341.268 Reconstructed, replica, street modified and homemade vehicles; registration, plates, use.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Hobbyist" means the owner of one or more reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicles who collects, purchases, acquires, trades or disposes of reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicles or parts thereof for personal use in order to build, reconstruct, restore, preserve and maintain a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle for historic or hobby interest.

(b) “Homemade vehicle" means any of the following:

1. A motor vehicle that has been constructed or assembled from new or used parts or both using a body and frame not originating from and not resembling any previously manufactured motor vehicle.

2. A motorcycle that is a reproduction of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer and that consists of a reproduction body that is combined with a new, used, or replica frame and drivetrain.

(c) “Parts car" means a motor vehicle generally in nonoperable condition which is owned by the hobbyist to furnish parts which will enable the hobbyist to build, reconstruct, restore, preserve and maintain a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle.

(d) “Reconstructed vehicle" means a motor vehicle of any age which has been substantially altered or modified from original manufacturers specifications to such an extent that it no longer resembles the original manufactured vehicle.

(e) “Replica vehicle" means a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, that is a reproduction of a vehicle originally made by another manufacturer and that consists of a reproduction body that is combined with a new, used, or replica frame and drivetrain.

(f) “Street modified vehicle" means a motor vehicle of any age which has been modified from original manufacturers specifications, but does not include any reconstructed vehicle as defined under par. (d).

(2)

(a) Any person who is the owner of a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle and who owns, has registered in this state and uses for regular transportation at least one vehicle that has regular registration plates may upon application register the vehicle as a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle upon payment of a fee under par. (b), provided that the vehicle is one of the following:

1. A reconstructed vehicle assembled from a vehicle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the vehicle.

2. A replica vehicle which is a reproduction of a vehicle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the replica vehicle.

3. A street modified vehicle which is 20 or more years old at the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the vehicle.

4. A homemade vehicle under sub. (1) (b) 1.

5. A homemade vehicle under sub. (1) (b) 2. that is a reproduction of a motorcycle manufactured 20 years or more prior to the time of making application for registration or transfer of title of the homemade vehicle.

(b) The fee to register a vehicle under par. (a) is twice the regular annual fee under s. 341.25 for the type of vehicle, except that the fee for a vehicle that has a gross weight of more than 8,000 pounds may be no more than twice the annual fee for a similar vehicle that has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds.

(c) The department shall furnish the owner of the vehicle with registration plates of a distinctive design in lieu of the usual registration plates, and those plates shall show that the vehicle is a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle owned by a Wisconsin hobbyist. Upon application, the owner may reregister the vehicle without the payment of any additional fee.

(d) Each hobbyist applying for reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle registration plates will be issued a hobbyist's identification number which will appear on each plate. Second and all subsequent registrations under this section by the same hobbyist will bear the same hobbyist's identification number followed by a suffix letter for vehicle identification.

(e) The vehicle may be used as are other vehicles of the same type except that:

1. Motor vehicles may not transport passengers for hire.

2. Trucks may not haul material weighing more than 500 pounds, not including the weight of a camper, lid or cap that is mounted on the truck or the weight of any persons or pets riding within the driver's compartment.

3. Except as provided in s. 341.09 (7), no reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle may be operated upon any highway of this state during the month of January unless the owner of the vehicle reregisters the vehicle under s. 341.25 and replaces the distinctive registration plates issued under par. (c) with regular registration plates or transfers regular registration plates to the vehicle.

(f) Unless inconsistent with this section, the provisions of this chapter applicable to other vehicles shall apply to reconstructed, replica, street modified and homemade vehicles.

(3) In addition to the fee in sub. (2) (b), there shall be an original (first time only) processing fee of $50 to defray the cost of issuing the original hobbyist's reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle registration plates and to ensure that each hobbyist will be issued only one hobbyist's identification number.

(4) A hobbyist may store unlicensed, operable or inoperable, vehicles and parts cars on the hobbyist's property provided the vehicles and parts cars and outdoor storage area are maintained in such a manner that they do not constitute a health hazard and are screened from ordinary public view by means of a fence, rapidly growing trees, shrubbery or other appropriate means.

(4m) A motorcycle registered as a replica vehicle under s. 341.268, 1999 stats., shall be considered a homemade vehicle for purposes of this section and ss. 341.09 (7), 341.27 (3) (a), 341.28 (2), and 341.31 (4) (b), except that the owner of the motorcycle is not required to replace the distinctive registration plates issued under s. 341.268 (2) (c), 1999 stats., showing that the motorcycle is a replica vehicle.

(5) Any person who violates sub. (2) (e) 3. may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

History: 1975 c. 94 s. 3; 1975 c. 417; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (4); 1987 a. 349; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 126; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 321.