This question is rooted in another thread that I was reading today about the outlawing of T-buckets and tighter restrictions coming to hobby cars in Wisconsin. http://jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=570024 The question is, has anyone in Wisconsin ever had to have their car inspected by state patrol before being issued their hobby plates? The application form says all vehicles may be subject to inspection. There are talks of new legislation coming through requiring a lot of hoop jumping, receipts for all parts, etc...I was thinking about trying to get plates for my car before it is even on the road as to save myself future h***le.
I know some of you in WI have hobby plates, I'd also like to hear from you if you never have had an inspection request or never heard of anyone having one. Don't worry, I'm building a super solid and safe car, just thinking about the possibility of getting plates now and being grandfathered in before the laws change.
if, you want to discuss the best solution for your situation, pm me with your phone #, I wll call you back with some suggestions. I have a little bit of background regarding DOT and hot rods. Curt R
I got Hobbyist Plates in Wis. about 5 years ago. The only inspection I got was when I was told to take it to my local Cop Shop(small town) and have them sign off on it and submit it. The cop came out, walked around the car, said "Cool", signed off and that was it.
I put a Vega body on a Scout frame in the late 70s and had to have it inspected and got a Wisconsin vin tag and car plates. It was pretty simple then as I had ***les for both vehicles.
long story, short version. In 2008, Wis DOT changed their procedure for issuing ***les for hot rods and "hobbyist" plates. Sometimes the procedures changed from week to week, better known as no uniformity. Also, DOT began to reinterpret the hot rod ***le laws of 1996. In early 2010, the procedure changes were causing ***le and registration problems for the hot rodders. In November 2010, a new governor and administration were elected. After, some personnel changes within DOT, regular meetings could be scheduled with DOT to discuss the problems. I have been having regular meetings with current DOT personnel. Some of the 2008 problems and issues are being resolved. Every meeting has been productive and most, if not all the problems with hot rod ***les and registration will be resolved. The problem solving has been a constant "work in progress" for the last six months. Because DOT procedures are evolving to meet the hot rodders needs, for now, most situations are handled on an individual basis. Sometimes, a situation has it's own set of problems. Wisconsin was the first state to p*** specific legislation for ***ling hot rod and custom built cars, that was in 1996. SEMA and other states have been using the Wisconsin legislation as model legislation since 1996. For the people that have received Wisconsin ***les and plates, in the past, thanks for posting. It shows that our 1996 laws worked until someone decided to reinterpret the laws and also change procedures. I am unable to spill the beans because some of the beans are different than the others. Then, I try to give the best advice I can to the individual bean er, problem. When, the dust settles and there are definitive, productive procedures for hot rod ***les and plates, I will post here. Thanks for everyones interest and keep watch on your state and the legislators. Curt R
kinda got off topic with my reply to J53. Inspection? Wis State Patrol inspection is STILL A POSSIBILITY for anyone applying for a "replica" or "street modified" ***le OR if you want to register your car for a "Hobbyist" license plate. In the above instances, the applicant MUST SEND in photos of the COMPLETED car and a written description of the car and the modifications.
After seeing some of the things do***ented on this site, I recognize the need for some type of inspection for the safety of everyone on the road. That being said, States have to have standards and procedures in place for builders to follow, not make them up as they go along. Even when rules are written, there are always interpretation issues. One inspector might say it's OK while another says no. Then there is the power struggle where one inspector has to show that he has more authority than another.
Thanks Curt. Sounds like you're really involved with this, and a big "thank you" for that! Keep us updated.
As Curt mentioned the laws are changing. So far none of mine were inspected but mine are just mild customs. If you build a replica, street rod or hot rod(mild custom), you shouldn't be subject to the inspection (yet). Mild custom, i'm talking cars that are still recognizable as to the original factory model. Like just shaving the chrome off, painted bumpers, frenched headlights or tailights, no structural cutting etc. If you do a complete reconstruction or a homemade car or heavy modifications, then you are subject to the inspection. Also Curt mention them wanting pictures. that's correct, they want both sides, a front and back view plus an engine shot and interior shot too. I also have a few cars with collectors plates and they have the same requests for the pictures now too.
For what it's worth I've been ***ling with regular plates first to get everything in my name and then worrying about hobbyist from that point on. That way you can be on the road and go from there. And don't even get me started on the new $20.00 wheel tax in Milwaukee County....
i forgot to mentioned in my earlier post that the ones you need to show receipts for all major parts are the ones that fall in the reconstruction, homemade, heavily modified, subject to inspection category.
Curt, thanks so much for everything that you are doing to preserve our hobby in Wisconsin. It sounds like in my case the process will be relatively painless, and that with the work you are doing I really shouldn't have to rush to get my plates. Again, THANKS!!!
I just put antique plates on the 41. Went to the DMV and the guy there tells me to send it all through the mail. So i get the form and fill it out and send it in, no inspection. Heres the cool part, Antique plates in Wisconsin cost me five bucks! All Right!( the guy at the DMV had to look at the ***le twice, and says wow! a 41 how cool is that?) kinda off topic but it made my day!
does in WI know anything about state ***igned vins and the prefix "SD" ? what about on the ***le, it says "product number"
I ***led a replica 65 cobra with hobby plates last year. Pretty straight forward. Go to the DMV web site and down load the inspection forms. It is almost 30 pages, and check them against your car. I had to take the vehicle for inspection at the state patrol office on blue mound in milwaukee. There is only one inspector and you need to make an appointment. The officer was a friendly and good to work with. His goal was to make sure the car was safe. Claims over 60% of the cars he sees are death traps. Rat rods gone bad! I trailered it in but you are allowed to drive it there. They have a life on site but he popped the hood, looked under the car and checked all the lights. He gave quite a few compliments on the good workmanship. Dinged me, for heat shields on the side pipes. I had to send in a photo with them on. Interesting he told me not to start the car [ big block with headers and side pipes], he did not want to hear how loud it was. No headache, no h***le, just common sense and follow the guidelines. E
In my situation, I have a Connecticut bill of sale (no ***le on a 47 model truck in Connecticut) and am swapping the cab onto another frame (have Kentucky ***le) along with extensive modifications to both cab and frame. I eventually want to end up with an RV registration. I'm not afraid to get inspected, as I've been through that with totalled vehicles, but I would like to know that I'm not going to end up at a dead end because of no real ***le for one of the major components. (Cab) I really don't care what my truck is ***led as. How screwed am I?
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