Email TxDMV Request

[Faron]

As promised we are posting what we would like to do for the next round of letter writing. Normally we try to send letters via Snail Mail, but this round we want to fill 4 email inboxes. Most of the time we ask that you write a letter in your own words, but seeing as this round is going out as an email we will provide a form letter. Would really like to see a minimum of 231 emails hit each persons inbox. That is only 10% of the membership of the Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail, Kitcar Facebook Group. Please take a moment to help!

This round will be a little different as I have already sent an email to each person on the list with a copy of a letter from NHTSA to Mr. Matsumoto that says NHTSA has generally considered Dune Buggies & Kitcars to be Used Vehicles, and none of the FMVSS that apply to new completed vehicles apply to Dune Buggies & Kitcars. I will also attach a Bill passed by Hawaii in 2004, which amends law to include vehicles that are replicas of vehicles manufactured before 1968 as a “Street rod vehicle.” Includes “Dune Buggy Replica Vehicles” as special interest vehicles, requires seat belts.
The letter from NHTSA as well as the Bill that was passed by Hawaii has been sent to them before, and the information was always dismissed. At this point we need to ask the question OVER, and OVER, and OVER again. PLEASE take a moment to send an email to each of the people I have listed!

Whitney Brewster – Executive Director of the TxDMV – whitney.brewster@txdmv.gov
Raymond Palacios – Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TxDMV – Raymond.palacios@txdmv.gov
David Duncan – Director of the Office of General Counsel for the TxDMV – david.duncan@txdmv.gov
Jeremiah Kuntz – Director of TxDMV Titles & Registration – jeremiah.kuntz@txdmv.gov

The form letter is below. All you will have to do is cut & Paste it into an email to each person above.
It has been said many times over the last few weeks, there is strength in numbers! We have all got to stick together in order to be taken seriously! PLEASE SEND THE EMAILS, it has been made as easy as we can for you to do so. If you are a Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail, Kitcar Owner this directly affects YOU in many ways. If you are an out of state Dune Buggy, Sandrail, Kitcar Owner this indirectly affects you! Mostly in your pocket book, as the resale value of ALL Dune Buggies, Sandrail, & Kitcars have taken a hit! So please send the emails no matter where you call home!

Simply cut and paste the below text into an email, and edit the RED text as appropriate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ENTER PERSONS NAME HERE;

I am writing with concerns about Administrative Rule 217.3, and the effects it has on Dune Buggies, Sandrails, and Kitcars. This rule has a direct effect on Texas Residents & an indirect effect on people who live outside the state of Texas. I urge you to make a change sooner rather than later.

During the original proposal of the rule change for 217.3, Ms. Flores & Mr. Kuntz certified that there will be no impact on local economies or overall employment as a result of administering the amendments. I am not sure how the above could less true. The TxDMV is no longer receiving funds from the legal registration of Dune Buggies, Sandrails, as well as Kitcars. But Texas is missing out on the tax from the Automotive Enthusiasts spending money for parts during the build, as well as upgrades along the way. Some enthusiasts often pay shops to repair or upgrade they Assembled Vehicle. The state also loses out on the taxes from people purchasing fuel for the assembled vehicle, as well as the vehicles trailering to shows. The state is also not able to receive funds from tourism as people like to gather and go for weekend trips to enjoy a common interest. (Tax from Hotel/Motel, Café/Restaurants, etc.) I also know of on Dune Buggy Manufacture that has stopped producing parts for Dune Buggies because people in his home state can no longer enjoy their assembled vehicles for their intended use. The owner of DF Kitcar has spoken at multiple meeting about how the Rule Change has a very negative affect on his business as people in his home state cannot legally Title/register the kitcar he builds in his home state. If memory serves me correctly, Mr. Doyle said that this has cost him a minimum of $10,000.00 a month. Added together, I am not sure how Ms. Flores and Mr. Kuntz could overlook the overall economic impact of Administrative Rule 217.3. Mr. Kuntz also stated that the proposed changes will also discourage the operation on Texas roads of unsafe vehicles, thereby increasing public safety. This statement really confuses me, as I know the TxDMV has been asked to show statistics showing the results of accidents concerning Assembled Vehicles. The statistics were never produced by the TxDMV, and I have never been able to find them on my own. So I am very unclear on how an Assembled Vehicle can be seen as unsafe.

When Mr. Kuntz is asked about Administrative Rule 217.3, the first thing he does is talk about how it is a very complicated issue. He then goes on to say that Assembled Vehicles, also known as Dune Buggies, Sandrails, or Kitcars are not compliant with FMVSS rules. Faron Smith of Save the Texas Dune Buggy, Sandrail, & Kitcar sent you an email that I hope you have read before receiving my email. It the email from Mr. Smith he attached a letter from NHTSA that states, NHTSA has generally considered Dune Buggies & Kitcars to be Used Vehicles, and none of the FMVSS that apply to new completed vehicles apply to Dune Buggies & Kitcars. Mr. Smith also attached a copy of the Bill Passed by Hawaii in 2004. This path has already been cleared for Texas by a much smaller state, in addition a total of 31 other are allowing LEGAL Title & Registration as of the time this email was written. I am not here to insult another state, but I just cannot wrap my head around the fact that. California, the state with the strictest rules/laws when it comes to Vehicles will allow Assembled Vehicles to have Registration, and Texas a State that boasts about freedom the most does not allow Street Legal us of Dune Buggies, Sandrails, & Kitcars.

I understand that you are extremely busy, and I have taken up some of your time. However, I do feel very strongly on the issues that I have with Administrative Rule 217.3. I hope you will take my email into consideration & help make a change during the next TxDMV Board meeting. Not only will Texas be watching so will people from all over the nation.

Thank you for your time,


Put You Name here

[Ken]

I corrected Whitney Brewster's email address in Faron's post above. It had a type-o. If you already sent an email, please resend hers.

Sending these emails are an extremely simple way for EVERYONE to support this effort.
It takes seconds to do this, so EVERYONE DO IT NOW!

[ScottR]

Good job, thank you for this post as I hope we can get at least 10% or more to follow through on this.

[Ken]

Sorry for the bad email address in the mass email.

"webmaster@texasmanxclub.com" is not a working address. Oops. My bad. Please post up here if you have any comments.

[Steve76063]

I've emailed my 4 letters...fingers crossed!