Member Announcements
House Bill 5164 Elimination of Year of Manufacturer Plate
House Bill 5164 Elimination of Year of Manuifacturer Plates
House Bill 5164 was introduced in the Connecticut 2012 Legislative Session February 16th. The bill, among other things, proposes to eliminate the use of year of manufacture plates on antique vehicles. At the February 22, Transportation Committee Public Hearing, I provided oral, and submitted written testimony, on behalf of the 4C's in opposition to the portion of House Bill (HB) 5164 that proposes to eliminate the use of Year of Manufacture Plates. In the E-mail I sent you that evening, I reported that both DMV and the Transportation Committee Co-Chairman would be in touch with me to see if we could come up with an alternative solution to elimination of the plates. Despite my follow on attempts to contact the committee co-chair, no contact was made. Unfortunately the section of the bill proposing to eliminate the use of year of manufacture plates remains in the bill that passed the committee, despite our request to remove it and allow us time to understand what the problem is (we frankly still do not know), and if an alternative to elimination is possible. A substitute version of House Bill 5164 passed the transportation committee and is currently on the House Calendar to be debated and voted on.
Attached is that substitute version of House Bill 5164, "An Act Concerning Revisions to Motor Vehicle Laws." It is a .pdf file. The proposal to eliminate year of manufacture plates starts on page 2 (Section 2 - which proposes to revise Section 14-20 of the General Statutes). When reading this, note that text enclosed in brackets [ ] is being deleted. Underlined text is being added to the statute. If the text is neither contained in brackets or underlined, it is the current statute text that is not being changed.
Now is the time to contact your legislators and voice your opposition to the elimination of the use of year of manufacture plates on antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles. Since the bill is on the House Calendar your prompt action is required. Some recommended talking points for you to use when contacting your legislators follow:
- Despite the efforts of the automotive hobbyist to reach out at the public hearing on the bill to understand the issues behind the proposed elimination of year of manufacture plates, we do not have a clear understanding of the problem(s) they are causing. The automotive hobbyist changed the state statutes to allow antique vehicles to use year of manufacture plates back in 2000. To undo that change without an understanding of what the problem truly is seems inappropriate.
- Request that the section of House Bill 5164 that proposes to eliminate the use of year of manufacture plates be removed from the bill to provide time to understand the problem(s) and seek an alternative to their elimination. Note that approximately 80% of the other states in the US allow the display and use of year of manufacture plates, so it would appear likely an alternative to the elimination of the use of these plates in Connecticut is possible. Any risk or vulnerability associated with postponing the elimination of these plates would appear to be small since the use of year of manufacture plates is limited to a small subset of antique, rare or special interest motor vehicles.
- The history of motor vehicle registration plates in Connecticut is considerable. [Perhaps point out these http://www.ctplates.infoand http://www.ctmarkerhistory.org to support that statement.] Maintaining the ability of an antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle to display year of manufacture plates helps preserve this history. While enhancing the hobby, this continued use of year of manufacture plates promote the small businesses that sell these historic plates.
Legislation News House Bill 5405
Legislation News House Bill 5405
Fellow CT Council of Car Clubs (4C's) Members:
Your legislators need to hear from you!As I reported to you a few weeks back, House Bill 5405 proposes to impose a state wide mill rate for all motor vehicle property taxes. This means if you live in a city/town with a relatively low mill rate, you will end up paying more in local property taxes to subsidize others that live in a city/town with a relatively high mill rate. The state will act as the middleman to redistribute these funds. House Bill 5405 also proposes to increase the minimum age of an antique, rare or special interest vehicle from its current 20 year age to 30 years. The bill also raises the maximum property tax assessment on antique, rare or special interest vehicles from the current $500 limit to $2500 dollars. In the E-mail with the 4C's April 2012 newsletter I sent out last week, I indicated the bill was favorably reported out of the Planning and Development Committee and is working its way through the legislative process. The bill will either be referred to another committee or directly to the state house to be debated and voted on by your representatives. Should it pass the house it would then go to the state senate.
Now is the time to contact your state representatives and state senators indicating your opposition to House Bill 5405. It is important that they hear from you on this bill. I did have a discussion with a SEMA representative from Washington DC regarding this bill. One valuable take away from this phone call with SEMA was that Connecticut automotive hobbyists are not expressing our opposition to the bill as strongly as the automotive hobbyists in other states have to similar bills. We need to step up our efforts here. Do not assume the 4C's or other automotive hobbyists are taking care of this for you
MORE INFO AND WHO TO CONTACT SEE RECENT LEGISLATION CLICK ON LINK
(March 9, 2012), I provided oral and written testimony on behalf of the 4C's at the public hearing on House Bill 5405. House Bill 5405 proposes to impose a state wide mill rate for all motor vehicle property taxes. This means if you live in a city/town with a relatively low mill rate, you will end up paying more in local property taxes to subsidize others that live in a city/town with a relatively high mill rate. The state will act as the middleman to redistribute these funds. House Bill 5405 also proposes to increase the minimum age of an antique, rare or special interest vehicle from its current 20 year age to 30 years. The bill also raises the maximum property tax assessment on antique, rare or special interest vehicles from the current $500 limit to $2500 dollars.
MORE INFO AND WHO TO CONTACT SEE RECENT LEGISLATION CLICK ON LINK
LINK TO BILL 5405 CLINK ON LINK
One encouraging thought came from a member of the Planning and Development Committee (Representative Christopher Davis - Republican - Ellington and East Windsor). Rep. Davis asked why not just allow municipalities to charge a separate mill rate for motor vehicles (the same for everyone in the state to fix the stated problem) and adjust the mill rate on other property in a town to cover the balance of the municipalities budget. (In other words, keep the local property tax local, and not redistribute any tax revenue from a low mill rate municipality to a higher mill rate municipality.) Personally, I am much more agreeable to this concept than the state taking over this local property tax. Perhaps we should get behind this concept and let our legislators know. Who knows, even though it came from a Republican, maybe it can get some traction, and indirectly help our hobby?
4c's New England Air Museum Car Show
| 2012 4Cs New England Air Museum Car Show and Aircraft Exhibit |
Sunday, June 3, 2012, is the date for the annual 4Cs Car Show, held at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT.
Member News
There is a new item on the Main Menu called Member News for want of catchier title. It is a place to put items that I get which may not fit in another category. Use the Contact Us link or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to get your item to me and check it out from time to time to see what is there. JohnWelcome to The Connecticut Council of Car Clubs
Over thirty-eight years ago the Connecticut Council of Car Clubs (4Cs) was established. Since 1973, the 4Cs has effectively monitored legislative proposals, informed member clubs, and acted in the best interest of antique, classic and special interest car hobbyists. This year brings new challenges and opportunities.
Meetings held the first Monday of January, February,
April, June, August, and November at
Tommy's Restaurant
825 Saybrook Rd
Middletown Ct 06457
Phone (860) 346-8686
Exit 11 Route 9 turn right on Randolph Rd to intersection of Saybrook Rd Tommy's is on the left
2011 4Cs NEAM Show Winners
These are the Winners of the June 5 2011
New England Air Museum Connecticut Council Of Car Clubs
Auto and Aircraft Show
Peoples Choice
Participants Choice
Connecticut Created Cars
Avon Resident Writes Book about Connecticut's Automobile History
Paul Pellerin, an Avon resident of 30 years and lifelong Connecticut resident,has written his first book about Connecticut's car history, in recognition of the 25th Silver Anniversary of the Connecticut Council of Car Clubs and New England Air Museum.
By Colleen Finnegan | Email the author |Patch.com February 26, 2011
Paul Pellerin's book, Connecticut Created Cars Credit Paul Pellerin
It took Avon resident Paul Pellerin about three years to complete his first book, and now Connecticut Created Cars is published and available to the public.
He spent the first two years doing research, ultimately discovering 184 different automobiles manufactured throughout the state.
"Most people are amazed when you tell them how many cars were built in Connecticut," Pellerin said. "There’s maybe 41 built in Hartford and 21 in Bridgeport."
Pellerin, an Avon resident of 30 years and lifelong Connecticut resident, wrote Connecticut Created Cars, in recognition of the 25th Silver Anniversary of the Connecticut Council of Car Clubs, or 4Cs, and New England Air Museum Car Show & Aircraft Exhibit, which will be held on the first Sunday in June.
Pellerin's book provides a brief history of the 4Cs, a detailed list of automobiles created in Connecticut, sorted by city with over 90 accompanying illustrations, and information on major car shows and cruise nights throughout the state.
Daniel Nichols, a Connecticut Automobile Artist, provided the illustrations.
Connecticut’s car history begins with George B. Selden, who applied for a patent for the Horseless Carriage in 1879. Two years later, he sold his patent rights to William C. Whitney, Electric Vehicle Company. Whitney and Selden then worked together to collect royalties from other up and coming automobile manufacturers.
“At the turn of the century, Hartford was the Detroit of the United States,” Pellerin said.
Unfortunately for Whitney and Selden, Henry Ford fought the Selden patent in court and ultimately succeeded in having it overturned. Had the courts made a different decision, Hartford might have continued on as America’s automobile capital.
“Henry Ford had the mass production and the railroad and eventually our automobile expertise ended up in Detroit, but the remains of the automobile history are still in Connecticut,” Pellerin said.
Selden Automobile Number 2 is on display at the old Pope Manufacturing building at 450 Capitol Avenue and there’s a Pope Hartford in West Hartford’s AAA Building.
Pellerin has “always been involved with automobiles.” He owns Antique & Classic Car Services and has been a member of the 4Cs for 14 years, serving as treasurer for the last 12 years.
His passion for cars first developed when he had a paper route with The Hartford Courant during the 1950s. While delivering papers on Washington Street, he would look into the showrooms of various car dealerships and admire the new cars.
Since that time, he has owned more than 23 classic and exotic cars and has been involved in the classic car hobby for over 40 years.
A portion of the book’s proceeds will go toward the 4Cs, an organization that has acted in the best interest of antique, classic and special car hobbyists since 1973.
Pellerin hopes this book will familiarize readers with the “historical significance of Connecticut in the automobile history” and give them a “better appreciation for what was accomplished in Hartford during the automobile revolution.”
More information is available on Pellerin's website: www.antiqueclassiccarsvcs.com.
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Up Coming Events
| Cruise Nights Fri May 18 @ 5:30PM - 09:30PM Torrington |
| Cruise Nights Sat May 19 Brookfield |
| Car Shows Sat May 19 Cromwell |
| Car Shows Sat May 19 @ 9:00AM - 03:00PM East Haven |
| Car Shows Sat May 19 @11:00AM - 03:00PM Shelton |
| Cruise Nights Sat May 19 @ 1:00PM - 04:00PM Southington |
| Cruise Nights Sat May 19 @ 4:00PM - 07:00PM West Hartford |
| Cruise Nights Sat May 19 @ 5:00PM - 08:30PM Newington |
| Cruise Nights Sat May 19 @ 5:00PM - 08:30PM Bristol |
| Car Shows Sun May 20 @ 8:00AM - 05:00PM Wallingford |