Law & Order

Protecting the intellectual property rights (IPR) of its members is a top SEMA priority. The process begins when companies register their patents, trademarks and copyrights with government agencies in the United States (and other countries). Registration is a key to establishing legal rights. 

Legislation that would end a five-year debate on how to expand the U.S. Marine Corps base at Twentynine Palms, California, has been included in HR 1960, the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), greatly increasing the likelihood of approval.

Legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. The bill, supported by the state’s hobbyist community, has been referred to the Senate Transportation, Public Safety and Veterans and Military Affairs Committee for consideration.

New Zealand’s Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association (LVVTA) has issued a safety bulletin that identifies quality concerns for certain inexpensive aftermarket steering column brands produced in China and other Asian countries. The columns are typically used in modified custom vehicles, classics and hot rods. 

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has signed into law SEMA-amended legislation that originally threatened to add abandoned, unregistered, inoperable or junk motor vehicles to the list of items that constitute a public nuisance.

Legislation that originally prohibited the sale and distribution of corn-based ethanol if at least two other New England states pass a similar prohibition was amended and approved by the Maine Legislature.

Legislation in Connecticut that originally threatened to increase the age requirement for vehicles eligible for registration as “antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicles” or “modified antique motor vehicles” and increase the maximum property tax assessment for these vehicles from $500 to $2,500 has been substituted and sent to the floor of the House for a vote by all members. 

Legislation to prohibit a person from selling gasoline that contains corn-based ethanol as an additive at a level greater than 10% by volume (E10) was signed into law by Governor Paul LePage.

A SEMA-opposed House Joint Resolution (HJR 38) to impose a vehicle miles traveled tax on state motorists died without consideration when the Missouri Legislature adjourned for the year.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has approved a SEMA-supported bill (HR 819) to reopen Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina to off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation. It has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee for further action.