The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is holding a public workshop February 3, 2012, in San Francisco to gather additional information on how to implement a tire fuel efficiency consumer information program. The program is required under a 2007 law. In 2010, the NHTSA established the test procedures to be used by tire manufacturers when rating the fuel economy, safety and durability characteristics of replacement tires. However, the agency is still debating how to convey the information to consumers at the point of sale and online. The NHTSA is specifically interested in whether to base the fuel efficiency rating on the rolling resistance coefficient or the rolling resistance force. The NHTSA is also interested in reviewing the experiences other countries have had in pursuing similar programs.

The premise for the program is to allow consumers to compare ratings for different replacement tires and determine the effect of tire choices on fuel economy or the potential tradeoffs between tire fuel efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet traction) and durability (treadwear life). The consumer information may be conveyed in the form of a 1–5-star rating system or some similar approach, and included on a label affixed to each tire. The 2007 law included a SEMA provision exempting tires that have been produced or imported in annual units of less than 15,000, and do not exceed 35,000 tires in total brand name production. 

Questions: contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is holding a public workshop February 3, 2012, in San Francisco to gather additional information on how to implement a tire fuel efficiency consumer information program. The program is required under a 2007 law. In 2010, the NHTSA established the test procedures to be used by tire manufacturers when rating the fuel economy, safety and durability characteristics of replacement tires. However, the agency is still debating how to convey the information to consumers at the point of sale and online. The NHTSA is specifically interested in whether to base the fuel efficiency rating on the rolling resistance coefficient or the rolling resistance force. The NHTSA is also interested in reviewing the experiences other countries have had in pursuing similar programs.

The premise for the program is to allow consumers to compare ratings for different replacement tires and determine the effect of tire choices on fuel economy or the potential tradeoffs between tire fuel efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet traction) and durability (treadwear life). The consumer information may be conveyed in the form of a 1–5-star rating system or some similar approach, and included on a label affixed to each tire. The 2007 law included a SEMA provision exempting tires that have been produced or imported in annual units of less than 15,000, and do not exceed 35,000 tires in total brand name production. 

Questions: contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is holding a public workshop February 3, 2012, in San Francisco to gather additional information on how to implement a tire fuel efficiency consumer information program. The program is required under a 2007 law. In 2010, the NHTSA established the test procedures to be used by tire manufacturers when rating the fuel economy, safety and durability characteristics of replacement tires. However, the agency is still debating how to convey the information to consumers at the point of sale and online. The NHTSA is specifically interested in whether to base the fuel efficiency rating on the rolling resistance coefficient or the rolling resistance force. The NHTSA is also interested in reviewing the experiences other countries have had in pursuing similar programs.

The premise for the program is to allow consumers to compare ratings for different replacement tires and determine the effect of tire choices on fuel economy or the potential tradeoffs between tire fuel efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet traction) and durability (treadwear life). The consumer information may be conveyed in the form of a 1–5-star rating system or some similar approach, and included on a label affixed to each tire. The 2007 law included a SEMA provision exempting tires that have been produced or imported in annual units of less than 15,000, and do not exceed 35,000 tires in total brand name production. 

Questions: contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is holding a public workshop February 3, 2012, in San Francisco to gather additional information on how to implement a tire fuel efficiency consumer information program. The program is required under a 2007 law. In 2010, the NHTSA established the test procedures to be used by tire manufacturers when rating the fuel economy, safety and durability characteristics of replacement tires. However, the agency is still debating how to convey the information to consumers at the point of sale and online. The NHTSA is specifically interested in whether to base the fuel efficiency rating on the rolling resistance coefficient or the rolling resistance force. The NHTSA is also interested in reviewing the experiences other countries have had in pursuing similar programs.

The premise for the program is to allow consumers to compare ratings for different replacement tires and determine the effect of tire choices on fuel economy or the potential tradeoffs between tire fuel efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet traction) and durability (treadwear life). The consumer information may be conveyed in the form of a 1–5-star rating system or some similar approach, and included on a label affixed to each tire. The 2007 law included a SEMA provision exempting tires that have been produced or imported in annual units of less than 15,000, and do not exceed 35,000 tires in total brand name production. 

Questions: contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates will be amended by the Virginia House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. Working with Virginia hobbyist groups, SEMA successfully negotiated an amendment with the bill’s sponsor that would totally exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the license tax and limit the tax to $100 for all other vehicles undergoing active restoration or repair. 

Parts cars that are stored on private property for fewer than 60 days would remain exempted. Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amendment to this bill, the exemption for cars 25 years old and older and older represents a new benefit to these car owners.   

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates will be amended by the Virginia House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. Working with Virginia hobbyist groups, SEMA successfully negotiated an amendment with the bill’s sponsor that would totally exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the license tax and limit the tax to $100 for all other vehicles undergoing active restoration or repair. 

Parts cars that are stored on private property for fewer than 60 days would remain exempted. Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amendment to this bill, the exemption for cars 25 years old and older and older represents a new benefit to these car owners.   

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates will be amended by the Virginia House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. Working with Virginia hobbyist groups, SEMA successfully negotiated an amendment with the bill’s sponsor that would totally exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the license tax and limit the tax to $100 for all other vehicles undergoing active restoration or repair. 

Parts cars that are stored on private property for fewer than 60 days would remain exempted. Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amendment to this bill, the exemption for cars 25 years old and older and older represents a new benefit to these car owners.   

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates will be amended by the Virginia House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee. Working with Virginia hobbyist groups, SEMA successfully negotiated an amendment with the bill’s sponsor that would totally exempt all vehicles 25 years old and older from the license tax and limit the tax to $100 for all other vehicles undergoing active restoration or repair. 

Parts cars that are stored on private property for fewer than 60 days would remain exempted. Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amendment to this bill, the exemption for cars 25 years old and older and older represents a new benefit to these car owners.   

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet an objective noise limit was introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature. Car owners would be issued a certificate of compliance if the exhaust system emitted no more than 95 decibels in a fair and predictable test. If enacted into law, the measure would provide motorists who drive vehicles legally equipped with modified exhaust systems the ability to prove that they comply with the law and would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which exhaust noise citations are prosecuted solely based on the officer’s subjective judgment.  

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet an objective noise limit was introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature. Car owners would be issued a certificate of compliance if the exhaust system emitted no more than 95 decibels in a fair and predictable test. If enacted into law, the measure would provide motorists who drive vehicles legally equipped with modified exhaust systems the ability to prove that they comply with the law and would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which exhaust noise citations are prosecuted solely based on the officer’s subjective judgment.  

More information is available. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.