House Bill 171

Chair's Name: Tom Rice

Committee: Motor Vehicles

House Sponsor: Tom Rice

HB 171 allows an owner to sell a vehicle for scrap metal or parts and have the title cancelled in situations where the certificate of title has been lost or was not obtained.  Limited cases where the vehicle is worth $750.00 or less and is at least 12 model years old, the owner can transfer the vehicle to a parts dealer or metal processor using a signed and sworn statement. The contents of the statement are specified in the statute and will be contained in a form to be promulgated by Department of Revenue. The dealer/processor must then deliver the statement (in lieu of the title) to the Department within 72 hours requesting cancellation of the title.

The committee substitute received a Do Pass recommendation from the Motor Vehicles Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Rice�s Opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

This bill addresses and clarifies several conflicts in the Code regarding titles for end of life vehicles.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

This bill addresses the need of citizens who wish to recycle their end of life vehicle for parts and who no longer possess a physical title.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces the Size of Government

The affidavit system outlined in HB 171 dramatically increases the efficiency of government by eliminating titles and registrations on the estimated 500,000 vehicles sold for scrap each year.  It also reduces the burden of the dept. to keep up with titles on cars that are scrapped for parts, and whose title would otherwise, not be cancelled.

• Strengthens the Traditional Family Structure

By helping remove old, unsightly, junk cars from city streets HB 171 increases public safety and reduces the potential of harm from these distracting nuisances.

• Reduces the Tax Burden on our Citizens

HB 171 eliminates unnecessary record keeping which will lower costs and increase the efficiency of the Dept. of Rev. dramatically reduce the of vehicles allowed on public streets thereby saving local governments significant time and expense on the removal, handing and disposal of these vehicles.

• Increases Personal Responsibility

HB 171 allows individuals to responsibly and efficiently recycle their old, end of life vehicles for parts instead of irresponsibly disposing of them on city streets or in backyards, as they currently have an incentive to do.