Maine Canceling Delica Registration

I dont know if it has been mentioned yet but check out savethekei.com . not exactly the same but they have tried to ban kei cars in RI and they have fought back with pretty decent success so far. There is also some stories of delica owners fighting back on the site too.
 
I think you'd have a better chance fighting for saving the Delicas than kei cars simply due to their tiny size. Regardless, I wish them well and hope they're successful in their fights.

Any updates from Delica owners here?
 
More deregistration stories:

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Andy Lilinethal stops by again and we discuss issues with Maine and Rhode Island deresgistering JDM cars.Please Rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on your favorite listening platform.Comments, Questions, complaints; email us at autoofftopic@gmail.com"Z/
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Registration Revoked: Delica Vans No Longer Road Legal

Congrats! Your classic car is destined to be either a really tiny Airbnb, or the world’s largest Japanese paperweight.
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Crankshaft Culture said:
Not sure if anyone has been affected by this here, but Maine is canceling Delica registrations. This was originally brought up in the MDOC: Mitsubishi Delica Owners Club USA group on Facebook, of which I am an admin.

crankshaftculture.com

Maine is Actively Canceling Mitsubishi Delica Registration

The State of Maine is actively cancelling Mitsubishi Delica registration, citing the vehicles are minitrucks.
crankshaftculture.com crankshaftculture.com

I do not live in Maine, but I could see how this might be a slippery slope.
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Great article, @Crankshaft Culture! A little close to home.
 
jwampler3012 said:
It’s interesting, when did they make this rule? We are close by in VT and it makes me a bit nervous. I too have only had kind inquiries about my van. I did have a Pakistani guy at the gas station the other day tell me how these vans are everywhere in his country but figured they would be outlawed here because if feels they are so unsafe, siting how fast people drive in their giant SUVs and where you would go if you impacted one driving 90. I smiled and was on my way crawling down the road.

I wonder if it has more to do with emissions and the “clunker” factor and if as @Growlerbearnz they are going to nix all 25+ cars….but then again…have you seen some of the trucks still on the road up here in northern New England….
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Yo dude where in VT are you at? We should get a Delica meet up here!
 
Thinking about planning a family trip up to Maine (Acadia national park) next summer. We are registered in Michigan. Think we will have an issue driving the Delica out there?
 
cpginkpt said:
got this today.
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Crankshaft Culture said:
It sounds like they may have gotten together to provide cohesive messaging. My reply from the media contact for the BMV was similar, despite it being from a different person. The logic seems to be this:

  • Maine does not register "off-road vehicles" for road use.
  • My contact stated "Maine law is clear in Title 29-A (which was just recently updated in LD 1433 Sections 1-8) on what off-road vehicles are, and that they cannot be classified as antique autos for on-road use."
  • It appears off-road vehicles are those that do not pass FMVSS or EPS regulations.
  • Therefore the Delica is an off-road vehicle because it was never tested and therefore can't pass.
This would lead me to believe there are a lot of off-road vehicles in Maine. In fact I asked my contact:

There are other makes and models registered in Maine that also do not comply with FMVSS and EPS, many of which are also Japanese imports (and are also not minitrucks). Can owners of these vehicles (regardless of country of origin) also expect Maine to cancel their registrations?

Their reply: "Any vehicle found to be mistakenly registered would receive a similar letter to the ones sent out recently by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles."

I don't know how the Delica got on the BMV's radar. But it seems anyone owning a car brought in under the 25-year import rule and who has successfully registered their vehicle with the State of Maine is now potentially at risk for having their registration canceled.

Is this the state's right? It sounds like it. Could other states adapt this stance? You better believe it.
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I just recently purchased a 4x4 Delica 2005 L400 Spacegear and as I tear into it modifying it for camping in the brush in Africa and am hugely pleased at the thoughtfulness that is apparent in it's design and engineering. I was also pleased to see so many Delica Clubs in existence and the enthusiasm and passion people which people seem to have for their Delicas. So far I am only disappointed in that the VIN # seems to cause some problems with website part# lookups.

I am surprised that one can register a Manx dune buggy in Maine but not a Delica. I was looking forward to bringing back the vehicle to the U.S. at the end of our appointment.

There seem to be several avenues through which Delica owners might make an appeal. One is through the designation of Delica's as a "classic" vehicle that is valued by collectors (the clubs are evidence that there is a strong collector community focused on Delicas)

Doing a quick search, I came across this document providing Maine vehicle licensing guidance and definitions. Perhaps one option would be for Delica clubs to campaign Maine's Secretary of State. The Sec. of State is an appointed position every two years instead of the state police who are employment at will and therefore might be less sympathetic to citizen's concerns. It is the role of the police to enforce and not create legislation. Thinking with mid-term elections approaching she might be willing to listen to to the concerns of constituents.

Classic Vehicle. A motor vehicle that is at least 16 years old but less than 26 years old that the Secretary of State determines is of significance to vehicle collectors because of its make, model and condition and is valued at more than $5,000.

The second is that nowhere in the legislation can I find the requirement for the inspector to verify the make and model complies with FMVSS and EPS certification.

From the attached document 109-LD-1628

"Furthermore, according to the legislation attached below only the following are subject to inspection.

1. Equipment subject to inspection. The following equipment is subject to
inspection:
A. Body components;
B. Brakes;
C. Exhaust system;
D. Glazing;
E. Horn;
F. Lights and directional signals;
G. Rearview mirrors;
H. Reflectors;
I. Running gear;
J. Safety seat belts on 1966 and subsequent models;
K. Steering mechanism;
L. Tires; and
M. Windshield wipers.
=======================================================================================


The current Secretary of State is the Honorable Shenna Bellows Maine's 50th SoS
Shenna Bellows image

Office of the Secretary
Shenna Bellows, Secretary of State
148 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0148
Tel: 207-626-8400
Fax: 207-287-8598
email: sos.office@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Nash School Building
103 Sewall St., 2nd Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Dorothy A. Canelli, Chief Deputy Secretary of State
Small Business Advocate
148 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0148
Tele: 207-626-8401
Fax: 207-287-8598
email : sos.office@maine.gov
webpage: http://www.maine.gov/sos		Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
Julie Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State
101 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0101
Tel: 207-624-7736
Fax: 207-287-5428
Corporations email: cec.corporations@maine.gov
Elections email: cec.elections@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Burton Cross Building
111 Sewall St., 4th Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Shenna Bellows is Maine’s 50th Secretary of State, sworn into her first two-year term in the position on Jan. 4, 2021. Secretary Bellows is Maine’s first female Secretary of State.

Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the Maine Senate, she served as Senate Chair of the Labor and Housing Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee. She was a 2020 presidential elector in the Electoral College.

Secretary Bellows most recently led the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine as executive director from 2018 to 2020. Previously, she owned Bellows & Company, a non-profit consulting business, where she worked with organizations such as the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter, Consumers for Affordable Healthcare and the Maine Women’s Lobby. She also served as interim executive director of LearningWorks. In 2014, Secretary Bellows was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Maine.

From 2005 to 2013, Secretary Bellows was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She was a member of the first Right to Know Advisory Committee and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. She served on the Executive Committee of the 2009 and 2012 ballot campaigns to pass marriage equality in Maine, and co-chaired a successful 2011 statewide ballot campaign to restore same-day voter registration. She was an original member of the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.

Currently, Secretary Bellows is serving on the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Elections Committee, Cybersecurity Committee, Awards Committee, and International Relations Committee. She was a member of the bipartisan 2021 NASS Task Force on Vote Verification. She also serves as the Co-Chair of the NASS Business Services Committee. She is also serving as co-chair of The Council of State Governments (CSG) 2021-2022 Healthy States National Task Force Civic Health Subcommittee. Additionally, she is a member of the University of Maine at Augusta Board of Visitors.

Secretary Bellows grew up in Hancock and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School. She holds a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College. She volunteered with the Peace Corps in Panama and AmeriCorps VISTA in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
Crispen said:
I just recently purchased a 4x4 Delica 2005 L400 Spacegear and as I tear into it modifying it for camping in the brush in Africa and am hugely pleased at the thoughtfulness that is apparent in it's design and engineering. I was also pleased to see so many Delica Clubs in existence and the enthusiasm and passion people which people seem to have for their Delicas. So far I am only disappointed in that the VIN # seems to cause some problems with website part# lookups.

I am surprised that one can register a Manx dune buggy in Maine but not a Delica. I was looking forward to bringing back the vehicle to the U.S. at the end of our appointment.

There seem to be several avenues through which Delica owners might make an appeal. One is through the designation of Delica's as a "classic" vehicle that is valued by collectors (the clubs are evidence that there is a strong collector community focused on Delicas)

Doing a quick search, I came across this document providing Maine vehicle licensing guidance and definitions. Perhaps one option would be for Delica clubs to campaign Maine's Secretary of State. The Sec. of State is an appointed position every two years instead of the state police who are employment at will and therefore might be less sympathetic to citizen's concerns. It is the role of the police to enforce and not create legislation. Thinking with mid-term elections approaching she might be willing to listen to to the concerns of constituents.

Classic Vehicle. A motor vehicle that is at least 16 years old but less than 26 years old that the Secretary of State determines is of significance to vehicle collectors because of its make, model and condition and is valued at more than $5,000.

The second is that nowhere in the legislation can I find the requirement for the inspector to verify the make and model complies with FMVSS and EPS certification.

From the attached document 109-LD-1628

"Furthermore, according to the legislation attached below only the following are subject to inspection.

1. Equipment subject to inspection. The following equipment is subject to
inspection:
A. Body components;
B. Brakes;
C. Exhaust system;
D. Glazing;
E. Horn;
F. Lights and directional signals;
G. Rearview mirrors;
H. Reflectors;
I. Running gear;
J. Safety seat belts on 1966 and subsequent models;
K. Steering mechanism;
L. Tires; and
M. Windshield wipers.
=======================================================================================


The current Secretary of State is the Honorable Shenna Bellows Maine's 50th SoS
Shenna Bellows image

Office of the Secretary
Shenna Bellows, Secretary of State
148 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0148
Tel: 207-626-8400
Fax: 207-287-8598
email: sos.office@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Nash School Building
103 Sewall St., 2nd Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Dorothy A. Canelli, Chief Deputy Secretary of State
Small Business Advocate
148 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0148
Tele: 207-626-8401
Fax: 207-287-8598
email : sos.office@maine.gov
webpage: http://www.maine.gov/sos		Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
Julie Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State
101 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0101
Tel: 207-624-7736
Fax: 207-287-5428
Corporations email: cec.corporations@maine.gov
Elections email: cec.elections@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Burton Cross Building
111 Sewall St., 4th Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Shenna Bellows is Maine’s 50th Secretary of State, sworn into her first two-year term in the position on Jan. 4, 2021. Secretary Bellows is Maine’s first female Secretary of State.

Secretary Bellows previously served two terms in the Maine Senate from 2016-2020, representing 11 towns in southern Kennebec County. In the Maine Senate, she served as Senate Chair of the Labor and Housing Committee and served on the Judiciary Committee. She was a 2020 presidential elector in the Electoral College.

Secretary Bellows most recently led the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine as executive director from 2018 to 2020. Previously, she owned Bellows & Company, a non-profit consulting business, where she worked with organizations such as the Sierra Club’s Maine Chapter, Consumers for Affordable Healthcare and the Maine Women’s Lobby. She also served as interim executive director of LearningWorks. In 2014, Secretary Bellows was the Democratic nominee for United States Senate in Maine.

From 2005 to 2013, Secretary Bellows was executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine. She was a member of the first Right to Know Advisory Committee and the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. She served on the Executive Committee of the 2009 and 2012 ballot campaigns to pass marriage equality in Maine, and co-chaired a successful 2011 statewide ballot campaign to restore same-day voter registration. She was an original member of the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.

Currently, Secretary Bellows is serving on the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) Elections Committee, Cybersecurity Committee, Awards Committee, and International Relations Committee. She was a member of the bipartisan 2021 NASS Task Force on Vote Verification. She also serves as the Co-Chair of the NASS Business Services Committee. She is also serving as co-chair of The Council of State Governments (CSG) 2021-2022 Healthy States National Task Force Civic Health Subcommittee. Additionally, she is a member of the University of Maine at Augusta Board of Visitors.

Secretary Bellows grew up in Hancock and is a graduate of Ellsworth High School. She holds a B.A. in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College. She volunteered with the Peace Corps in Panama and AmeriCorps VISTA in Nashville, Tennessee.
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fice of the Secretary
Shenna Bellows, Secretary of State
148 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0148
Tel: 207-626-8400
Fax: 207-287-8598
email: sos.office@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Nash School Building
103 Sewall St., 2nd Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Dorothy A. Canelli, Chief Deputy Secretary of State
Small Business Advocate
148 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0148
Tele: 207-626-8401
Fax: 207-287-8598
email : sos.office@maine.gov
webpage: http://www.maine.gov/sos		Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
Julie Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State
101 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0101
Tel: 207-624-7736
Fax: 207-287-5428
Corporations email: cec.corporations@maine.gov
Elections email: cec.elections@maine.gov

Physical Location:
Burton Cross Building
111 Sewall St., 4th Floor Map it
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
 
you won’t have issues driving around Maine with an out of state registration if you’re from out of state. My parents live there and I spent over a month there last year and drove/parked all over.
 
There is companies that will set up a llc so you can buy a 350000 rv and avoid taxes registered and licensed . Currently legal Montana?. Im always looking for the loophole
914B498E-C274-4081-BF26-99561948B0E0.pngangle finder by nature


I dread my hobby making the govt attention, it’s like school again !!!Rules that suck!!!
The wife loves driving the Delica, before me she is a jeep wrangler only type.I daily a kei the plan when these make it to 30 years old…collector vehicle
One plate no tabs oh please Washington State i know you sick suck about sarrs but this is important



The inch i Want more JDM vehicle’s
I guess if things go south I’ll export north
Eh Canada !
914B498E-C274-4081-BF26-99561948B0E0.png
 
I just found this, and was suprised to see registrations being denied- do they understand the Mitsubishi Van Wagon was sold here in the USA from 1987-1990? the Delica is the exact van, just right hand drive. I would think how a 3700 lb vehicle was put under a kei car. I have a 88 mitsubishi van(left hand drive) that was sold here in the us so I have not had any problems so far. as for safety, well a motorcycle is way more dangerous and they still register those.
 
iatechman said:
the Delica is the exact van, just right hand drive
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This isn't true from a DOT point of view. Delica has different subframe, bumpers, turn signal lighting, hubs and braking, front axle, engine, and if post-facelift non-DOT approved headlights. Even if just one of those items were different, it would be enough to require all new DOT approvals.
 
Thank you all for your responses! I hope this issue gets resolved soon, otherwise I will be driving to Nova Scotia via Quebec.
I would have spent money in Maine (a drop in the bucket of course) on my way through in both directions.
 
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