Kei trucks, those small and cute commercial vehicles from Japan, are causing a disagreement between the Rhode Island DMV and local people. The owners, who use these trucks for farming and other jobs, are being told they can’t keep their registrations. About 30 Kei trucks are registered in the state, and they are cheaper than regular trucks like the Ford Maverick.
This isn’t the first time Rhode Island’s DMV has dealt with Kei trucks. But this time, the truck owners have support from State Senator Lou DiPalma. He said, “One of my constituents asked the DMV if he could register his truck before buying it. They said yes. He wouldn’t have bought it if he couldn’t register it.” But later, he was told to return his registration.
The DMV believes these trucks are unsafe, which doesn’t make sense. These trucks don’t have to pass safety tests because they are older than 25 years. So, they can be used on US roads legally. It’s not clear if other Kei cars, like the Suzuki Cappuccino, are also affected.
It’s true that Kei trucks might not offer much protection in a crash, but neither do many old cars. Will Rhode Island ban all vehicles that aren’t very safe? Also, if they’re worried about safety, why are they allowing golf carts on the roads?
The media has asked the department for more details. Senator DiPalma has introduced a law to help these truck owners. It has passed in the Senate but needs to be made into a law.
Senator DiPalma said, “The bill wants to keep everyone who has a truck and had it registered before 2021. Otherwise, they won’t be able to register it again.” The DMV says these trucks aren’t treated like classic US cars, which followed US safety rules when they were new. It’s sad that these cute trucks might not be allowed anymore, even though people like them.
