A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to provide a tax credit for converting a used gasoline vehicle into a hybrid. The goal of the legislation is to help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Businesses with fleets of vans, trucks and cars would be the primary beneficiaries. The tax credit would vary from $3,000–$8,000 based on vehicle weight. The tax credit would be paid for by federal funds not otherwise obligated for other programs. In order to qualify, the vehicle must be used or leased and not for resale, and achieve a specified fuel savings once converted.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to provide a tax credit for converting a used gasoline vehicle into a hybrid. The goal of the legislation is to help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil. Businesses with fleets of vans, trucks and cars would be the primary beneficiaries. The tax credit would vary from $3,000–$8,000 based on vehicle weight. The tax credit would be paid for by federal funds not otherwise obligated for other programs. In order to qualify, the vehicle must be used or leased and not for resale, and achieve a specified fuel savings once converted.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing to begin the process of rewriting the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The primary concern of some members of the committee is excessive lawsuits brought by environmental groups to enforce deadlines and force decisions on endangered species classifications. Other committee members argued that lawsuits are an important tool for identifying species that need protection. The hearing focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has received requests to add more than 1,000 species to the endangered list since 2007. 

When environmental groups are successful in suits against the government, they can recover a portion of their legal fees from a taxpayer-supported "judgment fund." In addition, some environmental groups who sue federal agencies have also received federal grant money. An effort is underway to remove the "judgment fund" provision from the current law.

The Natural Resources Committee’s action is likely the first in a series of hearings to begin crafting ESA reform legislation. The most recent Congressional efforts to revise the ESA died in 2006. Enacted into law in 1973, there has been widespread agreement that the ESA needs to be updated. The law has favored a blanket approach of setting aside millions of acres rather than nurturing smaller recovery zones. During this time, the off-road community has been unnecessarily deprived of access to roads and trails while the sacrifice does not necessarily translate into better species protection. ESA reforms would seek to foster more cooperative efforts between the government, private landowners and conservation organizations so that federal dollars are spent on recovery rather than lawsuits. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee held an oversight hearing to begin the process of rewriting the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The primary concern of some members of the committee is excessive lawsuits brought by environmental groups to enforce deadlines and force decisions on endangered species classifications. Other committee members argued that lawsuits are an important tool for identifying species that need protection. The hearing focused on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which has received requests to add more than 1,000 species to the endangered list since 2007. 

When environmental groups are successful in suits against the government, they can recover a portion of their legal fees from a taxpayer-supported "judgment fund." In addition, some environmental groups who sue federal agencies have also received federal grant money. An effort is underway to remove the "judgment fund" provision from the current law.

The Natural Resources Committee’s action is likely the first in a series of hearings to begin crafting ESA reform legislation. The most recent Congressional efforts to revise the ESA died in 2006. Enacted into law in 1973, there has been widespread agreement that the ESA needs to be updated. The law has favored a blanket approach of setting aside millions of acres rather than nurturing smaller recovery zones. During this time, the off-road community has been unnecessarily deprived of access to roads and trails while the sacrifice does not necessarily translate into better species protection. ESA reforms would seek to foster more cooperative efforts between the government, private landowners and conservation organizations so that federal dollars are spent on recovery rather than lawsuits. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to create uniform minimum standards to cover the types of keyless ignition controls being installed in many new cars. The goal is to make it easier for drivers to stop a moving vehicle during a panic situation and to alert drivers who unintentionally attempt to leave the vehicle without it being "locked in park'' or with the engine still running.

The NHTSA is proposing to require a half-second hold time to shut down the vehicle when the driver pushes the ignition control, with the engine responding within a second of the initial push. The NHTSA is also proposing a standardized sound and volume for an audible warning to be given to the driver when the car is being turned off without being in the park position. The revisions would be included in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, Theft Prevention and Rollaway Protection. They would not likely take effect until Model Year ’15. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants to create uniform minimum standards to cover the types of keyless ignition controls being installed in many new cars. The goal is to make it easier for drivers to stop a moving vehicle during a panic situation and to alert drivers who unintentionally attempt to leave the vehicle without it being "locked in park'' or with the engine still running.

The NHTSA is proposing to require a half-second hold time to shut down the vehicle when the driver pushes the ignition control, with the engine responding within a second of the initial push. The NHTSA is also proposing a standardized sound and volume for an audible warning to be given to the driver when the car is being turned off without being in the park position. The revisions would be included in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, Theft Prevention and Rollaway Protection. They would not likely take effect until Model Year ’15. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business-mileage deduction at 55.5 cents a mile for 2012. The rate is unchanged from when it was last revised in July 2011. The mileage calculation includes the cost of fuel along with other vehicle fixed and variable operating expenses, such as depreciation, insurance, tires, etc. Companies and individuals who use their automobiles (including vans, pickups and panel trucks) for business have the option of using the standard rate in lieu of keeping records of their actual expenses. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The Internal Revenue Service has set the standard business-mileage deduction at 55.5 cents a mile for 2012. The rate is unchanged from when it was last revised in July 2011. The mileage calculation includes the cost of fuel along with other vehicle fixed and variable operating expenses, such as depreciation, insurance, tires, etc. Companies and individuals who use their automobiles (including vans, pickups and panel trucks) for business have the option of using the standard rate in lieu of keeping records of their actual expenses. 

For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The province of Quebec, Canada has drafted legislation to create a mandatory motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program.  Slated to begin in 2013, motorists would be required to undergo an emissions inspection as a condition for vehicle registration.

According to the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, the program is intended to follow the example of six other Canadian provinces and is expected to be implemented in phases: 1) All vehicles eight years and older will be required to pass inspection before being sold; 2) All vehicles eight years and older will be required to pass inspection regardless of whether or not they are being sold; 3) All vehicles (including new vehicles) will be required to pass inspection.

According to the Ministry, the legislation is expected to be reviewed over the course of two years and language specifying the age limits of vehicles to be tested, including whether historic and collector vehicles would be exempted, are still under consideration. SEMA is working with representatives of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada to ensure that the program makes reasonable accommodations for rarely-used and well-maintained hobbyist cars.

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

The province of Quebec, Canada has drafted legislation to create a mandatory motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program.  Slated to begin in 2013, motorists would be required to undergo an emissions inspection as a condition for vehicle registration.

According to the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, the program is intended to follow the example of six other Canadian provinces and is expected to be implemented in phases: 1) All vehicles eight years and older will be required to pass inspection before being sold; 2) All vehicles eight years and older will be required to pass inspection regardless of whether or not they are being sold; 3) All vehicles (including new vehicles) will be required to pass inspection.

According to the Ministry, the legislation is expected to be reviewed over the course of two years and language specifying the age limits of vehicles to be tested, including whether historic and collector vehicles would be exempted, are still under consideration. SEMA is working with representatives of the National Association of Automobile Clubs of Canada to ensure that the program makes reasonable accommodations for rarely-used and well-maintained hobbyist cars.

For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.