Good Question

Ken Matthews sent a comment (found in the posting of 8/24) on my take on the blatant misuse of the Antique Vehicle Plate on unsafe vehicles or non antiques that are just plain junkers.

Both Ken and I attended the Mid-Coast Show on Sunday and witnessed the reason for his query. A builder of some type of Street Rod that was to say the least, a specimen of bio-hazard/OSHA violation, with a slight hint of Chernobyl and Mount St. Helens on wheels and on it were Antique Plates.

Antique Vehicles in the State of Maine are considered a "Limited Use" Vehicle, to be used at parades , car shows, cruise nights or club functions. Antique Vehicle are to be stock in appearance to include the engine and other drive train components. Due to the "Limited Use" status an annual Vehicle Safety Inspection is NOT REQUIRED.

Now the problem I have is the misuse of these parameters by people who are not willing to build or operate a safe vehicle and apply the Antique Vehicle Status just to get around the issue of a Vehicle Safety Inspection.

Customs and Street Rods are not considered to be "Limited Use" and can be driven any time you want. Both of these types of vehicles are REQUIRED to obtain a Yearly Vehicle Safety Inspection.

Recently a Meeting was held with representatives of several car clubs, both National and Local and representatives of the State. The State is coming up with a plan to curtail this Misuse and I can almost Guarantee that the Legitimate Antique Vehicle owners will not be happy. In turn that can cause a trickle down affect that could screw us all.

If your Vehicle was built in 1948 or prior and it is Modified its a Street Rod.
If your Vehicle is at least 30 years old and was built no earlier than 1949 and its Modified, its a Custom
If your vehicle fits either one of the previous parameters and its registered as Antique, you are in VIOLATION OF THE LAW and will be Fined a MINIMUM of $250.00

You Also signed an Affidavit for your Antique Plates Stating that it is an Antique and it is not to be used as your primary Transportation, Thus a Falsification of Legal Documents. You and the Attorney General will soon become close friends in a Courtroom kind of way

Of the Thousands of Antique Vehicles in the State of Maine a small percentage of Illegally Registered Vehicles is poised to ruin our chances of enjoying our hobby in the years to come.

My take is that ALL vehicles should be required to pass a Periodic Safety Inspection that is geared toward the type and year of said vehicle using tested parameters from many sources.

We all need to educate each other and let these few that misuse the Registration Plates know that they are in violation of the law and may be a danger to not only themselves but also to others and we will not stand for it.

All it takes is one fatality and we all lose. If you are the cause you lose even more.