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Louisiana legal HELP!!!!

Discussion in 'General Truck Info' started by scottE, Aug 1, 2008.

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  1. scottE

    scottE Member

    Here is thr probblem so far:
    This is a copy of an e-mail, I was wondering if you guys could help me out, any and all info would be great.
    -------
    You are so wonderful. My question has been and still is: Our safety and motor vehicle officials are telling us federal regulations prohibit mini-trucks from being imported for on-road use, how do other states license them for on-road use? For example, our safety people say all vehicles for on-road use must meet all US safety standards --rear bumpers that pass crash tests. Are mini-trucks in those states being refitted with an approved bumper? Please ask the forum, but please remove my name and office--if possible.
    -------
     
  2. jtpc

    jtpc Member

  3. jtpc

    jtpc Member

    Oh, and another thing--mini-trucks here are not imported for 'on-road' use.
    They are imported just like any other state: 'off-road' with the speed restrictors.
    So there is no change/issues at federal customs.

    Once Nov 1st comes and Oklahoma's law is in effect, Oklahoma residents may remove their speed limiters from their trucks so they can comply with the Oklahoma definition of a mini-truck (page 3), which must at least reach 55mph.

    (I have the approval of my representative that this is correct)
     
  4. scottE

    scottE Member

    dose anyone know if these trucks have been crash tested in Japan? and if so where I can find the results?
     
  5. scottE

    scottE Member

    Thanks JTPC, this will help. I could use any state's ACTs
     
  6. jtpc

    jtpc Member

    I know the Subaru Sambar is crash tested in Japan. You can see the results before/after of the frame and a photo of the truck hitting a wall. However, the site is in Japanese and is all in Adobe Flash, so I cannot link you directly to the info.
    To see the page, go to:
    http://www.subaru.jp/sambar/truck/index.html

    Then click on the little 'suv' icon thing you see in the bottom left area.
    Now you should see several small pictures of the sambar.
    Click on the text below the one that has a photo of the chassis frame. (5th photo going left to right)
    From that page use the scroller to scroll right and you will see the truck being crash tested.

    :) Hope you can follow those directions,
     
  7. BigO-L3

    BigO-L3 Member

  8. scottE

    scottE Member

    wow that is some good articals. I am in direct contacted with the lady that wrote the bill and some of the sentitors. I have been in the middle of the mess, they first tryed to pull the plate thing with me, than I got the bumper deal, and now I have the EPA/DEQ that I am dealing with. any more things that you think could help just PM me or leave them on the many treads I started here on legalizing LA. Thanks man every little bit helps.
     
  9. gregw98

    gregw98 Member

    "The second problem comes with the prohibition of operation on an interstate highway. The State of Louisiana has no license tag or other marking to identify a vehicle that has been prohibited from such roads."

    You can get a Honda 50 or Vespa scooter tagged with motorcycle plates, but they are not allowed on the Interstate (unless you are totally insane). So I see no problem with that end of the bill. Why can't they just add 6 letters to the VIN #, such as 79867413759MINI-TK. Man, chance isn't really that hard. I mean, they can vote themselves a 1500% raise overnight can't they.
    greg
     
  10. scottE

    scottE Member

    Thats a good idea mini-tk. I will suggest that. I was thinking the a plate that just said "restricted" on it. They do have to have meetings about everything, I don't think change will happen quickly but I guess it was my hopes that the state passed a bill and would carry throw with it. or they covered there bases.
     
  11. BigO-L3

    BigO-L3 Member

    They really do not need to do ANYTHING as for restrictions from Interstate. That is the job of LEO. The Troopers can see to that, same as pedestrians illegal on Interstates.

    As for the VIN.........that is real simple. Add ZEROS in front of the numbers

    Bottom line..........if the law was passed it is MVD obligation to issue the registration...........NOT argue about it.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2008
  12. scottE

    scottE Member

    That was my beef too, it is up to the owner of the truck and the police to know the restrictions on the truck. We don't need a special plate.
     
  13. Radar

    Radar Member

    Cathy said the vin will be your serial number but add some zeros to the front the make it 17 digit.

    Scott were you invited to the meetings? She sent an email saying one of the meetings was postponed but I never got any word on any more.

    3 days for them to figure it out!!!
     
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2008
  14. Radar

    Radar Member

    or is it OUR job as owners to get the law straight.

    that first line that says "lowriders" just shows you that they have no clue.
     
  15. BigO-L3

    BigO-L3 Member

    Nothing wrong with owners getting involved, that is for sure. BUT if the law direct the DMV to register a certain veh., the DMV has the authority to promulgate rules/regulations to fulfill that mandate from the legislature. It is NOT their job to come up with crap like...........we don't have a restrictive plate. No special license is necessary.
     
  16. scottE

    scottE Member


    She will not be back until the 18th. I don't know when the meeting is taking place but told her I wanted to be there. Her last e-mail lead me to believe it will be soon. If I find out I will let you guys know, and I hope you will do the same.
     
  17. gregw98

    gregw98 Member

    Never over estimate the intellegence of the LA-DMV. They will have you jumping through hoops to get a car registered. Everytime I ever went there, they would always tell me of a document that I didn't have, Mechanics Statement, Notorized Title ( not necessary) or what ever. You go there, take a number, wait wait wait, And then get up to the window and they tell you your name is misspelled. Don't miss them, one bit.
    Once changes are made in BR, every DMV outlet should be instantly aware of these changes.
     
  18. Mighty Milt

    Mighty Milt Active Member

    SHOULD being the operative term... but unfortunately we are talking about government employees... whether or not you get your car registered doesn't affect whether or not they get paid :rolleyes:

    they should work on commision, that would speed them up and make them more helpful :D
     
  19. scottE

    scottE Member

    The DMV's down here are really bad about helping you figure out your problem. It is like an annoyance to them when you come up to the table. You hired on here, you should expect people to come to you. And they really don't know what they are talking about most of the time. I asked them "how do I go about getting a title bond?" they said "what's that?" than you run around on the phone for a day, call this department, call that department, than they tell you to call the DMV again. there must be some conspiracy to confuse and disorientate the enemy (you) until they just give up.

    I called up the state to figure out what percentage if any did the state pick up if I were to put solar panels on my home. I finally got the Department of renewable energy, one guy worked there probably the only call he got all year. I asked "I would like to know more about solar power and putting panels on my house." he said "Solar what?" When I explained it to him that you can harness the suns energy and turn it into usable power he was blown away and said "sign me up" no joke true story
     
  20. gregw98

    gregw98 Member

    More than likely some politicians nephew, no doubt. I know how they work, I lived there for 50 years.
    greg
     
  21. gregw98

    gregw98 Member

    Maybe things will get easier now. "MINI TRUCKS LEGAL IN LOUISIANA". Heard it on the radio this morning.
     
  22. Doug Waggonner

    Doug Waggonner New Member

    Another thing you may want to bring to her attn: is what about antique cars? Model T's and the like.....they dont have 14 digit VIN#'s either. And something apparently was done years ago to tag and regester them. Since there was no such thing as license plates or registrations back in those days.
    Also, how is this different than mopeds and scooters??? They arent allowed on interstates or turnpikes either.

    On a side note I regestered a Hudson car just a few years ago that never had a vin# either. All the Hudsons ever had were Ser#'s and mine was only 5 digits! :eek: The lady at the tag office said that should be good enough and I drove away with a regristration and a new license plate. It all cost less that $40.

    Although it may be easier here in Oklahoma than other states becuse the tag offices are privatly owned franchizes...and nobody that owns them or works in them are state employees.
     
  23. scottE

    scottE Member

    Well good news guys it is legal. I went to the DMV today before work and all the paper work was in for them to go ahead with it. They said all you need is the paper work from the dealer you bought it throw, a bill of sale, and that's it. They gave me a web site: www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import......I haven't been to it yet but I will soon. I was not able to get a plate today because I bought mine throw a private owner and don't have all that info. I am trying to get it any ideas?
     
  24. Mighty Milt

    Mighty Milt Active Member

    if the previous owner doesn't have the infor, or if you lost touch with the previous owner, i would suggest you inquire about doing a bonded title. i'm sure there will be a process in place soon enough for lost paperwork, but with it being a new law and a new process i doubt they have even conidered a contingency.
     
  25. BigO-L3

    BigO-L3 Member

    That was what I was wondering, if you do not have that paperwork. Besides, what paperwork do you get from a dealer, other than a bill of sale?
     
  26. Mighty Milt

    Mighty Milt Active Member

    dealers should furnish you with the export certificate, the english translation of the certificate, a bill of sale and an invoice.
     
  27. gregw98

    gregw98 Member

    In MS, you hve to take the vehicle down to the DMV and they inspect it an issue a VIN for it. Larry can probably be more clear on this.
    greg
     
  28. Radar

    Radar Member

    so we need more than a bill of sale? why did they refer you to a website?
     
  29. scottE

    scottE Member

    first, about the customs paperwork. All they need is something saying that is was imported legal into the us. I have called up some dealers and they will give you the Bill Of Ladin. I found the dealer yestarday but I haven't called them yet. I called the Customs office to see if they could back track it and they said "no" they said it would be really hard to back track something that was brought into the states over a year ago, they let the new owners keep the paper work. I was thinking of 2 ways with my plan "B" first is to put in for a lost title with the zeros on the vin and see what happens, or contact a dealer that will trade me my truck for one that dose have a B.O.L. of equal or lesser value.
    second, is that Louisiana DMV will not reconize a bonded title, that was my first approch. I was a good idea I think you gave to me on another thread Mighy, but no luck in this state.
    third, they gave me the web site because of a warning that the trucks have to meet the standards. If you go down to the DMV the person will most lackly pull out a copy of the memo they got at the meeting ask them for a copy of that and it will be on there.
    I have seen alot of paperwork that states the diffention of a mini truck, and with most of them it says something to the effect of a flat bed attached to them. now I am not sure but I think you guys that have the vans may have it easier as far as insurance, and regestraion. let us know if you do.
    Oh and by the way Progressive: $285.00 for 6 mouths with one ticket on my record.

    well good luck gentemen I was hoping I would be the first to get a plate in LA but this crap my hold me back a few days.
    scott
     
  30. thefuzz783

    thefuzz783 Member

    South Dakota also requires that you have the import paperwork, however, I asked the lady at the state office what happens if you don't have that paperwork. Like if the original owner threw it away or something. She stated all I had to do was type up something saying that you no longer have the import paperwork due to the fact that you were not previously required to title it.

    Might not hurt to call your state office to see if they are the same.
     
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