Introduction
WHAT WisDOT HAS DONE, AND WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU
In Wisconsin, our elected officials enact the laws. Various regulatory agencies, such as the Department of Transportation (WisDOT), administer those laws.
We trust the WisDOT to be familiar with the laws of our roads and to treat each citizen fairly.
But, on September 25, 2007, WisDOT/DMV, saying they had "made a mistake", cancelled the Titles and registrations of Steyr-Puch Pinzgauers, an antique Austrian light truck. Pinzgauers had been registered, licensed, and legally operated in Wisconsin since 2000!
The U.S. DOT-NHTSA regulations require all vehicles to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). However, U.S. DOT-NHTSA provides an exemption from FMVSS requirements for pre-'68vehicles, ex-military vehicles, and over-25-yr. old imported vehicles.
In 2003, a similar issue arose over the WisDOT/DMV's refusal to register a 1970 Leyland Mini. After an appeal was filed, the DMV ultimately agreed to register the Mini.
In 2007, WisDOT/DMV refused to register a 1943 ex-U.S. Army Willys Jeep for not meeting FMVSS requirements. That was 24 years before the FMVSS requirements were signed into law! The owner ultimately sold the Jeep.
Despite all these vehicles being federally exempted from inspection, WisDOT decided that Pinzgauers cannot be legally operated on Wisconsin roads because they are ex-military vehicles and because they do not have FMVSS labels. Furthermore, WisDOT intends to insure that ALL vehicles operated on Wisconsin roadways display FMVSS labels. Your Historic Military Vehicle, pre-'68 Collector car, Kit car, or foreign-market imported car does not have this label either. If WisDOT is allowed to keep the Pinzgauers off the roads, they will then have an established policy which will allow them to inspect any noncompliant (or nonconforming) vehicles and remove them permanently. Current law does not allow them to do this.
The next time it could be your favorite vehicle. WisDOT must not be allowed to remove vehicles from Wisconsin roads without a legal justification. We can stop this.
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
An appeal was made through the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Hearings and Appeals (DHA). Evidence was submitted on July 1, 2008, and a hearing was held on July 14, 2008.
On September 18, 2008, the final decision was reached and the Administrator of the Wisconsin Division of Hearings and Appeals upheld Judge Kaiser's proposed decision that the Department's cancellation be reversed.
On Sept. 23, 2008, the WisDOT/DMV began reissuing titles and license plates to Pinzgauer owners.
WisDOT/DMV introduced new rulemaking in May, in a belated effort to justify last year's action/s. See [WisDOT Future Plans] for the details.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Read about it. - This site contains the details. From "What is a Pinzgauer?", to "Why This Isn't Fair", to the legal documents which clearly show that "What the WisDOT Has Done" is beyond their mandate.
We even offer "Some Suggestions" for how to resolve this fairly, and permanently.
Write about it. - WisDOT has, so far, proven unresponsive to our protests. The Pinzgauer owners are off the road right now, and you will be next. Write letters to your elected representatives, and mail them at your U.S. Post Office, so you are HEARD! (Emails are great, but the Government sometimes ignores them.)
Find information on "Where and What to Write".
Find a "Pre-written Letter to send.
Talk about it. - Talk to any interested friends, and refer them to this website.