Sometimes democracy works and the people’s voices are heard. The Colorado DMV is seemingly backing down from its proposed Kei car ban just days after word of it began spreading.
“Please be advised that the DMV has decided to cancel this promulgation,” the DMV told one Coloradoan in an email response about the proposal.
The Drive reached out to the Colorado DMV for a statement on the matter on Thursday and received the following response:
“Public safety is a top priority for the Colorado DMV. It is the division’s responsibility to ensure that vehicles on Colorado roads are safe for both their operators and others around them. As such, the DMV does not register vehicles that have not been determined to meet safety standards for operation on Colorado roads.
“Kei vehicles have not previously been authorized for registration, and the decision to halt the Rule 3 promulgation process does not reflect any change in the Colorado DMV’s approach or policy regarding these vehicles or other vehicles that cannot demonstrate they are safe to operate.
“The Colorado DMV remains committed to reviewing vehicles and policies to ensure they align with our responsibility to prioritize safety for all road users.
“It is important to note that driving an unregistered vehicle in Colorado is a Class B traffic infraction.”
While the statement stipulates that the about-face on the ban proposal “does not reflect any change in the Colorado DMV’s approach or policy,” Colorado residents have historically been able to register and own Kei cars according to the law, so business should continue as usual for now.
That doesn’t mean this war is over, though. Colorado is just the latest in a long line of states that have attempted to ban Kei cars from public roads, and the organization behind it all—the AAMVA (American Associates of Motor Vehicle Administrators)—isn’t going anywhere. The AAMVA has been pushing for Kei car bans for years, with varying degrees of success. Beloved tiny Japanese cars are disallowed in some states, such as Maine, Georgia, and Rhode Island. Others, such as Massachusetts and now Colorado, have skirted such bans. But you can bet the AAMVA will try again.
Colorado now the 4th state to back down from Kei Vehicle ban this fall!!!
byu/CommanderDawn inkeitruck
Another important detail is that Colorado had a habit of denying Kei car registrations before this ban was even proposed. A Reddit thread of Kei-owning Coloradoans shows that many people have been denied registration, despite no official explanation why. It’s unclear if those same owners will be able to register their cars now, in light of the DMV’s ban rejection. One Suzuki Carry owner told The Drive that their registration was initially denied, but they’re going to try again on December 30 to see if they have better luck.
The AAMVA claims that Kei cars are unsafe for public roads because they’re smaller and lighter than almost any passenger car you’ll find in America and fail to meet domestic safety standards. But the same can be said for countless other classic cars that are eligible for road use. Why the AAMVA is so hellbent on banning Kei cars over all other classics is a mystery. But the Colorado DMV’s ban rejection is a little win, however temporary it may be, that we should all celebrate.
Update Friday, Dec. 20, 1:20 p.m. Eastern: Added official statement from the Colorado DMV.
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