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State police and secretary of state oppose bill to register military surplus vehicles for road use
Summary
Representative Jeff Perkins' bill to allow limited on‑road registration of demilitarized military vehicles drew opposition from the Maine State Police and the Secretary of State, who cited safety, federal compliance and insurance concerns; supporters urged narrow limited-use authorizations for parades and exhibitions.
Representative Jeff Perkins presented L.D. 1156 on April 1, 2025, proposing to allow certain demilitarized military vehicles to be registered for limited uses — including parades, exhibitions, transport for maintenance and the occasional shakedown drive — under a restricted plate category.
Sponsor case and background: Perkins, a former military master driver, told the committee many collectors and veterans groups lack a clear statutory path to register historic military vehicles for limited public-road use. He framed the bill narrowly, saying it would allow registration of vehicles manufactured for the armed forces that weigh under 10,000 pounds and be used only for commemorative, educational and occasional maintenance transport.
Law-enforcement and safety opposition: Lieutenant Bruce Scott of the Maine State Police’s Traffic Safety Unit testified in opposition. Scott said the bill "would essentially allow for the operation of military surplus vehicles anywhere and at any time the owner chooses," adding these vehicles often lack occupant-protection equipment and are built for combat or off‑road missions rather than highway speeds. He also cited a Government Accountability Office study and national crash statistics showing heightened risk in some categories of surplus military vehicles.
Secretary of State concerns and fiscal notes: Kathy Curtis, deputy secretary of state for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, testified against the bill, noting Maine’s long-standing policy that vehicles intended for highway use must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, EPA pollutant rules and NHTSA crash testing in effect at the time of manufacture. She also said creating a new vanity plate and registration category would require system changes and a fiscal note to implement, and that insurance availability for such vehicles could be limited.
Municipal concerns: The Maine Municipal Association asked for municipal input and said operation of registered surplus vehicles on discontinued or abandoned ways could raise complaints and enforcement burdens at the local level.
Supporters and counterarguments: Representative Perkins and supporters argued that many historic military vehicles are used infrequently and for patriotic events, and that current federal reporting categories and NHTSA data do not identify a meaningful number of surplus vehicles involved in fatal crashes. Supporters urged narrow limits and a registration process similar to antique‑vehicle registration.
Committee action: The committee took testimony and will consider further action during work sessions. Several witnesses asked that if the matter is to be studied, any review encompass other nonconforming vehicles so the committee can take a single, consistent approach.
—Reported from a public hearing of the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
