SAN-supported legislation (L.B. 216) to create a registration class and special license plate for special interest motor vehicles was signed into law by Governor Dave Heineman. The new law authorizes owners of special interest motor vehicles to operate them on Nebraska's roads displaying a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Each application for initial issuance or renewal of a special interest motor vehicle license plate must be accompanied by a license plate fee of fifty dollars. Under the new law, special interest motor vehicles are defined as those vehicles "of any age which are being collected, preserved, restored, or maintained by the owner as a leisure pursuit and not used for general transportation of persons or cargo." Under a SAN-drafted amendment to the law, special interest motor vehicles may be driven on the public streets and roads for occasional transportation, public displays, parades, and related pleasure or hobby activities. SAN worked with the bill sponsor and staff to delete provisions in the original bill that would have required proof of membership in a recognized car club; forced owners to account for all daily driver vehicles owned or operated by the applicant; obligated owners to a sworn affidavit that the vehicle would not be used for daily transportation; and mandated that these vehicles be essentially unaltered from the original manufacturer's specifications.
Thank you to Nebraska State Senator Colby Coash for sponsoring the bill and congratulations to all Nebraska hobbyists who supported it.