Lawmakers in Carson City, Nev. are working on legislation that will tighten the rules for registering classic cars. The Nevada Assembly Transportation Committee has approved the bill, and it will now be sent to the full assembly for a vote.

The existing requirements for registering a car as a “classic vehicle” in Nevada are seen by some as too lax, making it easy for people to get classic car plates on “beater” cars, rather than on project cars that an owner actually intends to restore. People have used the existing definitions to get around smog tests, as classic cars are exempt from testing.

Under the current law, a vehicle that was manufactured at least 25 years ago can be registered as a classic vehicle, and classic vehicles are limited to driving a maximum of 5,000 miles per year. However, the mileage is not physically verified by the DMV. Nevada has reportedly seen nearly a 300% increase in classic vehicle registrations since the registration rules were last changed in 2011.

Although in favor of a collector car hobby, legislators want to ensure that the classic vehicle regulations are not being abused by people who merely want to skirt emissions requirements.

Under the proposed bill, someone requesting a classic car plate would have to register at least one other vehicle or motorcycle, to ensure that the classic car is not the only means of transportation for the individual. Additionally, physical mileage checks would need to be done annually by the State’s DMV.

Discussions are also taking place as to whether existing classic car owners should be grandfathered in and exempted from the proposed law.

Ultimately, we suggest that if you’re really a classic car enthusiast, you support any legislation that keeps the “posers” from abusing emissions laws. Classic cars owners need smog exemptions to keep the cost of restoring, owning and operating their classic vehicles down, and so that everyone can afford a piece of the past. Help keep our hobby alive by respecting the hobby, and the law!