Truck drivers in US state asked to hand over registration as lawmakers take vehicles off roads over safety fears

OWNERS of compact mini trucks have been asked to hand over their registration after a state ban against them was passed.

Rhode Island has become one of five US states to ban Kei trucks, also known as Japanese compact mini trucks, used primarily for agricultural work.

The state tried to allow drivers who registered them before 2021 to keep them, but the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) objected, according to CBS affiliate WPRI.

Kei trucks weigh about 1,500 pounds and have small engines that are not capable of speeds exceeding 75 mph.

Other states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York and Maine have banned their importation as they are “mechanically unsuitable” for American roads as they do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Lawmakers argue that their fragile structure, weak engines and small size make them dangerous to drivers.

‘GRANDMOTHER’

According to Detran, there are 30 Kei trucks in the smallest state in the country.

Sen. Lou DiPalma said earlier this year that one of his constituents tried to register the truck and was told it was possible.

However, they were “surprised” when they later received notices from the DMV asking them to turn over their registrations and keep their Keis off the road.

The DMV argues that small, older trucks are unsafe and dangerous to passengers, other drivers and pedestrians.

Other vintage cars are street legal because they are “grandfathered” because they met U.S. safety standards when they were created, the DMV said.

Federal law allows cars that are at least 25 years old to be legally imported into states, but each state can decide whether they can run on the roads.

This sudden law didn’t sit well with DiPalma, so he and Representative Michelle McGraw created legislation that allowed people who purchased and registered Kei vehicles to continue using them.

“What the bill intends to do is to sponsor everyone who [a Kei vehicle] and it is registered. This would allow you to re-register if you had done so before 2021,” DiPalma explained.

The DMV opposed the project.

“The DMV has made efforts in recent years to prevent any additional registration of these vehicles,” he wrote.

“There are, however, some that still remain registered, and the proposed bill would restrict the DMV’s ability to eliminate even more unsafe vehicles from the state’s public roads.”

THERE IS HOPE

Drivers can keep their Kei trucks by forming a Montana LLC because it has more lenient vehicle registration laws, according to LLCTLC.

By forming the LCC, the truck owner can register their mini truck in Montana.

The new registration would make him street legal again.

This not only eliminates the registration ban, but also saves money because there is no sales tax on car purchases.

This also means that if you were looking for a new Kei truck, Montana might have what you’re looking for.

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