Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:56

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

maryland
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will consider legislation authorizing a county or municipality to impose an annual surcharge for the registration of a motor vehicle.

Legislation authorizing a county or municipality to impose an annual surcharge for the registration of a motor vehicle will be considered by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, February 19, 2014. The measure provides for a surcharge up to $20 per year and requires that revenue from the surcharge be used for transportation development purposes. In addition, the bill makes no special exception for hobby cars, such as street rods and historic vehicles that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower taxes and fees.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:56

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

maryland
The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee will consider legislation authorizing a county or municipality to impose an annual surcharge for the registration of a motor vehicle.

Legislation authorizing a county or municipality to impose an annual surcharge for the registration of a motor vehicle will be considered by the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, February 19, 2014. The measure provides for a surcharge up to $20 per year and requires that revenue from the surcharge be used for transportation development purposes. In addition, the bill makes no special exception for hobby cars, such as street rods and historic vehicles that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower taxes and fees.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:53

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

kentucky
The House Transportation Committee amended and approved Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax was amended and approved by the House Transportation Committee. Under the amendment, newer vehicles would be valued at the “average trade-in” value.

Previously, the bill required these vehicles to be valued at the higher "clean trade-in" value. The bill continues to put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer be presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provides three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill now moves to a vote by the full Kentucky House of Representatives.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:53

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

kentucky
The House Transportation Committee amended and approved Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax was amended and approved by the House Transportation Committee. Under the amendment, newer vehicles would be valued at the “average trade-in” value.

Previously, the bill required these vehicles to be valued at the higher "clean trade-in" value. The bill continues to put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer be presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provides three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill now moves to a vote by the full Kentucky House of Representatives.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:53

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

kentucky
The House Transportation Committee amended and approved Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax was amended and approved by the House Transportation Committee. Under the amendment, newer vehicles would be valued at the “average trade-in” value.

Previously, the bill required these vehicles to be valued at the higher "clean trade-in" value. The bill continues to put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer be presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provides three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill now moves to a vote by the full Kentucky House of Representatives.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:53

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

kentucky
The House Transportation Committee amended and approved Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax.

Kentucky legislation to change the valuation procedure on vehicles registered in the state for purposes of the property tax was amended and approved by the House Transportation Committee. Under the amendment, newer vehicles would be valued at the “average trade-in” value.

Previously, the bill required these vehicles to be valued at the higher "clean trade-in" value. The bill continues to put a new valuation procedure in place for older vehicles. Vehicles 20 years old or older would no longer be presumed to be in "original factory" or "classic" condition. The measure instead provides three options for assessing the value of these vehicles. The bill now moves to a vote by the full Kentucky House of Representatives.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network website. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:50
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A Florida man has been charged with one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods—an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The goods at issue are counterfeit electronic engine control devices produced and marketed by Hondata for use in modified Honda and Acura vehicles.  

In a plea agreement filed with a U.S. District Court, the defendant admitted that, beginning in 2009, he arranged for Hondata’s K-Pro and S300 devices to be reverse-engineered. The counterfeit devices bore Hondata’s trademarked name, as well as counterfeit serial numbers. The defendant also admitted creating counterfeit packaging, labels, instructions and compact discs for the devices.  

The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For more information on how to protect your intellectual property, go to www.sema.org/ipr.
Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:50
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A Florida man has been charged with one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods—an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. The goods at issue are counterfeit electronic engine control devices produced and marketed by Hondata for use in modified Honda and Acura vehicles.  

In a plea agreement filed with a U.S. District Court, the defendant admitted that, beginning in 2009, he arranged for Hondata’s K-Pro and S300 devices to be reverse-engineered. The counterfeit devices bore Hondata’s trademarked name, as well as counterfeit serial numbers. The defendant also admitted creating counterfeit packaging, labels, instructions and compact discs for the devices.  

The investigation in this matter was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For more information on how to protect your intellectual property, go to www.sema.org/ipr.
Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:45
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Obama Administration has again delayed the requirement for businesses with 50–99 employees to offer health care coverage. Mid-sized firms will now have until January 1, 2016, to comply with the law’s obligation to offer coverage or pay a penalty. The so-called “employer mandate” was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2014, but had already been delayed one year.  

Large businesses with more than 100 employees will still be required to offer health insurance January 1, 2015, or face a penalty of $2,000 for each full-time worker, minus the first 30 full-time employees. Until 2016, however, the companies must only offer coverage to 70% of their full-time workers rather than the law’s 95% threshold.

Businesses with 49 or fewer employees are not required to offer health care coverage for their employees. For more information on the health care law, please visit the SEMA-member guide webpage. Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.
Thu, 02/13/2014 - 10:45
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Obama Administration has again delayed the requirement for businesses with 50–99 employees to offer health care coverage. Mid-sized firms will now have until January 1, 2016, to comply with the law’s obligation to offer coverage or pay a penalty. The so-called “employer mandate” was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2014, but had already been delayed one year.  

Large businesses with more than 100 employees will still be required to offer health insurance January 1, 2015, or face a penalty of $2,000 for each full-time worker, minus the first 30 full-time employees. Until 2016, however, the companies must only offer coverage to 70% of their full-time workers rather than the law’s 95% threshold.

Businesses with 49 or fewer employees are not required to offer health care coverage for their employees. For more information on the health care law, please visit the SEMA-member guide webpage. Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.