PORTLAND, Ore. — A proposal to make Oregon among the few states where military surplus Humvees can share civilian roadways with minivans, hatchbacks and sedans cleared its first major hurdle in Salem this week.
Senate Bill 645 passed the Oregon Senate in a 27-2 vote Wednesday and now heads to the House.
Under the proposal, retired military Humvees could get legal status for the streets through a Department of Motor Vehicles registration that's currently used for antique cars and street rods. For a one-time $81 fee, these vehicles would permanently be legal for limited street use, such as organized club rides, exhibitions and parades.
The U.S. military began selling its old Humvee fleet to civilians in late 2014 as "off-road only" vehicles, which is why many states like Oregon decline to register them.
