Andy
The key words are "steerable wheels"
Ferrets and BMPs, and many others are wheeled,and have steerable wheels. "Normal" tanks are tracked and do not have steerable wheels... Half tracks do, and once fitted with rubber pads on the tracks, are registerable.
Jim
pneumatic tires may be another stumbling block, but one that could be overcome... There are only a few tracked tanks that are narrow enough to be legal for the road in the US (under 102")..... namely the US M114 and the British CVRT series of tanks (which have every other requirement for the road except steerable wheels) and are about the same size as a Humvee, and only twice the weight.
.
The Trojan Horse... the 1st Pinz used to covertly carry troops into battle .
ATL Pinzgauer XM 718K TUM(HD) 6x6 FFR (aka The Green Grail)
As you are aware, I appealed the WisDOT/DMV's cancellation of my Title and Registration for my Pinzgauer, Case No. TR-08-0027.
A final decision was reached in the case yesterday. Judge David Schwarz upheld the proposed decision, and ruled that "For the reasons set forth above, the Department's order canceling the Wisconsin title and registration of the Pinzgauer owned by Paul Underwood is reversed.".
Now, we need to work together to create legislation which clarifies the ambiguities in our State Statutes that caused this problem in the first place. The interpretation which DMV applied in canceling my operating rights also threatens every antique, home-built, and ex-military vehicle. Certain vehicles are simply exempted from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards by federal regulation (ie: pre-'68, ex-military, and over-25-yr.old imports), and WisDOT/DMV policy must be directed to acknowledge this exemption.
I do not know if this is the end, and if DMV will now re-issue Title and Registration for the Pinzgauers in Wisconsin. They have options for appealing the decision, within 30 days. It's now been one week shy of a full year that I have been unable to legally operate my Pinzgauer. I hope reason prevails, and that I can return it to the road.
I'm a bit keyed-up here at the moment, but if anyone has questions or wishes access to the court documents, please let me know. It's my wife's birthday today, and I expect we'll be out this afternoon and evening.
Once again, kudos on a job well done. Hopefully DOT will just leave well enough alone. Enjoy the day with your wife and worry about the rest when necessary.
Go out and celebrate both events! Great work! Wonder if there is any way to penalize them for the act in the first place. Civil suit or something that could make them think twice before trying something like this again?
Maybe the sympathetic legislator you contacted would be willing to sponser a bill?
I really don't believe that bodies of power think about it that way. Power corrupts. Although I feel the same way, over the years I have discovered that it is sometimes wiser to take the victory, and make no mistake, this is a victory, and walk away and smile to oneself.
You have done a marvelous job getting a government agency to reverse a decision, that alone deserves a sit on the porch in the rocker and smiling till it hurts.
Great work. I know there are other folks that will praise you far, far down the line.
Happy birthday to the lady that shares your life.
I know you're probably sick of court...but it would be great to slap the DMV with a lawsuit for negligently denying the use of your vehicle and defying Federal laws. (...sounds good anyhow
Bob
1990 - Mercedes G-Wagon 250GD
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Pinzgauers are again legal to title and register in Wisconsin!
The fight is not over, as WisDOT has rulemaking introduced which (if passed) will give them the authority to again outlaw Pinzgauers (and all other noncomplying ex-military vehicles too).
However, evidence that DOT introduced provides excellent proof that NHTSA expects and intends ex-military vehicles to be sold to the public for licensed on-road operation. Here is a link:
