Wisconsin DOT Meets with Rodders
By noderel:
Sergeant Mark J. Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Division of State Patrol met with 45 hot rodders to discuss the need for changes in the state's Trans 305 bill and changes in the vehicle inspection process that state troppers follow when a car is suspected of equipment violations.
The meeting was held at The Automobile Gallery in Green bay, Wis. and approximately 45 enthusiasts from Northeast Wisconsin and other areas attended. The session was the first of a number of meetings to be held throughout the state in an effort to develop an "enthusiast friendly" enforcement system. Abrahamson indicated that he hopes to develop improved communication between car hobbyists and state patrol officers.
Trans 305 is an assembly bill that went into effect in March 1966 that attempts to specify minimum equipment requirements for vehicles and for equipment used on vehicles. The bill established minimum equipment standards for different categories of cars including manufactured, homemade, street modified, replica, and reconstructed vehicles.
Mary Beth Leopold of The Automobile Gallery introduced Sergeant Abrahamson and car enthusiast Curt Rymkus introduced some of the hot rodders, including officials of hobby organizations, car museum owners, restoration shop owners and several hot rodders who have lobbied for realistic, workable regulations. Leopold also introduced members of The Automobile Gallery staff.
The discussion included information about fenderless cars, electric door opening systems, shaved door handles, tire sizes, window tinting standards and the use of complete reproduction bodies. While there were questions about titling and registering a modified vehicle, the focus of the meeting was on the enforcement of laws, rather than the creation of laws. Abrahamson showed slides of some hot rods that were deemed to be outside the minimum standards for a road-driven vehicle.
Throughout the presentation, it was clear that the Wisconsin State Patrol is interested in working with hot rodders and their organization as much as possible. Abrahamson stressed that the core purpose of Trans 3015 was to ensure that all vehicles operated on Wisconsin highways meet Federal Motor Vehicle Standards.
Abrahamson owns several collectible vehicles himself, including a Chevrolet Advance-Design truck of the early postwar era and a Pontiac Firebird he hopes to fix up for his wife. Hot rodders who were attending agreed that Abrahamson has a good attitude towards the sport and seems willing to work out some of the issues that enthusiasts have been concerned about.