The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revised the platform lift standards—Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 403 and 404. The rules are intended to prevent injuries when lifting a person seated in a wheelchair or scooter or standing passengers who may be aided by a cane or walker.

The NHTSA has revised the lighting requirements for lift controls, along with the location and performance requirements. The agency has also modified the wheelchair retention device and inner roll stop tests and the lighting requirements for public-use lifts. The changes take effect October 2, 2012, although earlier compliance is permitted. 

Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revised the platform lift standards—Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 403 and 404. The rules are intended to prevent injuries when lifting a person seated in a wheelchair or scooter or standing passengers who may be aided by a cane or walker.

The NHTSA has revised the lighting requirements for lift controls, along with the location and performance requirements. The agency has also modified the wheelchair retention device and inner roll stop tests and the lighting requirements for public-use lifts. The changes take effect October 2, 2012, although earlier compliance is permitted. 

Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

A bill that originally sought to provide legal registration to hobby vehicles with a clear title, required safety equipment and in good working order was signed into law by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. At the request of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the scope of the legislation was limited to former military vehicles. Lawmakers eliminated several pro-hobby provisions that applied to all hobby vehicles, such as pre-’68 vehicles, imports and kit cars. While the amended bill does not solve the many problems associated with registering a hobby car in Wisconsin, the SEMA-supported bill does provide incremental improvement to the rules governing former military vehicles.  

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

A bill that originally sought to provide legal registration to hobby vehicles with a clear title, required safety equipment and in good working order was signed into law by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. At the request of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the scope of the legislation was limited to former military vehicles. Lawmakers eliminated several pro-hobby provisions that applied to all hobby vehicles, such as pre-’68 vehicles, imports and kit cars. While the amended bill does not solve the many problems associated with registering a hobby car in Wisconsin, the SEMA-supported bill does provide incremental improvement to the rules governing former military vehicles.  

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

	Featuring an elaborate paint job from the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro was named a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

A stunning tribal graphic paint job, with matching Foose wheels and custom flip-forward hood, was enough to make Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

Calder’s Camaro was chosen based on those and other modifications, as outlined in his web video, which has thousands of views. Calder was one of several dozen contestants who submitted videos of their current-generation vehicles in order to be considered for prizes that included credentials and amenities to attend the trade-only Show.

The contest was open to registered, street-legal customized current-generation vehicles, as outlined in the SEMA Award contender list.

The Calder Camaro’s paint job, by John Wargo at the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, has more than 28 colors, including pearl and candy colors, with snakeskin effects. The interlinked tribal graphics, which extend from exterior to the interior, took more than 189 hours to apply. Smooth to the touch, the layers of paint were clear-coated, sanded and then cleared again.

A Ground Effects custom wing, Foose wheels painted to match and billet grilles are other custom touches gracing the exterior. The hood mounts were re-engineered so the hood flips forward. A Chevy bowtie and skull are among the design elements visible among flames airbrushed onto the hood surface. 

	The hood, which re-engineered so that it flips forward, features the Chevrolet bowtie and a skull as dynamic design elements.

Street-legal performance has been added through the use of a ZEX nitrous system, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust and Brembo Brake system with drilled and slotted rotors.

The interior has received custom suede seat coverings that match the copper paint elements, which extend into the interior through the doorjambs and flow across the dash panels. Inside the trunk are two Sony 1200 amps powering a custom sound system.

The car will be in full view at the 2012 SEMA Show when it starts October 30, 2012, and owner Jerry Calder, of Lexington, South Carolina, will be in attendance. Check out the winning video.

	Featuring an elaborate paint job from the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro was named a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

A stunning tribal graphic paint job, with matching Foose wheels and custom flip-forward hood, was enough to make Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

Calder’s Camaro was chosen based on those and other modifications, as outlined in his web video, which has thousands of views. Calder was one of several dozen contestants who submitted videos of their current-generation vehicles in order to be considered for prizes that included credentials and amenities to attend the trade-only Show.

The contest was open to registered, street-legal customized current-generation vehicles, as outlined in the SEMA Award contender list.

The Calder Camaro’s paint job, by John Wargo at the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, has more than 28 colors, including pearl and candy colors, with snakeskin effects. The interlinked tribal graphics, which extend from exterior to the interior, took more than 189 hours to apply. Smooth to the touch, the layers of paint were clear-coated, sanded and then cleared again.

A Ground Effects custom wing, Foose wheels painted to match and billet grilles are other custom touches gracing the exterior. The hood mounts were re-engineered so the hood flips forward. A Chevy bowtie and skull are among the design elements visible among flames airbrushed onto the hood surface. 

	The hood, which re-engineered so that it flips forward, features the Chevrolet bowtie and a skull as dynamic design elements.

Street-legal performance has been added through the use of a ZEX nitrous system, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust and Brembo Brake system with drilled and slotted rotors.

The interior has received custom suede seat coverings that match the copper paint elements, which extend into the interior through the doorjambs and flow across the dash panels. Inside the trunk are two Sony 1200 amps powering a custom sound system.

The car will be in full view at the 2012 SEMA Show when it starts October 30, 2012, and owner Jerry Calder, of Lexington, South Carolina, will be in attendance. Check out the winning video.

	Featuring an elaborate paint job from the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro was named a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

A stunning tribal graphic paint job, with matching Foose wheels and custom flip-forward hood, was enough to make Jerry Calder’s 2011 SS Camaro a winner in the 2011 SEMA Award Consumer Challenge.

Calder’s Camaro was chosen based on those and other modifications, as outlined in his web video, which has thousands of views. Calder was one of several dozen contestants who submitted videos of their current-generation vehicles in order to be considered for prizes that included credentials and amenities to attend the trade-only Show.

The contest was open to registered, street-legal customized current-generation vehicles, as outlined in the SEMA Award contender list.

The Calder Camaro’s paint job, by John Wargo at the Custom Shop in Flanagan, Illinois, has more than 28 colors, including pearl and candy colors, with snakeskin effects. The interlinked tribal graphics, which extend from exterior to the interior, took more than 189 hours to apply. Smooth to the touch, the layers of paint were clear-coated, sanded and then cleared again.

A Ground Effects custom wing, Foose wheels painted to match and billet grilles are other custom touches gracing the exterior. The hood mounts were re-engineered so the hood flips forward. A Chevy bowtie and skull are among the design elements visible among flames airbrushed onto the hood surface. 

	The hood, which re-engineered so that it flips forward, features the Chevrolet bowtie and a skull as dynamic design elements.

Street-legal performance has been added through the use of a ZEX nitrous system, Flowmaster cat-back exhaust and Brembo Brake system with drilled and slotted rotors.

The interior has received custom suede seat coverings that match the copper paint elements, which extend into the interior through the doorjambs and flow across the dash panels. Inside the trunk are two Sony 1200 amps powering a custom sound system.

The car will be in full view at the 2012 SEMA Show when it starts October 30, 2012, and owner Jerry Calder, of Lexington, South Carolina, will be in attendance. Check out the winning video.

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 was vetoed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The Governor cited a conflict with current law as the reason for not approving the bill. Amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA in consultation with state hobbyist groups totally exempted from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure remained exempted from the tax.

Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amended H.B. 878, the exemption for all cars, regardless of age that are undergoing restoration (for as long a time period as the restoration work requires) represented a new benefit to car owners and demonstrated a real effort by legislators and hobbyists to enact reasonable and fair compromise legislation. 

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 was vetoed by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. The Governor cited a conflict with current law as the reason for not approving the bill. Amendments to the bill drafted by SEMA in consultation with state hobbyist groups totally exempted from the license tax all vehicles and parts cars that are stored on private property for the purpose of restoration or repair. Vehicles stored within a structure remained exempted from the tax.

Under current law, all vehicles, even those 25 years old and older, are subject to the license tax. Under the amended H.B. 878, the exemption for all cars, regardless of age that are undergoing restoration (for as long a time period as the restoration work requires) represented a new benefit to car owners and demonstrated a real effort by legislators and hobbyists to enact reasonable and fair compromise legislation. 

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

In 2010, Massachusetts enacted into law a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, custom vehicles, replicas and specially constructed vehicles. The law defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Replica vehicles are defined as being assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that replicate an earlier year, make and model vehicle. Specially constructed vehicles are those reconstructed or assembled by a non-manufacturer from new or used parts that have an exterior that does not replicate or resemble any other manufactured vehicle. The bill allows replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing both the year in which the vehicle was built and the make, model and year of the vehicle intended to be replicated.    
 
The law also provides that specially constructed and replica vehicles, which are registered on or before April 30, 2012, are completely exempt from emissions inspection requirements. However, specially constructed and replica vehicles registered after April 30, 2012, are subject to emissions control requirements based on the model year and configuration of the engine installed, whether the engine is an OEM’s production engine, rebuilt engine or crate engine.

These concessions were necessary to receive the approval of the state regulators charged with overseeing the program. Under the law, if the model year of the engine installed in the specially constructed or replica vehicle requires an onboard diagnostic (OBD) system, the vehicle would be subject to an OBD system emissions test applicable to the certified configuration, including any exclusions or exemptions otherwise granted to that certified configuration. 

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