For those of you who don't know me, I'm one of the Pinzgauer owners who's been involved in this fight with WisDOT since day one. I've read the previous thread regarding the proposed bill being sponsored by Rep. Zigmunt. You need to know that there is an alternative bill, being sponsored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach. It is being co-authored by at least 14 senators. Please check out the differences.
Sen. Erpenbach sponsored this proposal because he believes that what WisDOT is doing is wrong. WisDOT started canceling titles for HMVs (including Pinzgauers) in 2007. An Administrative Law Judge ruled that DOT was wrong in 2008, and WisDOT relicensed Pinzgauers. But in 2009, WisDOT started refusing title to Pinzgauers again.
Here's what they wrote:
TO: All Legislators
FROM: Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts
DATE: October 21, 2009
RE: Co-Sponsorship of LRB 3562/1 - Registration of former military vehicles
We are introducing LRB 3562/1 which will allow former military vehicles to be registered as a type of special interest vehicle.
The need for this bill has come to our attention through our constituent, Paul Underwood of Mount Horeb. Mr. Underwood owns a Pinzgauer, which was licensed by DOT for a number of years. Two years ago DOT refused to re-license his vehicle. Mr. Underwood took his case before an administrative law judge, and won. However, DOT is back to not licensing Pinzgauers as people apply for registration and licensing. It has become clear to us that DOT intends to proceed with it’s plan of outlawing Pinzgauers as a first step of proceeding to remove from the road all historic military vehicles. On behalf of our constituent, we are instigating this legislation to protect his investment and right to use his vehicle. There will be many individuals around the state who will loose the ability to drive their vehicles if DOT plans to take away the ability to license historic military vehicles moves forward.
The bill allows former military vehicles to be registered as a type of special interest vehicle. A former military vehicle is defined as a vehicle that is at least 25 years old, was manufactured for use in any country’s military forces, and is maintained to accurately represent its military design and markings, regardless of the vehicle’s size and weight. A former military vehicle may be registered as a special interest vehicle even if it is originally designed and manufactured for off-highway operation and does not meet certain federal motor vehicle safety standards. Former military vehicles registered as collector vehicles are not subject to the 500 pound weight limitation for hauling material.
Please reply to this email if you are interested in co-sponsoring the measure, or call our offices. Sen. Erpenbach 608-266-6670 or Rep. Pope-Roberts 608-266-3520.
The draft is attached for your consideration
This is me again. I'm not sure how to copy the bill in here. I'm having Tom from our Wisconsin-Pinzgauers website post it to our site, and I'll post a link asap.
You read it right!! They believe that WisDOT is trying to DO AWAY WITH ALL HISTORIC MILITARY VEHICLES. They are willing to fight WisDOT.
Basically, Sen. Erpenbach's bill will allow ANY historic military vehicle, from any country, and from any age, to be registered in Wisconsin as a "collector" vehicle. There is a ONE-TIME registration fee, then no annual payment. Just like any collector licensed vehicle, it would not be able to operate in January, unless the owner paid a small additional fee. But how many of these trucks are driving around Wisconsin in January?? But, most importantly, this bill EXEMPTS the vehicle from the payload restriction regular collector vehicles have. This allows people to use the trucks for regular PRIVATE (not for-hire) uses, including local fire departments and search & rescue functions.
Rep. Zigmunt's bill is being promoted as giving HMV owners a lot of rights. I say bull$hit. You've ALREADY got the right to drive your trucks as you please, so long as you get it properly licensed. The bill that Jeff Rowsam wants you to support will only allow you to drive your trucks to parades and for maintenance purposes. Why are you willing to give up your rights?? These vehicles were created, and operated, in order to PRESERVE your rights. If you're willing to preserve these vehicles, shouldn't you also be concerned about preserving the rignts that these vehicles defended?
If you agree that Sen. Erpenbach's bill better preserves your rights, please contact your Senator and your Assembly Representative. Ask them to contact Sen. Erpenbach's office and support his bill. To find your representatives, try this link: http://www.legis.state.wi.us/
Those of you who know me, know that I already prevailed over DOT in my appeal hearing. That's how the Pinzgauers got relicensed. If you don't know me, and/or want to get a copy of both Rep. Zigmunt's bill, AND Sen. Erpenbach's bill, please contact me. Respond through this board, or my home email: undy@mhtc.net, or call me at 608 437-3465. I've had just about enough of our DOT hassling us over legally purchased vehicles. Whatever I can do to help correct this, I will.
More to come...
Sincerely,
Paul Underwood
Blue Mounds, Wis.
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to undysworld For This Useful Post:
Thanks for you efforts! I am a Maryland resident, but I own a second home in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and also a large tree farm. I was quite disturbed by the bill that Zigmunt was sponsoring, as it removed all of the rights and privileges that MV drivers currently have, and restored two.
Ben Franklin said, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
I agree with Ben.
The problem I have thus far with Erpenbach's bill is it doesn't allow for the use of military vehicles as ordinary vehicles. M35A2's make dandy logging and farm trucks. That wouldn't be permitted under the proposed legislation.
On the surface this does seem better than previous alternatives. But I wonder if the senator will make good on his efforts. And is there even time for him to do so? Isn't the other bill going to be voted on rather soon? And why hasn't Sen. Erpenbach contacted the makers of the other bill and tried to get them to change their mind and work with him for this better alternative?
Most don't pay attention to a problem that doesn't effect them, but I know when a law passes in one state, others will follow. So I'd like to thank you for fighting this issue before the rest of us have to.
__________________
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-- George Orwell
M35A2's make dandy logging and farm trucks. That wouldn't be permitted under the proposed legislation.
-Chuck
now we both know that farmers and loggers need to be protected from M35A2's running over their feet. Or exploding randomly. Or turning into big killer robots.
They become so much more dangerous than any other truck if you try to work them...
Actually, Sen. Erpenbach's bill was created before Zigmunt's was. His office has been busily soliciting support. Last word from them was that they had 14 Senators co-authoring it, including Sen. Holperin, the head of the Senate Committee for Transportation. They were still looking for more, but that's a lot.
As for hauling logs and farm stuff, that's specifically why Sen. Erpenbach's proposal would exempt ex-military vehicles from the payload restriction. We COULD still haul stuff, under that proposal. The proposed bill from Zigmunt would not only restrict you from hauling things, it would make any imported HVM totally illegal.
Remember, WisDOT first tried to outlaw Pinzgauers (austrian HMV), and they're po'd about losing that fight in court. That was just their first step to outlaw ALL HMVs, including US ex-mil vehicles, as Senator Erpenbach wrote (see above reply).
I'm hoping to get a link posted today to Sen. Erpenbach's proposed bill. (Sorry for the delay, I don't know how to do it myself, so I'm relying on another friend.) I can email copies to anyone who requests it.
Benjamin Franklin's statement, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately" applies to all of us (figuratively of course).
WisDOT was hoping that MV owners would just rollover and go away. Much along the same lines as what is happening in the rest of the country with politics they were wrong.
I'm so mean, I had a dream of beatin' myself up. 'Broke my nose, I broke my hand, I wrestled myself to the ground and then, I choked myself to death and broke the choke, and woke up. Aaaarrrrrrgh. I'm mean. You know what I mean. If you know what I mean, you'll know what I mean! I'm mean! Meaner than... , I sure am mean. Yeah, mean. I'm meaner than that. You know what I mean. I'm so **** mean! I'm mean!
Is this to say.. others of us (out of state) can sway the effort in our favor, or just Wisconson residents? We should contact our reps...? if so I'm with ya, will do......
Is this to say.. others of us (out of state) can sway the effort in our favor, or just Wisconson residents?
Representatives tend to only pay attention to two things: constituents, and money. Those of us that are out of state can lend a hand in paying for the fight, and helping with administrative issues such as organizing events, raising funds, writing letters for others to send, spreading the word, writing letters to the editor, providing interviews to the WI press, encouraging WI people to do the right thing over the expedient thing....
A BETTER WisDOT proposal - Please Look!
