T h r e e R i v e r s S e c t i o n / M B C A The Three Rivers Road Report June, 2017 Volume 5; Issue 6 Benz Family Dinner Seven Mercedes-Benz with 17 members left the big city of Fort Wayne to head to Amish country to enjoy a good home cooked Amish meal. We were treated to a family style dinner of fried chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing & Amish noodles. Everyone had plenty to eat. Did someone say PIE? Yes, there was room for homemade Amish pies. It was a great evening.
HISTORIC PLATES & AUTHENTIC MODEL YEAR LICENSE PLATES By Jason Bogart Some of our members participate in this Indiana state program. Vehicles that qualify may have historic plates. The vehicle must be 25 years or older. The plate for historic vehicles is a state issued plate that has the annual validation stickers on them. These can be displayed on the vehicle. Some members also choose to participate in the program authentic model year license plates This allows you to have a historic plate like this one pictured but you are allowed to display a model year plate that matches the manufacture year of your vehicle. A member was recently stopped for participating in this program and the officer issued a warning that it is not lawful to drive displaying the year of manufacture plate. I also participate in this program and I have a 1986 560SEL and I was not only able to locate a 1986 plate but I found an Indiana historic plate. I mentioned to the BMV that I frequently switch the plates to display the current historic plate with the validated stickers so that I won t get hassled by law enforcement. I was advised that I should not be doing that. I was informed that I must keep the year of manufacture plate on the car and the current validated plate and registration in the car. This is the plate that I display and it is listed on the registration as well as the current number on the historic plate issued by the state. I keep my 1986 plate on the car and the historic plate, registration and the rules that are listed on the BMV website in my glove box. Unfortunately there are law enforcement officials that are not up to date with BMV programs. We pay for this program so we shouldn t be penalized for a program the state offers. Authentic Model Year License Plate (From the BMV Website) For an additional annual fee an authentic model year license plate may be displayed on a vehicle that is registered as a collector vehicle. The Indiana authentic model year license plate is not required to be the original license plate registered to the vehicle; however, it is required to have been issued by the Indiana BMV in the same year as the model year of the vehicle to which it will be used.
A Historic license plate is registered to the collector vehicle and a Certificate of Registration with the authentic model year license plate number indicated is issued. The authentic model year license plate is placed on the rear of the vehicle, and the Historic License plate and Certificate of Registration must be carried in the vehicle at all times, including any renewal year stickers. The Historic license plate must be renewed annually. To use an authentic model year license plate on your collector vehicle, you must present the authentic model year plate to any BMV license branch for inspection. The authentic model year license plate may be refurbished or restored; however, the BMV may reject the use of the license plate if there is any indication that the plate does not meet the original specifications. Additionally, the authentic model year license plate must meet the following conditions: Be metal Be in good or original condition suitable to be displayed. The letters, numbers, and markings must be clearly legible. Fading must be minimal and not faded to an illegible state. May only contain minor rust on the face of the plate. May not be bent. May not have any unplanned holes. Must match the picture of the plate issued for the year of manufacture according to BMV records. These are some familiar plates in the early to late 80 s that are acceptable plates that can be used. You can easily locate these plate on E-bay and in antique shops. One thing the officer mentioned as a reason that it was unacceptable is that the year of manufacture plate was it was not scannable. No where in the BMV description does it say that a scannable plate must be viewable from the road. It states you must have it in the vehicle at all times as I have underlined above. I wanted to clarify and get a correct ruling on this issue. I contacted the Indiana State Police Post in Bremen, Indiana and they gave me the Indiana IC code that applies to this type of plating. They said that I should keep a copy of this in the car as well so that in the future if you have an issue you can provide this to the officer so he can verify the IC code. If you would like a copy of the IC code for your records please Google IC CODE 9-18-12-2.5
You can print a copy and keep all your paperwork with you. I have pasted the IC CODE below. IC 9-18-12-2.5 Indiana Code 2016 Use of authentic license plate; fee Sec. 2.5. (a) A person that registers an antique motor vehicle under this chapter may: (1) furnish; and (2) display on the antique motor vehicle; an Indiana license plate from the model year of the antique motor vehicle. (b) A license plate furnished and displayed under this section must be an authentic license plate from the model year of the antique motor vehicle. (c) Before a license plate is mounted on an antique motor vehicle under this section, the license plate must be inspected by the bureau to determine whether the license plate: (1) complies with this section; (2) is in suitable condition to be displayed; and (3) bears a unique plate number at the time of the registration of the antique motor vehicle. The bureau shall authorize the display of a restored or refurbished authentic license plate, but may prohibit the display of an authentic license plate under this section if the authentic license plate is not in conformance with this subsection. (d) If an Indiana license plate from the model year of the antique motor vehicle is displayed on a motor vehicle registered as an antique motor vehicle under this chapter, the current certificate of registration of the antique motor vehicle shall be: (1) kept at all times in the vehicle; and (2) made available for inspection upon the demand of a law enforcement officer. Notwithstanding IC 9-18-2-21, this subsection is not satisfied by keeping a reproduction of the certificate of registration in the vehicle or making a reproduction of the certificate of registration available for inspection. (e) The fee to register and display an authentic license plate from the model year of an antique motor vehicle is thirty-seven dollars ($37). The fee shall be distributed as follows: (1) Seven dollars ($7) to the motor vehicle highway account. (2) Thirty dollars ($30) to the commission fund. As added by P.L.79-2006, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.87-2010, SEC.9; P.L.198-2016, SEC.283.
Mercedes-Benz Club of America ~ Three Rivers Section Presents AUTOCROSS Come out and participate in a different type of motorsports. This Autocross places you behind the wheel. Experience a temporary road course & learn better vehicle control. You can drive as slow as you want and there will be experienced individuals to assist you. All members are welcome to participate in the Defensive Driving course prior to the competition free of charge. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to be safer on the road. Saturday June 10 th 2017 / Start time: 9:00 AM Registration cost is $30.00 / Box lunch available for $10.00 pre order The Autocross will be held at IPFW Campus in parking lot #4 IPFW, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN CONTACT JASON BOGART ~ E-MAIL: silverstar560@gmail.com ~ CELL: 574-457-6541 Or CONTACT JULIE BRUGGNER ~ E-MAIL: julesslb@msn.com ~ CELL: 260-348-1369 NAME: ADDRESS YEAR: MAKE MODEL: PHONE: Pre Registration $30.00 Box Lunch $10.00 each TOTAL: $ Please pre register by sending to MBCA, P.O. Box 25571 Deadline for pre registration and box lunch orders June 4 th, 2017 Fort Wayne, IN 46825-0902 Please send Check or Money Order payable to Mercedes Benz Club of America & include this bottom portion
We re in June already! This year is going by so quickly. We have a great start to the 2017 summer upon us. We have lots of fun events coming up. It would be nice to get the attention of other Mercedes Benz Owners to join us for these events. As the year goes on we may lose a few members and we may gain a few. I have always made it a priority to hand out the brochures. I stop and talk to other Mercedes Benz owners, I purposely park near other Mercedes Benz while shopping, etc. National has brochures (pictured left) available for all of us to hand out. The best way to get attention is word of mouth. If you are out and about and you see a fellow Mercedes owner stop & say hi or slip a brochure under their wiper. Some of you may not know this, but if you refer someone and they use your member # you ll get a one month credit on your membership. We want our section to grow. For the last several years Julie & I have come up with different and fun outings, gatherings etc. We want this to be enjoyable for everyone. We want to have a variety of different events that appeal to a broad section of our members. Ideally, I would like all active members to participate in handing out brochures to potential new members. I d encourage you to keep copies of MBCA brochures in your glove box. If any members are interested in getting some of these brochures please contact me at silverstar560@gmail.com. Let me know how many you want and I would be happy to send them to you. We are a smaller section of the MBCA but our percentage of participation is larger than some of the bigger sections. Including new members will hopefully increase our participation. I value all members in this section, current and future. I invite you to come to an event this summer, get involved see what s going on in your club. The Three Rivers Section still has a vacancy for the Membership Board Member position that I would like to get filled soon. I am looking for someone that can work with me on the membership and help grow our section. If you re interested in getting involved please e-mail me. I would be happy to hear from you. I would also like to recognize a few of our new members. Bill & Shirley Straley Jeff Funk Mike & Trina Mills Sincerely, Jason Bogart President Mercedes Benz Club of America ~ Three Rivers Section
Advertising We have reinstated advertising in our newsletter. Newsletters go to all current members, so if you want to promote your business or maybe sell your Mercedes, this is the place to advertise. We ll keep it to the calendar year, so rates will be adjusted for the remaining months. Business card ads are $60/year or $5/month 1/4 page ads are $120/year or $10/month 1/2 page ads are $240/year or $20/month Full page ads are $480/year or $40/month Send ads and payment to: Julie Bruggner 5526 Thornbriar Lane Fort Wayne, IN 46835 MERCEDES BENZ CLUB OF AMERICA ~ THREE RIVERS SECTION IS NOW ON FACEBOOK. LIKE US AND GET UPDATES ON UPCOMING EVENTS, POST PHOTOS AND GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.. www.facebook.com/mbcatr Note: You can log in and look even if you haven t joined Facebook. Click on the link above the picture to go check it out.
THREE RIVERS SECTION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2017 June 10: Defensive Driving/Autocross, see your e-mail or attached flyer for details June 24: Picnic & Show and Shine, members Darrell & Marilyn Post will open up their home for a picnic/potluck. Details coming soon. July 8: Three Rivers Festival Parade, details to follow July 22: Dinner/Meeting, details to follow August 6 Oakwood Car Show, Syracuse, IN details to follow August 19: Breakfast & Benz & meeting, time and location TBD September 2: A Day at Auburn, Our annual picnic & day at the Auction Park September 15: Toys for Tots Drive begins September 23: Toys for Tots, handing out boxes October 21: Dinner & Meeting, time & location TBD November: OPEN, suggestions? December 9: Christmas Party, Our annual Holiday party at Autumn Ridge Please consult your current issue of The Star magazine for listings of upcoming National, Regional and Sectional events throughout the country. Or log on to the National website at mbca.org and check out what s coming under the Our Community tab. More events will be added as they are scheduled and details for each event will be forwarded as needed. Ideas for events are always welcomed and encouraged. Contact any board member with suggestions.
THREE RIVERS SECTION Board of Directors and Officers Jason Bogart President, Social Media Director, Webmaster jbab@embarqmail.com 574-457-6541 Darrell Post Vice-president dpost202@yahoo.com 260-312-7681 Amy Bogart Treasurer abogart74@gmail.com 574-457-6518 Lisa Long Secretary, Event Coordinator lisaelong1@comcast.net 260-602-6006 Suzanne Noblett Event Coordinator suzanne@noblettgolf.com 260-348-5787 Membership Chair Julie Bruggner Past President, Newsletter Editor julesslb@msn.com 260-348-1369