By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in North Carolina to impose a fine on any person who equips a car with headlamps that “change the original design.” The SEMA-opposed bill conflicts with the Federal “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.” Lawmakers and the courts have made clear that the standards adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are to be performance standards, not design standards, and that such standards are to apply equally to motor vehicles and motor-vehicle equipment. Further, all headlamps, be they manufactured by car manufacturers or in the aftermarket, are required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The bill also includes the requirement that an inspection mechanic use a light meter to determine if an aftermarket headlamp conforms with FMVSS No. 108, but does not require a light meter test of original equipment headlamps. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

With opposition from SEMA, legislation that threatened to disallow the use of year-of-manufacture license plates in Connecticut after July 1, 2013, was amended in committee to continue to allow use of these plates. Under the original bill, the owner of an antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicle who was authorized to display a year of manufacture plate could continue to display the plate until the registration period expired. However, upon renewal of registration, the owner would have been required to display a current registration plate. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

With opposition from SEMA, legislation that threatened to disallow the use of year-of-manufacture license plates in Connecticut after July 1, 2013, was amended in committee to continue to allow use of these plates. Under the original bill, the owner of an antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicle who was authorized to display a year of manufacture plate could continue to display the plate until the registration period expired. However, upon renewal of registration, the owner would have been required to display a current registration plate. 

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol could be considered this week by the Florida House of Representatives with a vote by all members. The Senate version of the bill was amended by the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to simply “encourage” rather than require the sale of blended gasoline. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol could be considered this week by the Florida House of Representatives with a vote by all members. The Senate version of the bill was amended by the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to simply “encourage” rather than require the sale of blended gasoline. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to repeal the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in the state contain a percentage of ethanol could be considered this week by the Florida House of Representatives with a vote by all members. The Senate version of the bill was amended by the Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee to simply “encourage” rather than require the sale of blended gasoline. Currently, the Florida Renewable Fuels Standard requires that all gasoline sold or offered for sale by a terminal supplier, importer, blender or wholesaler in Florida contain 9%–10% ethanol, or other alternative fuel, by volume. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) to provide, for one year, a specially designed vintage reproduction registration plate to qualifying vehicle owners was approved by both the Maryland Senate and House and sent to the governor for his signature and enactment into law. Under the bill, to be eligible to receive a vintage reproduction registration plate, the vehicle must be a passenger vehicle, small truck, historic vehicle, multipurpose vehicle or street-rod vehicle. The vintage reproduction plate would be designed to resemble the 1910 Maryland registration plate, which has black lettering on a yellow background. The bill requires MVA to set initial registration and renewal fees.  

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