Maine pulls ZAP Xebra registration despite compliance with the law
Some states have laid out the red carpet for the three-wheeled electric vehicles from ZAP! by offering rebates and issuing executive orders while some states are trying to pull the rug out from under owners by invalidating their registrations. This is now the case in Maine where Xebra owner, Tom Joyal, has received a letter from the state government telling him his little electric Xebra doesn't conform to the state's motor vehicle code and that they are revoking his registration. A spokesperson for the Secretary of State says a number of vehicles, "have been brought to their attention" because people are trying to find ways of coping with higher gas prices. The owner disagrees with the states assessment and claims he is in compliance because it adheres to the definition of an autocycle.
So who is right? After meticulously combing the 251-page Maine Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual (PDF) we conclude that Mr. Joyal appears to be mostly within the boundaries of the law, though he may want to consider installing a roll bar if he wants to be sure to pass inspection. Although the law states that an autocycle is "...an enclosed motorcycle, originally manufactured as an autocycle. It is designed to have no more than three wheels in contact with the ground at any time," an inspector must reject the vehicle if it's does not have said roll bar. The office of the Secretary of State may take another look at the situation and has issued a statement saying, "We certainly want to take an opportunity to review the vehicle and the way that it is configured, see how that fits within the existing confines of state law and see what changes to make to either the vehicle or to the law to make it a viable alternative for people." We hope Mr. Joyal has a lot of patience and wish him good luck.
[Source: WCSH6]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 12:07PM (8/18/2008)
Ah, the good new USSA. There is nowhere left to escape state socialism and central planning...
The on only "change you can count on" after this next election will be MORE socialism.
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davenh 12:46PM (8/18/2008)
well tim
when it comes to socialism maine has a head start on the rest country , maine i a state were people seem to think living off
other people"s tax money is a rite of passage
now thats not to say that maine do not have some freindly and very hard working people . just that their numbers decrease with each new generation
Woodenbee 12:50PM (8/18/2008)
the lack of socialism in the US is what has caused all our current and everlasting issues, allowing weapons, health care, prisons and basic transportation to be "for profit" has proven to be the gravest mistake of western society, and is especially true in the US where the for profit mentality is so ingrained and corrupting, especially when you have voters like the first comment who have been misled from an early age to blame everything on big government/pinkos when in fact if they could think for themselves for a moment big government is the only reason they have a shirt on their back. The reason that guy in Maine is having trouble with the State govt is because some auto dealer has taken a dislike to the smell of competition coming from that three wheeler and he's trying to crush it, which is how republicans like to operate the govt.
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davenh 9:15AM (8/20/2008)
you do realize that Maine is a overwhelmingly democratic state
Mike 9:27AM (8/19/2008)
Umm... Maine's Governor is Democrat.
How can some people be so biased Democrat vs Republican to even bring that into the discussion.
1995 was the last time (12 years ago) that Maine had a Republic as their Governor.
(Don't get me wrong, I think they are all on the payroll, but party has nothing to do with this).
Some large Car dealer with deep pockets and connections is in on this.
I think ZAP should find that "banker" and sue him for trying to interfere with his business practices.
Whopper 2:45PM (8/18/2008)
Socialism has proven so successful that people in Florida are just flocking to that little socialistic island, Cuba. Or do I have that backwards.
Years ago I worked on a research project at Southwest Research and a project that I was competing with for dyno time was one involving one of those wonder products of socialism - the Lada. The team was charged with getting the Lada to meet US EPA standards. Unfortunately every time they tried shifting to second gear on the chassis dyno the engine would stall under load.
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Woodenbee 11:40PM (8/18/2008)
Cubas like Iraq, crushed to death and their children starved to death by "international trade sanctions" demanded by the US, who'd blame them for leaving, but thats nothing to do with Cuba being a ex communist satellite state or socialism for that matter, in fact no matter how bad things were made for them at least they didn't bankrupt somebodies whole family if they got sick, as happens here, every day. Didn't some Iraq war veterans have to go there to get proper health care?
Nick 4:57PM (8/18/2008)
Is there an email address to Maine's government?
I'm assuming if lots of people email them it might help.
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Woodenbee 11:38PM (8/18/2008)
and as for the lada thing, I'm sure American cars of that period were technological marvels, didn't people have to tow them back to the local Lincoln dealer and torch them to get any service? just remember gimmicky anecdotes don't mean or prove anything, they are simply a cheap tool for lying politicians and car salesmen
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