Connecticut Introduces Bill to Restrict Access to Antique Vehicle Registration

[SEMA Action Network]

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62914

Legislation (H.B. 5580) to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles” has been introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly. Under the bill, vehicles seeking registration under these classes would be required to be at least 25 years old. Currently, vehicles 20 years old or older are eligible for such status and a reduced assessment for personal property tax purposes. Antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles are currently assessed at a rate of $500 and owners pay personal property taxes on that amount. A public hearing to consider the bill is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

We Urge You to Contact Members of the Connecticut Joint Committee on Planning and Development (List Attached Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 5580

For those interested in attending the hearing to voice opposition, the Committee will meet on Wed., March 2 at 10:30 AM at the following address:

Room 1C of the Legislative Office Building
210 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106

• H.B. 5580 makes it more expensive to register legitimate collector vehicles, which are generally only used for club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades and occasional pleasure driving.
• H.B. 5580 will require antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles that no longer qualify for special plates to have them replaced with standard plates and taxed using the same calculations used to assess taxes on regular, daily driver vehicles.
• H.B. 5580 ignores the fact that existing antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet and are well-maintained and infrequently operated.

DON’T DELAY! Please contact members of the Connecticut Joint Committee on Planning and Development immediately by phone or e-mail to request their opposition to H.B. 5580.

Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Also, please forward this Alert to your fellow car enthusiasts. Urge them to join the SAN and help defend the hobby! Thank you for your assistance.

Connecticut Joint Committee on Planning and Development

Senator Steve Cassano - Chair
Phone: 860/240-5302
Email: Cassano@senatedems.ct.gov

Representative Linda Gentile - Chair
Phone: 860/240-8585
Email: Linda.Gentile@cga.ct.gov

Senator Eric Coleman - Vice-Chair
Phone: 860/240-0528
Email: Eric.Coleman@cga.ct.gov

Representative Auden Grogins - Vice-Chair
Phone: 860/240-8585
Email: Auden.Grogins@cga.ct.gov

Senator Len Fasano
Phone: 800/842-1421
Email: Len.Fasano@cga.ct.gov

Representative Bill Aman
Phone: 860/240-8700
Email: Bill.Aman@cga.ct.gov

Representative Vincent Candelora
Phone: 860-240-8700
Email: Vincent.Candelora@housegop.ct.gov

Representative Christopher Davis
Phone: 860-240-8700
Email: christopher.davis@housegop.ct.gov

Representative Mae M. Flexer
Phone: 860) 240-8585
Email: Mae.Flexer@cga.ct.gov

Representative Mary G. Fritz
Phone: 860) 240-8500
Email: Mary.Fritz@cga.ct.gov

Representative Roland Lemar
Phone: 860/240-8585
Email: Roland.Lemar@cga.ct.gov

Representative Elaine O'Brien
Phone: 860/240-8585
Email: Elaine.OBrien@cga.ct.gov

Representative Jason Perillo
Phone: 860-240-8700
Email: jason.perillo@housegop.ct.gov

Representative Lonnie Reed
Phone: 860.240.8585
Email: Lonnie.Reed@cga.ct.gov

Representative Tom Reynolds
Phone: 860.240.8585
Email: Tom.Reynolds@cga.ct.gov

Representative Matthew Ritter
Phone: 860) 240-8585
Email: Matthew.Ritter@cga.ct.gov

Representative Jason Rojas
Phone: 860.240.8585
Email: Jason.Rojas@cga.ct.gov

Representative Kim Rose
Phone: 860/240-8585
Email: Kim.Rose@cga.ct.gov

Representative Bill Simanski
Phone: 860/240-8700
Email: bill.simanski@housegop.ct.gov

Representative Richard Smith
Phone: 860/240-8700
Email: richard.smith@housegop.ct.gov

[Silver Ice]

Just another way to screw legit people

[THE EVIL TW1N]

im all for rights of old cars but a car made in 1991 should not be considered antique IMO.

do ferraris and lambos count as special interest vehicles?

[SEMA Action Network]

Originally Posted by THE EVIL TW1N

im all for rights of old cars but a car made in 1991 should not be considered antique IMO.

do ferraris and lambos count as special interest vehicles?

Just curious, why not? There are some great rare, collectibles now from the late '80s and early '90s.

We want to keep old cars on the road. If we allow them to increase the age, the slippery slope begins. 25 years won't be enough. Then, how about 30, 40, 50 years? HB5580 would also exclude cars from reduced assessment for personal property tax purposes.

[SEMA Action Network]

Just a reminder that this will be heard TOMORROW so please call immediately!

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by SEMA Action Network

....25 years won't be enough. Then, how about 30, 40, 50 years? HB5580 would also exclude cars from reduced assessment for personal property tax purposes.

??? its gonna spread like communism did!!!!!!

a rare car is a rare car but a freakin mustang or camaro or even monte carlo from 1991 is not an antique in my eyes and totally craps on the whole spirit of the law if you allow those turds to sneak in. pre-1974 is antique in my book

do ferraris and lambos count as special interest vehicles? If they do, thats an excellent way to collect taxes from the rich in this bad economy.

[SleepWarz]

The DD is 20 years old now and has been in the family the whole time. 91 chrysler newyorker.

I'd love to get collector plates for it, its a great car.

[3 SS's]

I have three registered in Ct with "Antique plates" all over 25 yrs old,
two are the Chevelles in my sig...here's the other.

[JaxJags]

Does this mean that cars that just turned 20 years old won't be eligible for antique status?

[Mr Twisty]

A 20 year old car in Ct. is rare indeed! If it survived that long without rusting to nothing it deserves a break.

In the end tho, this is all about revenue, some bean counter crunched the numbers and realized they could get an additional (insert big number here) by changing the rule.

[3 SS's]

Originally Posted by MisterCamaro69

A 20 year old car in Ct. is rare indeed! If it survived that long without rusting to nothing it deserves a break.

In the end tho, this is all about revenue, some bean counter crunched the numbers and realized they could get an additional (insert big number here) by changing the rule.

EXACTLY..... the taxes on my Chevelles combined is about $27 the Camaro $580.