MILITARY SURPLUS VEHICLE; DEFINE H.B. 4866 (H-2):
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4866 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Steven Johnson
House Committee: Transportation
Ways and Means
Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to define "military surplus vehicle" and specify that "historic vehicle" would include a military surplus vehicle that was over 25 years old.
Under the Code, "historic vehicle" means a vehicle that is over 25 years old and that is owned solely as a collector's item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, including mechanical testing, but is not used for general transportation. The use of the vehicle during the month of August in each year is considered an exhibition. Under the bill, the term would include a military surplus vehicle that was over 25 years old.
The bill would define "military surplus vehicle" as a high mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicle or motor vehicle, commonly known as a Humvee or HMMWV, that meets all the following requirements:
-- Is not a tracked or half-tracked vehicle.
-- Was manufactured by or under the direction of the United States Armed Forces for military usage.
-- Complies with 49 CFR 571.7 and MIL-STD-1180B.
-- Was subsequently authorized for sale to civilians.
-- Passed the TR-54 safety inspection.
(Title 49 CFR 571.7 and MIL-STD-1180B specify the Federal motor vehicle safety standards for military vehicles. The TR-54 safety inspection is a vehicle number/on-road equipment inspection performed by a Michigan police officer which verifies that a vehicle has all required equipment for on-road registration.)
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
MCL 257.20a et al. Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could have a minimal, positive fiscal impact on State revenue. The amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of vehicles that became eligible under the bill. Currently, a decommissioned military surplus vehicle is not eligible to be registered as a street legal vehicle in Michigan. The vehicles may be titled as an off-road
vehicle to be operated only on off-road trails but may not be registered; therefore, no registration fee (or tax) is collected from these types of vehicles.
The bill would allow for military surplus vehicles to be registered as a historic vehicle, meaning that the vehicle could be driven to participate in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses. Also, the use of historic vehicles is allowed during the month of August as August is considered an exhibition for the purpose of historic vehicles.
Currently, historic vehicles pay a single registration fee of $30 that provides for a ten-year registration. Under the bill, for each vehicle that became eligible to be registered as a historic vehicle, the State would collect $30 every ten years. The amount of additional revenue is indeterminate and would depend on the number of military surplus vehicles that register under the new provisions proposed in the bill.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.