I am planning on possibility purchasing a traditional roadster which has no fenders, I know years back that CT was very strict on this. I has seen some rods running with out them , Does any one know what the current law on this or are fellow Hammers just running without them or are local enforcement just turning the other way thanks thanks for input Mercuryguy
All you need to register is a VIN verification done at any emission station. Back in the day it was a real pain, no more. Paul in CT
Ask Mark, he has a aversion to fenders and he is constantly on the road with his roadster and the Coleman Coupe before he sent it down the rod, both were fender-less. HRP
From the motor vehicle code: Sec. 14-104. Fenders and other wheel protectors. (a) No person shall operate on any public highway any motor vehicle with a p***enger or commercial registration which is not equipped with fenders on all wheels which come into contact with the highway unless the body of the vehicle or attachments thereto afford adequate protection to effectively minimize the spray or splash of water or mud to the rear of the vehicle. (b) No person shall operate or cause to be operated any bus, truck, truck-tractor, full trailer or semitrailer of registered gross weight exceeding three tons on any public highway unless the same is equipped with suitable metal protectors or substantial flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels, and, in case the rear wheels are not covered at the top and rear by fender, body or other parts of the vehicle, the rear wheels shall be covered at the top and rear by protective means of such standard type or design and so installed as to reduce, as far as practicable, such wheels from throwing dirt, water or other materials on the windshields of following vehicles, except in cases in which the motor vehicle is so designed and constructed that the above requirements are accomplished by reason of the fender or body construction or other means of enclosure. (c) Violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction. (1953, 1955, S. 1340d; February, 1965, P.A. 448, S. 13; 1969, P.A. 576; P.A. 76-381, S. 6; P.A. 90-263, S. 65, 74; P.A. 99-268, S. 5; P.A. 00-169, S. 22.) History: 1965 act added “truck tractor” to first sentence of Subsec. (b) and deleted provision exempting vehicles requiring complete freedom around the wheel area from last sentence of Subsec. (b); 1969 act amended Subsec. (a) to require fenders on all wheels in contact with highway unless vehicle is equipped to minimize spray or splash of mud or water and specified applicability to p***enger or commercial motor vehicles and motorcycles; P.A. 76-381 replaced provision re fine and/or imprisonment with statement that violation is an infraction; P.A. 90-263 amended Subsec. (a) to subs***ute phrase “motor vehicle with a p***enger or commercial registration” for “p***enger or commercial motor vehicle or motorcycle”; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (b) to delete exemption for farm vehicles; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section. Cited. 30 CA 263. Looks like the fender law is still on the books, how they choose to enforce it may be another thing though.
It’s in California too over 1500#. If your doing dumb things with your car and Officer Barney Fife isn’t doing anything and sees you it might be another story.
Washington has a fair weather fender law (that rodders pushed though) that lets you run fenderless with vehicles that look like they were built prior to 1937 originally but reads older than 40 years old. I have never heard of anyone getting caught in the rain getting a ticket though. As far as Connecticut it may be a case of it it looks like it is supposed to be that way they don't bother you if it looks "wrong" for some reason they have a talk with you.
Before I moved to Pennsylvania 4 years ago, I lived in Manchester, Connecticut. I drove my roadster in Connecticut, and M***achusetts. I was never stopped, or har***ed by the police. If you drive reasonably, and are not stupid, you shouldn't have any problems
As a retired cop from CT I can tell you with some certainty that most of the folks on the job now have NO IDEA about fender laws. If you are a grey hair driving your rod around in a non reckless manner about all you will get from the cops is a thumbs up. If you have to take it to an actual DMV location they may take issue.
The hooligans that ran around with no fenders are now tax payers with mortgages or drawing social security. I think theres plenty of new hooligans to worry about.
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