Legislation (A.B. 1740) in the California Assembly to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle (kit car) registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year was approved by the Appropriations Committee. The bill will next move to the floor of the Assembly for a vote by all members. Under current California policy, specially constructed vehicles that do not receive one of the 500 sequence numbers are subject to a "muddied" titling, registration and smog-check process.

A.B. 1740 will help allow more vehicle owners to confidently take advantage of a newly enacted vehicle registration amnesty program for specially constructed vehicles that were previously registered or classified incorrectly. Under the new law, the DMV will grant amnesty from prosecution to vehicle owners if certain conditions are met, including the owner filing a completed application with the department.

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

Legislation (A.B. 1740) in the California Assembly to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle (kit car) registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year was approved by the Appropriations Committee. The bill will next move to the floor of the Assembly for a vote by all members. Under current California policy, specially constructed vehicles that do not receive one of the 500 sequence numbers are subject to a "muddied" titling, registration and smog-check process.

A.B. 1740 will help allow more vehicle owners to confidently take advantage of a newly enacted vehicle registration amnesty program for specially constructed vehicles that were previously registered or classified incorrectly. Under the new law, the DMV will grant amnesty from prosecution to vehicle owners if certain conditions are met, including the owner filing a completed application with the department.

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

Legislation (A.B. 1740) in the California Assembly to increase the registration limit for exempted specially constructed vehicle (kit car) registrations from 500 to 750 vehicles per year was approved by the Appropriations Committee. The bill will next move to the floor of the Assembly for a vote by all members. Under current California policy, specially constructed vehicles that do not receive one of the 500 sequence numbers are subject to a "muddied" titling, registration and smog-check process.

A.B. 1740 will help allow more vehicle owners to confidently take advantage of a newly enacted vehicle registration amnesty program for specially constructed vehicles that were previously registered or classified incorrectly. Under the new law, the DMV will grant amnesty from prosecution to vehicle owners if certain conditions are met, including the owner filing a completed application with the department.

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

SEMA and 54 other trade associations called on Congress to limit the amount credit card companies can charge merchants when processing payments. Under the current system, the merchant pays a transaction fee every time a card is used, whether for credit or debit. The "swipe" fees amounted to $63 billion in 2008. The fees can average 2%–4% for businesses that accept debit/credit cards and are automatically divided between the merchant's bank, the cardholder's bank and the network that processes the transactions. The merchant may not know how much money has been withheld until receiving a monthly statement since there are a number of transaction variables.

In a joint letter to the U.S. Senate, the trade associations asked that swipe fee reform be included within the financial regulatory reform legislation currently being debated. The trade associations specifically asked that the Federal Reserve be given the authority to treat debit card transactions like paper checks since they are equivalent. In both instances, the funds are drawn directly from the consumer's checking account and neither transaction extends credit. In 1914, the Federal Reserve required all banks to clear paper checks at par (no exchange fees).

The trade associations also urged lawmakers to give the Federal Trade Commission (or some other federal agency) the authority to review rules and regulations associated with electronic transactions and provide businesses with the ability to steer customers towards less expensive forms of payment (i.e. cash, checks, PIN debit cards). For example, under some credit-card agreements it is illegal for merchants to set credit-card minimums, offer discounts for cash payments, or pass along the swipe fees to the consumers.

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

SEMA members, help us spread the news about the SEMA Action Network (SAN) by placing the free SAN brochure, "Protect Your Passion," on your countertops. The SAN is the industry's outreach to the hobbyist community and your customers. It is a nationwide partnership of car clubs, individuals and SEMA members who work together to promote industry-friendly laws and regulations.

The SAN brochure describes legislative issues impacting the enthusiast and solutions to keep your products in the marketplace. Topics include vehicle titling, vehicle suspension, inoperable vehicles, lighting equipment, scrappage and modified exhaust systems. "Protect Your Passion" describes how to join the SAN and collectively help protect the hobby.

To request SAN brochures for your store, contact Ethan Landesman at 202/783-6007 ext. 39 or ethanl@sema.org.

Participate in the new three-day intensive familiarization and sales event taking place September 2010 in Beijing. The Chinese street-tuning and off-road modification shops show the diversity already available in China. Yet they have at least one trait in common: their customers, when making a purchase decision, want the imported, branded product if they can afford it.

The quality and aspirational value of imported products made by well-known international brands resonates with consumers in both street and off-road circles. When these products are available, they are selling well.

SEMA members are invited to participate in the first SEMA CIAPE China Business Development Conference, a low-cost set of guaranteed one-on-one meetings with pre-vetted Chinese buyers, as well as participate in networking and seminars.

More information is available online at www.sema.org/china or by contacting SEMA Director of International Relations Linda Spencer.

I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, will join the 2010 SEMA Show as an exhibitor from November 2–5, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The decision marks the first time the nonprofit training organization has appeared as an exhibitor at the Show, which has grown the paint, body and equipment area during the past two Shows.

In addition to participating as an exhibitor at the Show, I-CAR will also provide several hands-on technical demonstrations on the Show floor designed to provide attendees with information about some of the most current issues in vehicle technology and important considerations for collision repair.

Since 1979, I-CAR has developed and delivered technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry and is well-known not only for its classroom and online training, but also for its Welding Qualification Test.

“I-CAR is pleased to be part of the 2010 SEMA Show and reach out to this audience with information about collision repair," said John Edelen, I-CAR president and CEO. "With the rapid rate of change in vehicle technology and design, the need to stay current on repair processes is more important than ever. For us, the SEMA audience represents individuals who are keenly aware of emerging technology in the automotive industry, and I-CAR is committed to providing the most current collision repair training opportunities that will meet their needs.”

Visit the I-CAR website or www.SEMAShow.com for more information.

I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, will join the 2010 SEMA Show as an exhibitor from November 2–5, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The decision marks the first time the nonprofit training organization has appeared as an exhibitor at the Show, which has grown the paint, body and equipment area during the past two Shows.

In addition to participating as an exhibitor at the Show, I-CAR will also provide several hands-on technical demonstrations on the Show floor designed to provide attendees with information about some of the most current issues in vehicle technology and important considerations for collision repair.

Since 1979, I-CAR has developed and delivered technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry and is well-known not only for its classroom and online training, but also for its Welding Qualification Test.

“I-CAR is pleased to be part of the 2010 SEMA Show and reach out to this audience with information about collision repair," said John Edelen, I-CAR president and CEO. "With the rapid rate of change in vehicle technology and design, the need to stay current on repair processes is more important than ever. For us, the SEMA audience represents individuals who are keenly aware of emerging technology in the automotive industry, and I-CAR is committed to providing the most current collision repair training opportunities that will meet their needs.”

Visit the I-CAR website or www.SEMAShow.com for more information.

I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, will join the 2010 SEMA Show as an exhibitor from November 2–5, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The decision marks the first time the nonprofit training organization has appeared as an exhibitor at the Show, which has grown the paint, body and equipment area during the past two Shows.

In addition to participating as an exhibitor at the Show, I-CAR will also provide several hands-on technical demonstrations on the Show floor designed to provide attendees with information about some of the most current issues in vehicle technology and important considerations for collision repair.

Since 1979, I-CAR has developed and delivered technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry and is well-known not only for its classroom and online training, but also for its Welding Qualification Test.

“I-CAR is pleased to be part of the 2010 SEMA Show and reach out to this audience with information about collision repair," said John Edelen, I-CAR president and CEO. "With the rapid rate of change in vehicle technology and design, the need to stay current on repair processes is more important than ever. For us, the SEMA audience represents individuals who are keenly aware of emerging technology in the automotive industry, and I-CAR is committed to providing the most current collision repair training opportunities that will meet their needs.”

Visit the I-CAR website or www.SEMAShow.com for more information.

I-CAR, the Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair, will join the 2010 SEMA Show as an exhibitor from November 2–5, 2010, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The decision marks the first time the nonprofit training organization has appeared as an exhibitor at the Show, which has grown the paint, body and equipment area during the past two Shows.

In addition to participating as an exhibitor at the Show, I-CAR will also provide several hands-on technical demonstrations on the Show floor designed to provide attendees with information about some of the most current issues in vehicle technology and important considerations for collision repair.

Since 1979, I-CAR has developed and delivered technical training programs to professionals in all areas of the collision industry and is well-known not only for its classroom and online training, but also for its Welding Qualification Test.

“I-CAR is pleased to be part of the 2010 SEMA Show and reach out to this audience with information about collision repair," said John Edelen, I-CAR president and CEO. "With the rapid rate of change in vehicle technology and design, the need to stay current on repair processes is more important than ever. For us, the SEMA audience represents individuals who are keenly aware of emerging technology in the automotive industry, and I-CAR is committed to providing the most current collision repair training opportunities that will meet their needs.”

Visit the I-CAR website or www.SEMAShow.com for more information.