18-02-2025
Specialty ‘Iron Horse' motorcycle license plate bill passes first hurdle
Rep. Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque) sits on his 1982 Harley Davidson Shovelhead. (Photo courtesy Art De La Cruz)
Asking Rep. Art De La Cruz (D-Albuquerque) to talk about his 1982 Harley Davidson Shovelhead is like asking him to talk about his children – he's proud and has pictures at the ready.
De La Cruz told Source NM that he is particularly proud of his bike because it was made during the first full production year after Harley Davidson bought back the company from American Machine and Foundry.
'I always tell everybody I own a full-blooded Harley,' he said.
De La Cruz is sponsoring a bill this session for motorcycle enthusiasts such as himself that would create a new speciality license plate specifically for classic and vintage motorcycles. The 'Iron Horse' license plate would apply to bikes 35 years old or more that are used for vintage vehicle meets, parades or other exhibitions.
'Not your daily driver,' De La Cruz told Source NM, referring to the newer bikes people are more likely to ride day-to-day.
House Bill 23 advanced through the House Transportation, Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee Tuesday with a do-pass and will continue on to the House Judiciary Committee.
De La Cruz, chair of the House transportation committee, presented the bill to committee members, explaining that the 'Iron Horse' license plate is a way to preserve classic motorcycles in a similar way that the current 'Horseless Carriage' specialty plate does for cars, trucks and other vehicles in the state.
He said the new plate will look almost identical to the 'Horseless Carriage' license plates, but with different wording at the bottom. 'It's a little cheaper,' De La Cruz told Source NM, and the registration is good for five years.
The bill notes that the plate would cost owners an initial fee of $7 and a $25 registration fee. If a person violates the rules surrounding the special plate, they can be charged $25.
According to the fiscal impact report, the Taxation and Revenue Department predicts the 'Iron Horse' plate will cost the department $31,100 and 14 weeks to develop, test and implement it into their system.
If passed, the bill will go into effect July 1, 2025.
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