Earlier this year, Massachusetts became the latest site of contention in the ongoing struggle against a clandestine organization attempting to ban kei cars from American roads. The state’s Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) abruptly started rejecting registration applications from JDM car owners, even for vehicles that are not kei cars. However, JDM enthusiasts across the nation united and introduced legislation aimed at safeguarding their vehicles, effectively removing this issue from the RMV’s jurisdiction.
As reported earlier, Massachusetts’ RMV began to refuse JDM car registrations under pressure from the American Administration of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), a private group made up of DMV professionals. This organization has been campaigning against kei cars, alleging that they pose risks to American drivers. Unfortunately, the RMV failed to verify what constitutes a kei car before advancing AAMVA’s agenda, leading to widespread rejections of JDM registrations. Notably, even a Nissan Skyline R34 was mistakenly categorized as a kei car and denied registration.
This situation has incited a broader backlash, as JDM car owners nationwide grapple with similar challenges. Massachusetts is among various states attempting to restrict kei cars, including Texas, where kei truck enthusiasts lobbied the DMV for permission to operate on public roads, successfully persuading the state legislature to draft a bill legalizing their vehicles. Drawing inspiration from this Texas initiative, Massachusetts owners rallied for support from state lawmakers in the General Court.
At long last, legislators have introduced Bill HD.5357. This proposed legislation aims to establish a clear legal definition of a kei car in line with Japan’s original standards related to vehicle dimensions and engine size. It would require the RMV to create a regulatory framework for inspecting and registering cars imported under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards’ 25-year exemption, which permits foreign cars to be imported. Importantly, it would also formally allow the registration of such vehicles, provided they met the safety requirements of their country of origin at the time they were new—a criterion that kei cars fulfill.
“The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles shall honor the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and shall register all vehicles 25 years or older as of the date of manufacture that were imported in compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 591, including vehicles classified as ‘Kei cars,’” the bill states.
It’s important to note that this bill has yet to be enacted into law, and its future remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the legislation emerged following substantial public pressure on numerous state legislators, who are now better informed about what constitutes kei cars and their federal legality, potentially influencing their colleagues to align with JDM car owners. This situation highlights two critical points: JDM enthusiasts in various states have a feasible path to combatting unjust DMV practices, and grassroots advocacy still holds significant power in the U.S., even when facing large and well-funded opposition.
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