Date: Fri, 27 Apr 2001 02:21:18 -0700
Reply-To: "Thomas D. Hanlon" <hanran@earthlink.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Thomas D. Hanlon" <hanran@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: MotorHomeClassification
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Rick,
To determine the "living" or "motorhome" characteristics of a vehicle, you
can have it either way in various jurisdictions, by the presence or
absence of a toilet, and a bed, a sink, and a stove, and according to how
well you can argue the point of what constitutes a "toilet." Westfalia has
no toilet. Porta-potty," or its generic version is not mentioned, or
considered by you, by the way. As I understand the situation, a "toilet"
is a permanently-installed device equipped to receive and to store human
excrement and which provides for the sanitary disposal of that material.
1. In California, a Westy carries a blue seal and a classification which
gives the Housing Department of the State a jurisdiction over the
vehicle, but it can be registered as a simple, private-use car, by virtue
of the absence of the toilet.
2. Regardless of the "We've always registered that Westy, that way, "
comment from the nice lady at DMV, determine if the definition in Virginia
of "motorhome" includes a toilet. Determine the definition of a toilet
according to the code.
3. Call the Recreational Vehicle Institute of America in DC and ask if
that trade organization considers a Westy a "motorhome," which I remember
means that you can "live" in the vehicle, and that use status usually
includes the presence of the "permanent" toilet. A relatively "local" to
VA authority will give emphasis to your position.
4. AAA of Southern California will pay, under the Plus membership
benefits, for towing of a Westy, even overseas, without the payment of the
"extra" fee for insuring a Motor Home or Recreation Vehicle for towing
purposes, because of the ABSENCE of a toilet. Determine the VA AAA
organization's practices. Without the toilet, AAA of Southern California
determines that the vehicle is not a motor home or a recreational vehicle.
Ask me how I know.
5. Determine what the Insurance Company Institute, (or a similarly-named
trade association) which I think, also, is in DC, considers a Westy.
6. In Texas, my Westy is registered as a simple, private, vehicle,
without regard to any considerations other than its private or commercial
use.
7. Call your State representative and inform him or her of the confusion
in the Code as compared to those codes/practices in other, more
progressive jurisdictions.
8. Incite the Westy community in VA to carry the banner of "foolish" state
regulations and to storm the DMV barricades.
9. Appeal any decision that goes against your position. Cite the various
sources above, after you research them.
Tom Hanlon
Palm Springs, CA
84 Westfalia
Richard Ferguson wrote:
> Hi Volks,
> I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if so have you
> found a solution? I live in Virginia where we are finally getting some
> breaks on the cartax that everyone hates...but here's the catch: DMV
> has my Westie classified as a Motor Home...it has always had that
> classification according to the DMV lady who researched the title.
> Motor Homes are not covered under the tax break! I guess I could
> understand if this were a 35' Jetstream, but this is my daily driver!
> Any suggestions/solutions?
> Thanks for any advice,
> Rick
> 85 Westie
>
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