Bill > S1834

This bill amends Chapter 90 of the General Laws to establish specific regulations for "street rods" and "custom vehicles," which are defined based on their year of manufacture, resemblance to older vehicles, and alterations from original design or use of non-original materials. A "custom vehicle" is generally one manufactured after 1948 with a model year at least 25 years old, or resembling such a vehicle, and that has been altered or built with non-original materials. A "street rod" is defined as a vehicle manufactured before 1949, or one manufactured later but made to resemble a pre-1949 vehicle, and which has also been altered or built with non-original materials. The bill outlines the application process for registering these vehicles, requiring owners to declare they will be maintained for occasional use like exhibitions and parades, not for general daily transportation, and that they have passed a safety inspection. It also exempts these vehicles from certain health regulations and specifies that they are not required to have specific equipment unless it was mandatory for sale in their original year of manufacture. Additionally, the bill allows street rods and custom vehicles to use "blue dot tail lights," which are red rear lights with a small blue or purple insert, for stop, turning, hazard, and reflector functions. Finally, it adds a provision for a registration fee for these specialized vehicles.