Page 106 - Experience Magazine Spring 2022

The federal law on VINs, in comparison, allows a VIN to be removed for restoration or repairs, allows for
VIN to be removed for necessary repairs to a vehicle, other factors to be considered.
which although not as draconian as many state laws “That was where we were stuck, and nobody understood
on the subject, still allowed some sort of exception for or appreciated how significant that can be,” Davis said.
repairing a vehicle. “This new bill takes the subjectivity out of the situation.”
Nonetheless, the language of Arizona’s statutes on VINs When it came to crafting the Arizona legislation, the
allowed for no such removal of a VIN for any reason. Barrett-Jackson team wanted to take a narrow approach
Such a reading, however, often overlooks the intent and use language from the current federal law on VINs
behind the statutes in the first place.
to help draft the amendment to the Arizona statute. As
Jackson also noted, the spirit of the VIN laws enacted such, the amendment to Arizona law is narrow.
decades ago were aimed at the fraudsters and crooks who Selecting 1981 as the cut-off year wasn’t random. That year,
were stealing vehicles — not the guy spending tens of VINs became more standardized, and vehicles produced
thousands of dollars and hours to restore a car. The letter post-1981 are currently not considered candidates for the
of the law, however, didn’t consider that. level of restoration that requires VIN reattachment.
A governmental official, like in the Kansas case, may “As the collector car community evolves and expands
simply read the statute in place and, regardless of any to future generations and more makes and models, this
other facts, conclude that the vehicle needs to be seized cut-off may, at some point, need to be reconsidered,”
because a VIN was removed and reinstalled. Yet, by Jackson said.
amending Arizona’s current VIN statutes to allow for a
According to Davis (at left at the Arizona House of
Representatives), the one challenge that was faced was
getting non-car people to understand the issue. Davis
wanted to help educate members of both the House and
Senate on the proposed changes.
The bill went through the Transportation Committee
in the Arizona House of Representatives and the
Transportation and Technology Committee in the
Arizona State Senate, passing unanimously throughout
both bodies of government.

“We attacked this as hobbyists,” Davis said. “We are all
that guy in the garage, restoring the car and having no
choice but to remove the VIN to save it from destruction
and reattaching it after we’re done. That’s the spirit of
this legislation and it’s something that will benefit and
protect all collector car enthusiasts. That’s why this law
was so important for us, too, because it really was more
about the hobby.”
Most of the vehicles to which HB 2480 applies are hobbyist
- - - driven. The Arizona bill proved to be legislation everybody

“WE ATTACKED THIS AS HOBBYISTS,” DAVIS SAID. “WE ARE was proud to get behind, gaining national interest.
ALL THAT GUY IN THE GARAGE, RESTORING THE CAR AND Davis attributes the bill’s success to having receptive
Arizona lawmakers who were willing to listen, as well as
HAVING NO CHOICE BUT TO REMOVE THE VIN TO SAVE IT FROM common-sense legislation that’s great for not only the

DESTRUCTION AND REATTACHING IT AFTER WE’RE DONE. THAT’S collector car industry, but also for the state of Arizona.
He noted that Arizona is becoming center stage for car
THE SPIRIT OF THIS LEGISLATION AND IT’S SOMETHING THAT
culture, in large part because of Barrett-Jackson and the
WILL BENEFIT AND PROTECT ALL COLLECTOR CAR ENTHUSIASTS.” state’s business-friendly environment.
- - - “We are enthusiasts first and foremost,” Davis said. “This
is an enthusiast victory. It’s not a Barrett-Jackson victory
— it’s a victory for the hobby.”

106 BARRETT-JACKSON EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2022