AN ACT to amend and reenact section 39-21-52 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to equipment exemption for certain street rod, collector, or special interest motor vehicles.
Summary
HB 1155 amends North Dakota law governing equipment requirements for certain street rod, collector, and special interest motor vehicles. The bill continues the existing exemption from state and administrative rules on bumpers, tires, and fenders for these vehicles, while reaffirming that they must still have in operating condition any equipment that was specifically required by law when the vehicle was originally manufactured and sold.
The bill also clarifies the definition of a "street rod, collector, or special interest vehicle." It describes these vehicles as modernized motor vehicles manufactured before 1949 that retain their general appearance and original body configuration, or vehicles designed to resemble them, and that are at least 40 years old. It further states that such vehicles may include improved modifications to the body, chassis, engine, brakes, power train, steering, and suspension, including replacement of original parts with fabricated parts or parts from other vehicles. The director is authorized to adopt rules to implement the section.
Impact
HB 1155 updates section 39-21-52 of the North Dakota Century Code and preserves a regulatory exemption for antique-style vehicles from certain modern equipment standards. Its practical effect is to maintain flexibility for owners and builders of street rods, collector cars, and special interest vehicles while keeping baseline safety-related original equipment requirements tied to the vehicle’s original manufacture. The bill affects vehicle owners, restorers, custom car builders, and law enforcement or motor vehicle regulators applying equipment standards under state law and administrative code.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 92-0 and the Senate 47-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of recorded committee transcript discussion also suggests the measure was viewed as a technical or clarifying update rather than a contested policy change.
Contention
No notable opposition is reflected in the available record. The only potential area of policy sensitivity is the balance between exempting older custom vehicles from modern bumper, tire, and fender requirements while still requiring original mandated equipment to remain operational. Any concern would likely come from those focused on vehicle safety standards or regulatory consistency, but the unanimous votes suggest those concerns were not significant in legislative debate.