a distance of one hundred feet to the rear but shall not project a glaring or dazzling light.  However, a street rod or custom vehicle with a blue dot tail light may display a red, blue, or purple signal lamp or signal device from the rear.
    Sec. 13.  Section 321.404A, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A person shall not operate a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or motorized bicycle on the highways of this state if it is equipped with a device that restricts the light output of a headlamp required under section 321.385 or 321.386, a rear lamp required under section 321.387, a signal lamp or signal device required under section 321.404, or a directional signal device as described in section 321.317.  However, a street rod or custom vehicle may be equipped with a blue dot tail light.
    Sec. 14.  Section 321.422, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying or reflecting a red light visible from directly in front thereof. No person shall display any color of light other than red on the rear of any vehicle, except that stop lights and directional signals may be red, yellow, or amber, or if the vehicle is a street rod or custom vehicle with a blue dot tail light, rear lighting devices or reflectors may be red, blue, or purple.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to street rods and custom motor vehicles.
   DIVISION I —— STREET RODS AND CUSTOM VEHICLES. Current law defines “street rod” as a vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949, or any vehicle designed and manufactured to resemble a vehicle manufactured prior to the year 1949. The bill defines “custom vehicle” as a vehicle with a model year that is at least 25 years old and that was manufactured after 1948, or any vehicle designed and manufactured to resemble a vehicle with a model year that is at least 25 years old and that was manufactured after 1948.
   Current law sets forth certain requirements for registering a vehicle as a street rod. The bill adds two requirements: a statement that the vehicle will be maintained for occasional transportation or exhibition in club activities, parades, tours, or other similar uses, but will not be operated for general, everyday transportation, and proof that the vehicle passed a safety inspection approved by the department of transportation by rule. The bill applies the existing requirements and these new requirements to custom vehicles. The bill also applies other existing requirements for street rods to custom vehicles, including a non-safety-related physical inspection, a 30-day window after an inspection during which the vehicle owner may register the vehicle as a street rod or custom vehicle, and a safety inspection and fee required for vehicles that do not meet certain equipment requirements.
   The bill provides that the registration fee for custom vehicles is determined the same way as the registration fee for street rods, and provides that street rods and custom vehicles are exempt from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions requirements imposed by Iowa law.
   DIVISION II —— SIGNAL LAMPS AND LIGHTING DEVICES. The bill defines “blue dot tail light” as a red lamp installed in the rear of a street rod or custom vehicle, containing a blue or purple insert no more than one inch in diameter, and used for a rear lamp, rear signal lamp, rear hazard lamp, or rear reflector. The bill provides that street rods and custom vehicles may use blue dot tail lights.