By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A SEMA-supported bill (HR 1462) has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The current RFS mandates that an increasing amount of ethanol or other biofuels be blended into gasoline each year—levels that are now becoming unattainable in a free marketplace. Congress enacted the RFS in 2005 and then dramatically expanded the volume of renewables to be blended each year, from 9 billion gallons in 2008 to 36 billion gallons by 2022.

The RFS has been the driving force behind a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow the content of ethanol in gasoline to rise from 10% (E10) to 15% (E15) ethanol. E15 will then become the way refiners meet RFS mandates. In addition, the RFS requires fuel producers to meet unattainable mandates for other types of biofuels, such as cellulosic ethanol (wood, grasses and other agricultural byproducts) that have not yet been developed.

HR 1462 aims to reform the RFS by eliminating corn-based ethanol requirements, reducing the requirements of cellulosic ethanol and banning E15 in the marketplace. SEMA supports this effort to responsibly reform the RFS to eliminate the threats to older vehicles posed by E15 gasoline. SEMA supports additional legislation, HR 875 and S. 344 to halt E15 sales.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

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

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

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.