House File 2679 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2679 BY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION (SUCCESSOR TO HF 2439) A BILL FOR An Act relating to specially constructed motorcycles. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 5766HV (1) 91 th/ns
H.F. 2679 Section 1. Section 321.1, subsection 76, Code 2026, is 1 amended to read as follows: 2 76. “Specially constructed vehicle” means every vehicle 3 of a type required to be registered under this chapter not 4 originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model, 5 or type by a generally recognized manufacturer of vehicles 6 and not materially altered from its original construction. 7 “Specially constructed vehicle” includes a motorcycle assembled 8 by a person who is not a manufacturer if the assembled 9 motorcycle does not comply with the certification label 10 requirement under 49 C.F.R. pt. 567, regardless of whether 11 the motorcycle is constructed under a distinctive name, make, 12 model, or type. “Specially constructed vehicle” does not 13 include a street rod, replica vehicle, or glider kit vehicle. 14 EXPLANATION 15 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 16 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 17 This bill defines “specially constructed vehicle” to 18 include a motorcycle assembled by a person who is not a vehicle 19 manufacturer if the assembled motorcycle does not comply 20 with the certification label requirement under 49 C.F.R. pt. 21 567, regardless of whether the motorcycle is constructed 22 under a distinctive name, make, model, or type. Federal 23 regulations generally require manufacturers of motor vehicles 24 to permanently affix to each vehicle a certification label in 25 such a manner that it cannot be removed without destroying 26 or defacing it. A certification label is intended to assist 27 a consumer in determining which of the federal motor vehicle 28 safety standards (49 C.F.R. pt. 571), bumper standards (49 29 C.F.R. pt. 581), and federal theft prevention standards (49 30 C.F.R. pt. 541) are applicable to the vehicle. 31 Under current law, a person who registers a specially 32 constructed vehicle must state the fact that the vehicle is 33 specially constructed in the application. The application fee 34 is $30. The application must be accompanied by a statement 35 -1- LSB 5766HV (1) 91 th/ns 1/ 2
H.F. 2679 from the department of transportation (DOT) authorizing 1 the motor vehicle to be titled and registered. A physical 2 inspection of all specially constructed vehicles must be made 3 so the DOT can determine whether the motor vehicle complies 4 with the definition of “specially constructed vehicle” and 5 to determine that the integral component parts are properly 6 identified and that the rightful ownership is established 7 before the owner can register and title the motor vehicle. The 8 purpose of the physical inspection is not to determine whether 9 the motor vehicle is in a condition safe to operate. Upon 10 completion of every specially constructed vehicle, the owner 11 is required to certify on a form prescribed by the DOT that 12 the vehicle is in compliance with all equipment specifications 13 required under Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the 14 road). 15 If a vehicle does not meet the equipment requirements of 16 Code chapter 321 due to the particular use for which it is 17 designed or intended, the vehicle may be registered by the 18 DOT upon payment of appropriate fees and after inspection and 19 certification by the DOT that the vehicle is not in an unsafe 20 condition. 21 -2- LSB 5766HV (1) 91 th/ns 2/ 2