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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the registration and compulsory inspection of certain |
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street rods and custom vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 501.038 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.038. CERTIFICATE OF TITLE FOR CUSTOM VEHICLE OR |
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STREET ROD. (a) In this section, "custom vehicle" and "street rod" |
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have the meanings assigned by Section 504.502. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if |
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the department issues a certificate of title for a custom vehicle or |
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street rod, the model year of the vehicle must be listed on the |
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certificate of title and must be the model year that the body of the |
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vehicle resembles. The certificate of title must also include the |
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word "replica." |
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(c) The owner of the custom vehicle or street rod shall |
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provide the department with documentation identifying the model |
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year that the body of the vehicle resembles. |
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SECTION 2. Section 504.502, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (i) and adding Subsections |
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(f-1) and (f-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for |
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a passenger car, truck, motorcycle, or former military vehicle |
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that: |
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(1) [is at least 25 years old,] if the vehicle is a |
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passenger car, truck, or motorcycle: |
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(A) is at least 25 years old; or |
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(B) is a custom vehicle or street rod; |
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(2) is a collector's item; |
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(3) is used exclusively for exhibitions, club |
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activities, parades, and other functions of public interest and is |
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not used for regular transportation; and |
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(4) does not carry advertising. |
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(b) The license plates must include the words "Antique |
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Auto," "Antique Truck," "Antique Motorcycle," "Street Rod," |
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"Custom Vehicle," or "Military Vehicle," as appropriate. |
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(f-1) Notwithstanding Chapter 547, a custom vehicle or |
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street rod eligible to receive license plates under this section is |
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not required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment |
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unless the specific piece of equipment was required by statute as a |
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condition of sale during the year listed as the model year on the |
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certificate of title. |
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(f-2) On initial registration of a custom vehicle or street |
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rod, the owner must provide proof, acceptable to the department, |
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that the custom vehicle or street rod passed a safety inspection |
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that has been approved by the department. The department shall |
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create a safety inspection process for inspecting custom vehicles |
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and street rods. |
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(i) In this section: |
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(1) "Custom vehicle" means a vehicle: |
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(A) that is: |
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(i) at least 25 years old and of a model |
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year after 1948; or |
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(ii) manufactured to resemble a vehicle |
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that is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; and |
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(B) that: |
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(i) has been altered from the |
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manufacturer's original design; or |
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(ii) has a body constructed from materials |
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not original to the vehicle. |
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(2) "Former[, "former] military vehicle" means a |
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vehicle, including a trailer, regardless of the vehicle's size, |
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weight, or year of manufacture, that: |
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(A) [(1)] was manufactured for use in any |
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country's military forces; and |
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(B) [(2)] is maintained to represent its |
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military design and markings accurately. |
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(3) "Street rod" means a vehicle: |
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(A) that was manufactured: |
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(i) before 1949; or |
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(ii) after 1948 to resemble a vehicle |
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manufactured before 1949; and |
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(B) that: |
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(i) has been altered from the |
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manufacturer's original design; or |
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(ii) has a body constructed from materials |
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not original to the vehicle. |
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SECTION 3. Section 548.052, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 548.052. VEHICLES NOT SUBJECT TO INSPECTION. This |
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chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile |
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home moving under or bearing a current factory-delivery license |
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plate or current in-transit license plate; |
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(2) a vehicle moving under or bearing a paper dealer |
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in-transit tag, machinery license, disaster license, parade |
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license, prorate tab, one-trip permit, antique license, custom |
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vehicle license, street rod license, temporary 24-hour permit, or |
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permit license; |
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(3) a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile |
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home having an actual gross weight or registered gross weight of |
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4,500 pounds or less; |
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(4) farm machinery, road-building equipment, a farm |
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trailer, or a vehicle required to display a slow-moving-vehicle |
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emblem under Section 547.703; |
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(5) a former military vehicle, as defined by Section |
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504.502(i) [502.275]; |
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(6) a vehicle qualified for a tax exemption under |
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Section 152.092, Tax Code; or |
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(7) a vehicle for which a certificate of title has been |
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issued but that is not required to be registered. |
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SECTION 4. Section 504.502, Transportation Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to a registration period beginning on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |