The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrew a SEMA-opposed plan that could have required companies to install soundproofing materials to comply with noise standards. Employers may currently meet the standard by providing workers with ear plugs or headsets. Instead, OSHA wanted companies to undertake costly workplace changes before turning to ear plugs/headsets as a solution. The proposal had drawn widespread criticism from the business community. OSHA’s action was in part a response to an Executive Order issued by the White House, which directs federal agencies to review their regulations and eliminate rules that hinder economic growth. Manufacturers had noted that compliance with the rule would have cost billions of dollars, at the expense of job creation.  

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org. 

Several weeks ago, SEMA requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspend its partial waiver to permit the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) for model-year (MY) ’07 and newer vehicles. Instead, the EPA has taken another step in the wrong direction by expanding the waiver to include MY ’01-’06 vehicles. The decision seems to conflict with President Obama’s Executive Order from earlier this week that requires government agencies to balance social and economic costs.

The EPA agrees with SEMA that older cars (pre-MY ’01) should not be fueled with E15. The EPA reached its decision based on concern that ethanol’s corrosive qualities could harm the vehicle’s engine and other metal, plastic and rubber components. The EPA has proposed that a warning label be posted on the gas pump to prevent misfueling. SEMA opposes this solution as incomplete given the significant threat of damage that could arise from misfueling. Even for newer vehicles, the label will cause confusion since most owner’s manuals instruct the motorist not to use ethanol blends higher than E10 and warranty coverage may be denied for damage caused by misfueling.

SEMA will continue to oppose E15 until there are conclusive scientific findings that demonstrate that it will not harm automobiles of any age as a result of corrosion or other chemical incompatibilities. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate these automobiles.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Several weeks ago, SEMA requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspend its partial waiver to permit the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) for model-year (MY) ’07 and newer vehicles. Instead, the EPA has taken another step in the wrong direction by expanding the waiver to include MY ’01-’06 vehicles. The decision seems to conflict with President Obama’s Executive Order from earlier this week that requires government agencies to balance social and economic costs.

The EPA agrees with SEMA that older cars (pre-MY ’01) should not be fueled with E15. The EPA reached its decision based on concern that ethanol’s corrosive qualities could harm the vehicle’s engine and other metal, plastic and rubber components. The EPA has proposed that a warning label be posted on the gas pump to prevent misfueling. SEMA opposes this solution as incomplete given the significant threat of damage that could arise from misfueling. Even for newer vehicles, the label will cause confusion since most owner’s manuals instruct the motorist not to use ethanol blends higher than E10 and warranty coverage may be denied for damage caused by misfueling.

SEMA will continue to oppose E15 until there are conclusive scientific findings that demonstrate that it will not harm automobiles of any age as a result of corrosion or other chemical incompatibilities. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate these automobiles.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Several weeks ago, SEMA requested that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suspend its partial waiver to permit the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol (E15) for model-year (MY) ’07 and newer vehicles. Instead, the EPA has taken another step in the wrong direction by expanding the waiver to include MY ’01-’06 vehicles. The decision seems to conflict with President Obama’s Executive Order from earlier this week that requires government agencies to balance social and economic costs.

The EPA agrees with SEMA that older cars (pre-MY ’01) should not be fueled with E15. The EPA reached its decision based on concern that ethanol’s corrosive qualities could harm the vehicle’s engine and other metal, plastic and rubber components. The EPA has proposed that a warning label be posted on the gas pump to prevent misfueling. SEMA opposes this solution as incomplete given the significant threat of damage that could arise from misfueling. Even for newer vehicles, the label will cause confusion since most owner’s manuals instruct the motorist not to use ethanol blends higher than E10 and warranty coverage may be denied for damage caused by misfueling.

SEMA will continue to oppose E15 until there are conclusive scientific findings that demonstrate that it will not harm automobiles of any age as a result of corrosion or other chemical incompatibilities. SEMA represents thousands of companies that market products for these vehicles and, through its SEMA Action Network (SAN), millions of enthusiasts who buy and operate these automobiles.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles has been reintroduced in the New York State Assembly. Introduced by Assemblyman Bill Reilich, the bill 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. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. An identical bill has been introduced in the New York State Senate.

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

SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles has been reintroduced in the New York State Assembly. Introduced by Assemblyman Bill Reilich, the bill 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. Under the bill, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. An identical bill has been introduced in the New York State Senate.

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

Identical bills in the West Virginia Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with a fair and equitable personal property tax assessment have been introduced and referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee. The bills seek to address recent unfair valuation practices, which have negatively impacted many West Virginia hobbyists. West Virginia law defines an "antique motor vehicle" as any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and is owned solely as a collector's item. Both measures provide that for the purposes of the property tax, the assessed value of an antique vehicle cannot exceed $200.

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

Identical bills in the West Virginia Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with a fair and equitable personal property tax assessment have been introduced and referred to the House Roads and Transportation Committee. The bills seek to address recent unfair valuation practices, which have negatively impacted many West Virginia hobbyists. West Virginia law defines an "antique motor vehicle" as any motor vehicle that is more than 25 years old and is owned solely as a collector's item. Both measures provide that for the purposes of the property tax, the assessed value of an antique vehicle cannot exceed $200.

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

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit under a fair and predictable test was introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature by Delegate Gary Howell. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. Among other things, the bill would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which nearly all exhaust system modifications are considered illegal, even where noise levels are not excessive or unusual.

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

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet a 95-decibel limit under a fair and predictable test was introduced in the West Virginia State Legislature by Delegate Gary Howell. Current West Virginia law only allows a muffler originally installed by the manufacturer or an equivalent. Among other things, the bill would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police officers in which nearly all exhaust system modifications are considered illegal, even where noise levels are not excessive or unusual.

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