After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

After passing in the Assembly with the full support of the automotive hobbyist community, the California Senate Transportation Committee failed to approve legislation to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year. The bill was defeated on a 3 to 5 vote.

Current law provides for emissions-system certification and a model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles. Under the law, vehicle owners choose whether a smog-test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. If there is no close match, it is classified as a ’60 vehicle. Only those emissions controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required.

The Department of Motor Vehicles provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria.

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

One week remains for diesel performance parts manufacturers to have these parts placed on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) “Parts in Progress List,” thereby providing a one-year period for obtaining emissions compliance for these components. Unless parts have previously been CARB certified, failure to be included on this list by the July 1, 2010, deadline will cause products to fail the current Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) diesel smog-check program administered in California.

Diesel parts manufacturers choosing to become listed must submit a traditional CARB E.O. application that now includes a requirement that applicants explain how they would institute a recall program for existing products, which may require modification to pass emissions standards. Upon successful completion of these documents, assuming products can reasonably be assured to pass emissions requirements, applicants will be given one year (July 1, 2010–July 1, 2011) to obtain an E.O.

To review the current CARB “Parts in Progress List,” go to www.arb.ca.gov, click on “aftermarket parts” and identify and click on the “Parts in Progress List.”

While CARB will be updating this list on a frequent basis as the July 1 deadline approaches, only one week remains for SEMA members to obtain additional time for compliance testing and not have vehicles rejected during smog checks. BAR will be referencing the CARB website to determine which components are on the "Products in Progress List" to identify parts not causing failure of the visual portion in the smog-check inspection procedure.

SEMA continues to monitor this program and will provide updates when available.

For additional information, contact Jim McFarland at 901/377-1210 or jmcfar1@aol.com.

One week remains for diesel performance parts manufacturers to have these parts placed on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) “Parts in Progress List,” thereby providing a one-year period for obtaining emissions compliance for these components. Unless parts have previously been CARB certified, failure to be included on this list by the July 1, 2010, deadline will cause products to fail the current Bureau of Automotive Repair’s (BAR) diesel smog-check program administered in California.

Diesel parts manufacturers choosing to become listed must submit a traditional CARB E.O. application that now includes a requirement that applicants explain how they would institute a recall program for existing products, which may require modification to pass emissions standards. Upon successful completion of these documents, assuming products can reasonably be assured to pass emissions requirements, applicants will be given one year (July 1, 2010–July 1, 2011) to obtain an E.O.

To review the current CARB “Parts in Progress List,” go to www.arb.ca.gov, click on “aftermarket parts” and identify and click on the “Parts in Progress List.”

While CARB will be updating this list on a frequent basis as the July 1 deadline approaches, only one week remains for SEMA members to obtain additional time for compliance testing and not have vehicles rejected during smog checks. BAR will be referencing the CARB website to determine which components are on the "Products in Progress List" to identify parts not causing failure of the visual portion in the smog-check inspection procedure.

SEMA continues to monitor this program and will provide updates when available.

For additional information, contact Jim McFarland at 901/377-1210 or jmcfar1@aol.com.

As of January 1, 2011, it will be illegal to sell or install a wheel weight that contains lead or mercury in Illinois. The state joins several others that have enacted laws banning the manufacture, sale and use of lead wheel weights. California’s law went into effect on January 1, 2010. Maine, Vermont and Washington also ban the products while Iowa, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin have considered a ban.

The automakers have already agreed to stop using lead weights as original equipment, and the three major manufacturers of wheel weights in the United States stopped distributing lead weights in 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a voluntary nationwide initiative in 2008 and began a rulemaking process in 2009 which may eventually translate into a mandatory federal ban. The weights have been banned in the European Union since 2005. Automakers, tire makers and the aftermarket are turning to three main substitute materials—steel, zinc or composites.

If lead weights fall off tires, there is concern that they then become environmental hazards or contaminants in the metal recycling process. In the environment, the weights may be ground into fine dust particles and turn into lead oxides, hydroxides or bicarbonates. Lead particles and chemical combinations also pose the risk of contaminating surface and ground water supplies.

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

As of January 1, 2011, it will be illegal to sell or install a wheel weight that contains lead or mercury in Illinois. The state joins several others that have enacted laws banning the manufacture, sale and use of lead wheel weights. California’s law went into effect on January 1, 2010. Maine, Vermont and Washington also ban the products while Iowa, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Wisconsin have considered a ban.

The automakers have already agreed to stop using lead weights as original equipment, and the three major manufacturers of wheel weights in the United States stopped distributing lead weights in 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a voluntary nationwide initiative in 2008 and began a rulemaking process in 2009 which may eventually translate into a mandatory federal ban. The weights have been banned in the European Union since 2005. Automakers, tire makers and the aftermarket are turning to three main substitute materials—steel, zinc or composites.

If lead weights fall off tires, there is concern that they then become environmental hazards or contaminants in the metal recycling process. In the environment, the weights may be ground into fine dust particles and turn into lead oxides, hydroxides or bicarbonates. Lead particles and chemical combinations also pose the risk of contaminating surface and ground water supplies.

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