New French law threat to MV collectors

[jerome]

Dear Friends

A recently enacted law (Nov 2005), called “loi sur la sécurité interieure” (ie interior security law) has organized weapons into 8 groups; from group 8 (collector and historical neutralized arms) to group 1 (missiles and modern military weapons). For reasons still unknown to us, all military vehicles (land, air, sea) are in group 2. This includes, as mentioned above, any land vehicle designed for military use (ie GMC, Dodge, jeep, but also Hummers and Land Rovers). A sentence in the law clearly states that amphibious vehicles are also concerned !!!

This is quite worrisome. I spent the week-end at the Paris Antic Car Show and talked with the President of FFVE, the French Federation of Historical Vehicles. This Federation consolidates 950 historical vehicles (military and civilian) clubs, which represents 15 000 collectors. The MVCG (Military Vehicle Collector Group) mentioned above is part of FFVE. The FFVE President is in direct contact with French authorities to address this issue. I also had a chance to talk with the FFVE lawyer in charge of this topic (for information, his father is a well known WWII tank collector)

When the law was initially drafted, it stated that MV could not be used in public roads, except during special ceremonies, with police escort. Fortunately, the FFVE got this issue resolved. But the following requirements remained:

- all vehicles must be kept locked in a secure garage (ie no parking in the street unattended)

- extra measures must be taken to prevent anyone starting the vehicle (simple ignition key is not enough)

This law is currently legally challenged by the FFVE, but that’s what they have been doing for the last two years (with top lawyers) with little success. If no resolution is found within the next few months, all our vehicles could end-up in museums (sale value close to nothing) or destroyed. The law limits export and import transaction, so selling to a foreign buyer will hardly be an option.

This is not good news and we all wait for a law reversal with anxiety. I will let you know more about it.

Cheers

Jerome

[fordgpa]

Hi Jerome,
Is this law checked by the EEC [europe] in Bruxelles if they don t agree with this ,and that is possible. :?:
Then the law will be banned by them maybe somebody can check this for the MV owners in France.Sometimes memebrs off the EEC make there own rules wich are not allowed in the EEC.One off the rules is free transport off people and goods between the states off Eirope.
if you are no longer allowed to sell your MV to an other part off Europe it is no longer free .
Good luck with it and try to check in bruxelles. :arrow:

Peter

[Guest]

Dear Peter

You are right on the mark. The FFVE lawyers are trying to undo the law with French law makers. If it does not work there, they are planning to take this to the European Court of Justice. But all this takes a lot financing and the various French MV clubs have already invested around 20 K€. We would like to come to an agreement positive to all parties without going to the European court.

Thanks again for your support

Jerome