CHAPTER 40
FORMERLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 31
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO STREET RODS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 2197, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 2197. Street rods.
(a) If any modified antique motor vehicle manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year prior to 1970, hereinafter referred to as a "street rod," is duly registered in the State, the owner of such street rod may apply to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, on special application forms prescribed by the Secretary, for a special street rod motor vehicle plate, to be displayed on such street rod in lieu of the standard vehicle registration plate.
(b) Any street rod, registered pursuant to this section, shall be used only for participation in club activities, exhibits, tours, parades and similar uses, but in no event shall it be used for general transportation.
(c) Upon receipt of an application for a special street rod motor vehicle plate on a form prescribed by the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue to such applicant a special street rod motor vehicle plate on a permanent basis, and it shall bear the inscription "STREET ROD" with yellow letters on a blue background. In addition, such plates shall have displayed thereon the word "DELAWARE," the words "THE FIRST STATE," the expiration date of the plates and the vehicle number assigned to the vehicle by the Secretary. This special plate shall be issued for the applicant's use only for such motor vehicle, and in the event of a transfer of title, the transferor shall surrender the special plate to the Secretary.
(d) Upon approval of the application the Secretary shall assess the applicant an initial fee of $25, in addition to the registration fee levied under this chapter. The special plate shall be renewed upon payment of the registration fee levied under this chapter. Applicants shall, in addition to the prescribed registration validation sticker, be required to display a valid National Street Rod Association safety inspection sticker.
(e) A "street rod" shall mean a vehicle, the body and frame of which were manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year prior to the year 1970 and which has been modified for safe road use, or a kit car which resembles that of an original pre-1970 vehicle manufactured more than 25 years prior to the current year and has also been modified for safe road use. For the purposes of this section "modified" means, but is not limited to, a substantial and material alteration, or replacement of the engine, drive-train, suspension or brake system or alteration of the body which may be chopped, channeled, sectioned, filled or otherwise changed dimensionally from the original manufactured body.
(f) Street rod requirements:
(14) Fenders — Street rods shall not be required to have fenders on all wheels that cover the entire tread width of the tire that comes in contact with the road surface. Coverage of the tire tread circumference shall be from at least 15 degrees in front to at least 75 degrees to the rear of the vertical center line at each wheel, measured from the center of wheel rotation.
(22) Except as required by this section, unless the presence of certain equipment was specifically required by a statute of this State as a condition of sale when the vehicle was manufactured, the presence of any specific equipment is not required for the operation of a vehicle registered under this section.