SEMA News - April 2010

By Joe Dysart

By 2013, the Most Popular Way to Web Surf

	Gartner predicted that mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most popular device for accessing the web by 2013.

While e-retailers have made a sport of predicting when mobile e-commerce should really be taken seriously, a new report from market researcher Gartner indicates that the time for guessing games is over. Specifically, Gartner is predicting that the number of mobile phones on the planet with web access will overtake the number of PCs with web access by 2013.

In Gartner’s PC-installed-based forecast, the total number of PCs in use will reach 1.78 billion units in 2013, according to Brian Gammage, co-author of Gartner’s December 2009 report, “Gartner’s Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users, 2010 and Beyond." The installed base of smartphones will reach 1.32 billion units in the same year. This projection is significant for any firm currently engaging in eCommerce, and it’s especially significant to firms that are only beginning to think about or forge a mobile web strategy.

The clear message: Adding a mobile-friendly version of your website—which enables your product images, text descriptions and other web content elements to load easily on the relatively tiny screens of iPhones, Blackberrys, Android phones and the like—is something all e-retailers need to consider seriously during 2010. Indeed, findings in studies from Gartner and others reinforce the wisdom that designing a special website or series of special websites for mobile web device users is a now rather than later proposition.

For example, Hung LeHong, another Gartner co-author on the study, is predicting that the market penetration of mobile phones worldwide will be at 90% by 2014. And a 2009 retail holiday season shopper study released by Motorola in January found that 51% of 4,534 shoppers surveyed during the 2009 holiday season said that they used their mobile phones in various ways to close a sale. Those uses included comparison shopping as well as accessing online reviews, online product info and coupons.

Not surprisingly, the figures for Generation Y shoppers from the same study were even more dramatic. A full 64% of Generation Y shoppers used their mobile phones to help conclude a sale during the 2009 holiday season, and 21% of those same shoppers used a mobile phone to compare web prices with in-store prices.

Chiming in on the mobile web’s projected rise this year is Forrester’s Thomas Hutton, who predicts in his “2010 Mobile Trends” report, released in January, that companies of all shapes and sizes as well as governments and local authorities will start integrating mobile into their overall approach rather than simply launching a few mobile initiatives.

	Forrester’s Thomas Hutton predicted that mobile will increasingly be perceived as integral to eCommerce marketing rather than peripheral in 2010.

Organizations will thus dedicate more staff and resources to mobile, Hutton said. Many brands will also realize that they need budgets to promote their apps and, more importantly, he said, they will need to plan their next steps, which may mean upgrading their service or porting the application to a different environment, such as Android.

Hutton also projected that increasing numbers of e-retailers experimenting with geo-targeting—the practice of auto-sending promotional texts, coupons and other advertisements to the mobile phones of potential customers walking near or right by their storefronts—will become a key component of mobile social experiences and mobile marketing campaigns.

Granted, retooling a company’s web presence to accommodate users of a number of mobile computing devices will be a chore. But Hutton believes that the effort could pay off handsomely for e-retailers in the long term. “Beyond direct revenues, mobile can play a key role in satisfying your most loyal customers,” he said.

Given the cacophony of voices all pointing toward the inevitable rise of the mobile web, here are some resources you can use to pull together your own strategy:

Detect Mobile Browsers Software: Employing this type of software is one of the most efficient ways to ensure that a mobile user is served a website that is fully optimized for his or her device. Essentially, these programs can detect whether a visitor is using an Apple iPhone, a Blackberry, a Google Android phone or a similar device to access your website and then direct the visitor to a mobile version of your website that is specifically designed for each technology. One inexpensive software package in this space is Detect Mobile Browsers, which sells for $50. The package senses and redirects website visitors to mobile versions of your website that have been fully optimized for iPhone, Android, Opera Mini, Blackberry, Pal or Windows Mobile.

Desktop-to-Mobile-Web Migration Software: Applications maker Covario has just released a package that helps automate the process of transforming an everyday website into a site optimized for mobile devices. Brian Klais, Covario’s vice president of product management, said that Covario’s Mobile Content Optimizer allows pages to be quickly developed using existing desktop content. They can also be configured for display on various mobile devices and done in a highly scalable way, leveraging Covario’s software as a service delivery methodology. “Our goal is to reduce the time it takes an advertiser to have a complete mobile web presence to less than 30 days,” he said.

	Mobile browser software programs can detect whether a visitor is using an Apple iPhone, a Blackberry, a Google Android phone or a similar device to access your website and then direct the visitor to a mobile version of your website that is specifically designed for each technology.

Covario’s MCO software uses a proprietary template to migrate content from an existing website to a site designed for mobile users. Klais said that Covario uses this template manager to serve “optimized for mobile” pages to the mobile phone or device in real time for very large websites without the need to redesign the pages or set up separate templates for mobile.

mobiForge Mobile Web Development Community: With more than 26,000 members, mobiForge is a great place to visit if you’re looking to get up-to-speed very quickly on the state of mobile web development. Step one for the beginner is mobiForge’s “starting” section, which offers a cornucopia of educational material, books and training guides. Other sections are devoted to designing, developing and testing mobile websites. A “running” section offers ideas on how to monetize a site once it has been mobilized. And there are also some forums and a handy directory featuring mobile web development agencies, recommended mobile web development tools and the like.

Mobile Web Books: For an in-depth look at developing for the mobile web, check out Mobile Web Design, by Cameron Moll. The tome offers more than 100 pages of practical advice, tips and examples related to mobile web development and more than 40 example screens developed for various mobile devices.

Another reference in development is Brian Fling’s Mobile Design and Development. Fling promises that the forthcoming mobile development bible will offer the principles and techniques of mobile websites and mobile apps for
all devices.

“We’ll discuss what makes mobile—specifically the mobile web—one of the most unique and powerful mediums we’ve ever seen,” Fling said. “I’ll cover the essential principles for designing great experiences for the mobile medium, including how to take advantage of the mobile context, physical location, touch, accelerometers and other means of input to create intuitive interfaces that work.”  

Joe Dysart is an Internet speaker and business consultant based in Manhattan, New York.
Voice: 646/233-4089
E-mail: joe@joedysart.com
Website: www.joedysart.com  

 

SEMA News - April 2010

Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting small-business owners and their employees.

STATE UPDATE

Iowa

Antiques: SEMA is supporting Iowa legislation that would allow antique-vehicle owners to register limited-use vehicles for a reduced fee. Under the measure, owners who agree to use their vehicles for hobbyist purposes and occasional transportation (not to exceed 1,000 miles annually) would be charged an annual $5 fee. All other antique-vehicle owners would be charged a standard $70 fee for a two-year registration.

Kansas

	Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors.

Inoperable Vehicles: Legislation that would allow cities to enforce “nuisance-abatement” procedures by notifying affected property owners by use of first-class mail instead of certified mail (with a return receipt) has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors. In opposing the bill, SEMA has argued that certified mail with a signed receipt provides proof that a property owner has been properly alerted to a future enforcement action.

Maryland

New-Car Emissions Exemption: SEMA is supporting legislation to exempt newer motor vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions inspection program. Under the bill, a vehicle would be exempt from mandatory emissions test requirements for four years after the vehicle’s model year or first registration date, whichever is earlier. Maryland, like most other states, already exempts older (pre-’77 model year) motor vehicles from emissions tests.

Mississippi

Nitrous Oxide: SEMA is seeking to amend a bill that would outlaw all vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems. Using an approach adopted by other states, the amended legislation would allow the system if it is disconnected (or the canisters are removed) while the vehicle is in use on public roadways.

New Jersey

Street Rods: New Jersey has reintroduced SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles. In the 2009 legislative session, the bill was approved by the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee but not considered by the full Senate prior to adjournment. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the body of the vehicle it most closely resembles.

	In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Historic Vehicles: SEMA is again supporting legislation to allow historic vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one day per week. The bill did not receive committee consideration last session. Under current law, owners of properly registered historic motor vehicles are permitted to operate them solely for exhibition and educational purposes. In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Ohio

Street Rods/Custom Vehicles: SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles is pending before the Ohio House Transportation Committee. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation that the body of the vehicle was constructed to resemble.

Virginia

Exhaust Noise: At SEMA’s urging, the House Transportation Committee rejected a bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems that can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard. In California, for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date, this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana.

West Virginia

Exhaust Noise: SEMA is again opposing legislation to provide that the noise from a motor-vehicle exhaust system deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes disturbing the peace. The bill did not receive committee consideration in the last session before the legislature adjourned for the year.

Antiques: SEMA is again supporting legislation that would exclude owners of antique cars from the scope of vehicles required to pay any taxes or fees related to the registration or titling of these vehicles. Last session, the bill did not receive committee consideration before the legislature adjourned for the year.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Jobs Bill: Lawmakers are considering legislation to spur job growth. Although the details have yet to be finalized, there appears to be support for offering a tax credit to companies that hire new workers during 2010. President Obama suggested that businesses receive a $5,000 tax credit for each new employee to offset the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. The Obama administration also wants to make $30 billion available for small-business loans and to extend current tax incentives that allow companies to depreciate 50% on new equipment costs in the first year.

Campaign Spending Ban:The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a long-standing ban against direct spending on political advertising by corporations and unions. The 5–4 decision overturns laws and court precedents dating back to 1907. Until this ruling, corporations and unions had been permitted to run “issue ads” on particular subjects but not allowed to directly advocate for the election or defeat of a federal candidate. The court ruled that the First Amendment protects corporations and unions the same as individuals in terms of the ability to spend money to influence campaigns. However, the ruling does not overturn existing regulations that ban direct corporate and union contributions to federal candidates and political parties. Although spending on political campaigns is sure to increase, many corporations may be cautious about pursuing direct advertising as part of their public relations strategy. Some lawmakers may also seek to reestablish limits by enacting roadblocks, such as a requirement that shareholders approve corporate spending.

Nitrogen-Dioxide Standard:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened the one-hour standard for measuring emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) but left the annual standard unchanged. The short-term exposure limit is now 100 parts per billion rather than the previous limit of 200 parts per billion. The EPA believes that NO2 exposure has been linked to respiratory problems. The primary man-made sources for NO2 are motor vehicles, coal-burning powerplants and factories. The new standard will not have any immediate consequences. More NO2 monitors will be placed along busy roads and in large urban areas by 2013. The EPA will then collect data for several more years to determine which areas are not in compliance with the new standard and whether additional steps are necessary to reduce emissions. All areas of the country were in compliance with the old NO2 standards, according to the EPA.

SEMA News - April 2010

Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting small-business owners and their employees.

STATE UPDATE

Iowa

Antiques: SEMA is supporting Iowa legislation that would allow antique-vehicle owners to register limited-use vehicles for a reduced fee. Under the measure, owners who agree to use their vehicles for hobbyist purposes and occasional transportation (not to exceed 1,000 miles annually) would be charged an annual $5 fee. All other antique-vehicle owners would be charged a standard $70 fee for a two-year registration.

Kansas

	Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors.

Inoperable Vehicles: Legislation that would allow cities to enforce “nuisance-abatement” procedures by notifying affected property owners by use of first-class mail instead of certified mail (with a return receipt) has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors. In opposing the bill, SEMA has argued that certified mail with a signed receipt provides proof that a property owner has been properly alerted to a future enforcement action.

Maryland

New-Car Emissions Exemption: SEMA is supporting legislation to exempt newer motor vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions inspection program. Under the bill, a vehicle would be exempt from mandatory emissions test requirements for four years after the vehicle’s model year or first registration date, whichever is earlier. Maryland, like most other states, already exempts older (pre-’77 model year) motor vehicles from emissions tests.

Mississippi

Nitrous Oxide: SEMA is seeking to amend a bill that would outlaw all vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems. Using an approach adopted by other states, the amended legislation would allow the system if it is disconnected (or the canisters are removed) while the vehicle is in use on public roadways.

New Jersey

Street Rods: New Jersey has reintroduced SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles. In the 2009 legislative session, the bill was approved by the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee but not considered by the full Senate prior to adjournment. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the body of the vehicle it most closely resembles.

	In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Historic Vehicles: SEMA is again supporting legislation to allow historic vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one day per week. The bill did not receive committee consideration last session. Under current law, owners of properly registered historic motor vehicles are permitted to operate them solely for exhibition and educational purposes. In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Ohio

Street Rods/Custom Vehicles: SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles is pending before the Ohio House Transportation Committee. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation that the body of the vehicle was constructed to resemble.

Virginia

Exhaust Noise: At SEMA’s urging, the House Transportation Committee rejected a bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems that can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard. In California, for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date, this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana.

West Virginia

Exhaust Noise: SEMA is again opposing legislation to provide that the noise from a motor-vehicle exhaust system deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes disturbing the peace. The bill did not receive committee consideration in the last session before the legislature adjourned for the year.

Antiques: SEMA is again supporting legislation that would exclude owners of antique cars from the scope of vehicles required to pay any taxes or fees related to the registration or titling of these vehicles. Last session, the bill did not receive committee consideration before the legislature adjourned for the year.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Jobs Bill: Lawmakers are considering legislation to spur job growth. Although the details have yet to be finalized, there appears to be support for offering a tax credit to companies that hire new workers during 2010. President Obama suggested that businesses receive a $5,000 tax credit for each new employee to offset the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. The Obama administration also wants to make $30 billion available for small-business loans and to extend current tax incentives that allow companies to depreciate 50% on new equipment costs in the first year.

Campaign Spending Ban:The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a long-standing ban against direct spending on political advertising by corporations and unions. The 5–4 decision overturns laws and court precedents dating back to 1907. Until this ruling, corporations and unions had been permitted to run “issue ads” on particular subjects but not allowed to directly advocate for the election or defeat of a federal candidate. The court ruled that the First Amendment protects corporations and unions the same as individuals in terms of the ability to spend money to influence campaigns. However, the ruling does not overturn existing regulations that ban direct corporate and union contributions to federal candidates and political parties. Although spending on political campaigns is sure to increase, many corporations may be cautious about pursuing direct advertising as part of their public relations strategy. Some lawmakers may also seek to reestablish limits by enacting roadblocks, such as a requirement that shareholders approve corporate spending.

Nitrogen-Dioxide Standard:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened the one-hour standard for measuring emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) but left the annual standard unchanged. The short-term exposure limit is now 100 parts per billion rather than the previous limit of 200 parts per billion. The EPA believes that NO2 exposure has been linked to respiratory problems. The primary man-made sources for NO2 are motor vehicles, coal-burning powerplants and factories. The new standard will not have any immediate consequences. More NO2 monitors will be placed along busy roads and in large urban areas by 2013. The EPA will then collect data for several more years to determine which areas are not in compliance with the new standard and whether additional steps are necessary to reduce emissions. All areas of the country were in compliance with the old NO2 standards, according to the EPA.

SEMA News - April 2010

Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting small-business owners and their employees.

STATE UPDATE

Iowa

Antiques: SEMA is supporting Iowa legislation that would allow antique-vehicle owners to register limited-use vehicles for a reduced fee. Under the measure, owners who agree to use their vehicles for hobbyist purposes and occasional transportation (not to exceed 1,000 miles annually) would be charged an annual $5 fee. All other antique-vehicle owners would be charged a standard $70 fee for a two-year registration.

Kansas

	Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors.

Inoperable Vehicles: Legislation that would allow cities to enforce “nuisance-abatement” procedures by notifying affected property owners by use of first-class mail instead of certified mail (with a return receipt) has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors. In opposing the bill, SEMA has argued that certified mail with a signed receipt provides proof that a property owner has been properly alerted to a future enforcement action.

Maryland

New-Car Emissions Exemption: SEMA is supporting legislation to exempt newer motor vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions inspection program. Under the bill, a vehicle would be exempt from mandatory emissions test requirements for four years after the vehicle’s model year or first registration date, whichever is earlier. Maryland, like most other states, already exempts older (pre-’77 model year) motor vehicles from emissions tests.

Mississippi

Nitrous Oxide: SEMA is seeking to amend a bill that would outlaw all vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems. Using an approach adopted by other states, the amended legislation would allow the system if it is disconnected (or the canisters are removed) while the vehicle is in use on public roadways.

New Jersey

Street Rods: New Jersey has reintroduced SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles. In the 2009 legislative session, the bill was approved by the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee but not considered by the full Senate prior to adjournment. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the body of the vehicle it most closely resembles.

	In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Historic Vehicles: SEMA is again supporting legislation to allow historic vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one day per week. The bill did not receive committee consideration last session. Under current law, owners of properly registered historic motor vehicles are permitted to operate them solely for exhibition and educational purposes. In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Ohio

Street Rods/Custom Vehicles: SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles is pending before the Ohio House Transportation Committee. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation that the body of the vehicle was constructed to resemble.

Virginia

Exhaust Noise: At SEMA’s urging, the House Transportation Committee rejected a bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems that can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard. In California, for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date, this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana.

West Virginia

Exhaust Noise: SEMA is again opposing legislation to provide that the noise from a motor-vehicle exhaust system deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes disturbing the peace. The bill did not receive committee consideration in the last session before the legislature adjourned for the year.

Antiques: SEMA is again supporting legislation that would exclude owners of antique cars from the scope of vehicles required to pay any taxes or fees related to the registration or titling of these vehicles. Last session, the bill did not receive committee consideration before the legislature adjourned for the year.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Jobs Bill: Lawmakers are considering legislation to spur job growth. Although the details have yet to be finalized, there appears to be support for offering a tax credit to companies that hire new workers during 2010. President Obama suggested that businesses receive a $5,000 tax credit for each new employee to offset the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. The Obama administration also wants to make $30 billion available for small-business loans and to extend current tax incentives that allow companies to depreciate 50% on new equipment costs in the first year.

Campaign Spending Ban:The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a long-standing ban against direct spending on political advertising by corporations and unions. The 5–4 decision overturns laws and court precedents dating back to 1907. Until this ruling, corporations and unions had been permitted to run “issue ads” on particular subjects but not allowed to directly advocate for the election or defeat of a federal candidate. The court ruled that the First Amendment protects corporations and unions the same as individuals in terms of the ability to spend money to influence campaigns. However, the ruling does not overturn existing regulations that ban direct corporate and union contributions to federal candidates and political parties. Although spending on political campaigns is sure to increase, many corporations may be cautious about pursuing direct advertising as part of their public relations strategy. Some lawmakers may also seek to reestablish limits by enacting roadblocks, such as a requirement that shareholders approve corporate spending.

Nitrogen-Dioxide Standard:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened the one-hour standard for measuring emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) but left the annual standard unchanged. The short-term exposure limit is now 100 parts per billion rather than the previous limit of 200 parts per billion. The EPA believes that NO2 exposure has been linked to respiratory problems. The primary man-made sources for NO2 are motor vehicles, coal-burning powerplants and factories. The new standard will not have any immediate consequences. More NO2 monitors will be placed along busy roads and in large urban areas by 2013. The EPA will then collect data for several more years to determine which areas are not in compliance with the new standard and whether additional steps are necessary to reduce emissions. All areas of the country were in compliance with the old NO2 standards, according to the EPA.

SEMA News - April 2010

Law and Order is an update of some of the most recent federal and state legislative and regulatory issues that could potentially impact the automotive specialty-equipment industry. These include issues affecting small-business owners and their employees.

STATE UPDATE

Iowa

Antiques: SEMA is supporting Iowa legislation that would allow antique-vehicle owners to register limited-use vehicles for a reduced fee. Under the measure, owners who agree to use their vehicles for hobbyist purposes and occasional transportation (not to exceed 1,000 miles annually) would be charged an annual $5 fee. All other antique-vehicle owners would be charged a standard $70 fee for a two-year registration.

Kansas

	Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors.

Inoperable Vehicles: Legislation that would allow cities to enforce “nuisance-abatement” procedures by notifying affected property owners by use of first-class mail instead of certified mail (with a return receipt) has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature. Nuisance-abatement laws are often used by cities to force removal of inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property by car collectors. In opposing the bill, SEMA has argued that certified mail with a signed receipt provides proof that a property owner has been properly alerted to a future enforcement action.

Maryland

New-Car Emissions Exemption: SEMA is supporting legislation to exempt newer motor vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions inspection program. Under the bill, a vehicle would be exempt from mandatory emissions test requirements for four years after the vehicle’s model year or first registration date, whichever is earlier. Maryland, like most other states, already exempts older (pre-’77 model year) motor vehicles from emissions tests.

Mississippi

Nitrous Oxide: SEMA is seeking to amend a bill that would outlaw all vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems. Using an approach adopted by other states, the amended legislation would allow the system if it is disconnected (or the canisters are removed) while the vehicle is in use on public roadways.

New Jersey

Street Rods: New Jersey has reintroduced SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles. In the 2009 legislative session, the bill was approved by the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee but not considered by the full Senate prior to adjournment. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation as the body of the vehicle it most closely resembles.

	In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Historic Vehicles: SEMA is again supporting legislation to allow historic vehicles to be used for pleasure driving one day per week. The bill did not receive committee consideration last session. Under current law, owners of properly registered historic motor vehicles are permitted to operate them solely for exhibition and educational purposes. In order to be designated as historic, a vehicle must be at least 25 years old and owned as a collector’s item.

Ohio

Street Rods/Custom Vehicles: SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles is pending before the Ohio House Transportation Committee. 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. The bill allows a kit car or replica vehicle to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model-year designation that the body of the vehicle was constructed to resemble.

Virginia

Exhaust Noise: At SEMA’s urging, the House Transportation Committee rejected a bill to ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” SEMA recommended that Virginia adopt reasonable noise decibel limits for modified exhaust systems that can be verified through an easy-to-administer test standard. In California, for example, a SEMA-supported provision is made for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to an established noise limit of 95 decibels (SAE J1169). To date, this procedure has been enacted in California, Washington state, Maine and Montana.

West Virginia

Exhaust Noise: SEMA is again opposing legislation to provide that the noise from a motor-vehicle exhaust system deemed “disturbing or unreasonably loud” constitutes disturbing the peace. The bill did not receive committee consideration in the last session before the legislature adjourned for the year.

Antiques: SEMA is again supporting legislation that would exclude owners of antique cars from the scope of vehicles required to pay any taxes or fees related to the registration or titling of these vehicles. Last session, the bill did not receive committee consideration before the legislature adjourned for the year.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Jobs Bill: Lawmakers are considering legislation to spur job growth. Although the details have yet to be finalized, there appears to be support for offering a tax credit to companies that hire new workers during 2010. President Obama suggested that businesses receive a $5,000 tax credit for each new employee to offset the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. The Obama administration also wants to make $30 billion available for small-business loans and to extend current tax incentives that allow companies to depreciate 50% on new equipment costs in the first year.

Campaign Spending Ban:The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a long-standing ban against direct spending on political advertising by corporations and unions. The 5–4 decision overturns laws and court precedents dating back to 1907. Until this ruling, corporations and unions had been permitted to run “issue ads” on particular subjects but not allowed to directly advocate for the election or defeat of a federal candidate. The court ruled that the First Amendment protects corporations and unions the same as individuals in terms of the ability to spend money to influence campaigns. However, the ruling does not overturn existing regulations that ban direct corporate and union contributions to federal candidates and political parties. Although spending on political campaigns is sure to increase, many corporations may be cautious about pursuing direct advertising as part of their public relations strategy. Some lawmakers may also seek to reestablish limits by enacting roadblocks, such as a requirement that shareholders approve corporate spending.

Nitrogen-Dioxide Standard:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened the one-hour standard for measuring emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) but left the annual standard unchanged. The short-term exposure limit is now 100 parts per billion rather than the previous limit of 200 parts per billion. The EPA believes that NO2 exposure has been linked to respiratory problems. The primary man-made sources for NO2 are motor vehicles, coal-burning powerplants and factories. The new standard will not have any immediate consequences. More NO2 monitors will be placed along busy roads and in large urban areas by 2013. The EPA will then collect data for several more years to determine which areas are not in compliance with the new standard and whether additional steps are necessary to reduce emissions. All areas of the country were in compliance with the old NO2 standards, according to the EPA.

	The new Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA at the 2010 SEMA Show will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA have announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The new Expo will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

To reinforce the “tires-only” focus, the Expo will have its own branding, entrance units and color scheme. Tire manufacturers’ booths will be placed in the center in order to provide a greater level of prominence, and TIA will work with them individually to assist them with every aspect of exhibiting at the Show.

The Expo will also include expanded educational session tracks targeted to the tire market. The tracks are “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2” and “Management at 4.” Every day of the Show, each track will feature a session relevant to tire dealers and be led by knowledgeable experts in the tire industry. One of the “Tires at 2” sessions will remain TIA’s “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” The educational sessions will be located in the skybridge between the Central and South Halls (near the Show management office) of the LVCC, and there will be plenty of directional signage to let attendees know where the session rooms are located.

In addition, SEMA will place a permanent TIA representative on their Show Committee, as well as on their Wheel & Tire Council, effective immediately. TIA will also continue their outreach to the tire manufacturers in order to better ensure their representation in the Expo activities.

SEMA is also making a special effort to reach out to the tire manufacturers on an individual basis to find new, innovative ways they can reduce the cost of exhibiting at the Expo. All Expo exhibitors are eligible to receive a one-on-one audit of their Show plans, which could save exhibitors up to 20% on their Show-related spending.

“Today ushers in a new day for the tire industry. With the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA and the fact that it will now unite exhibitors from all sectors of the tire industry in our own, tire-focused area, we are optimistic that it will become the premier event in the world for the tire industry,” said TIA President Wayne Croswell.

Recognizing that the SEMA Show serves as the premier trade show for the tire industry, TIA and SEMA announced late last year a joint effort in which the two organizations vowed to work closely with one another to provide the tire industry with greater value in the SEMA Show. The Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA is a result of that collaboration.

"By working with TIA, we have created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry," said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. "We're excited and confident that the 2010 SEMA Show and the Global Tire Expo will be more meaningful and relevant than ever before for tire manufacturers and buyers."

Kersting points out that the SEMA Show has the added benefit of drawing more than 50,000 buyers from all over the world, including those not currently in the tire market. "Many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The dedicated floor section and the other new programs will help buyers discover the potential that the tire industry has to offer."

"This is a new day for the tire industry. Tire manufacturers can now rest assured that they will literally have a 'seat at the table' when it comes to all aspects of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. Their concerns will receive the timely attention they deserve, and, what is even more exciting, is the fact that they will no longer just be exhibitors—they will be true partners in this event," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Tire industry companies looking for exhibition space in the new Expo should visit www.SEMAShow.com. Attendee registration is expected to open in April. TIA is continuing to work with SEMA on other aspects of the Expo. More improvements are expected in the coming months and will be announced as they develop.

	The new Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA at the 2010 SEMA Show will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA have announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The new Expo will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

To reinforce the “tires-only” focus, the Expo will have its own branding, entrance units and color scheme. Tire manufacturers’ booths will be placed in the center in order to provide a greater level of prominence, and TIA will work with them individually to assist them with every aspect of exhibiting at the Show.

The Expo will also include expanded educational session tracks targeted to the tire market. The tracks are “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2” and “Management at 4.” Every day of the Show, each track will feature a session relevant to tire dealers and be led by knowledgeable experts in the tire industry. One of the “Tires at 2” sessions will remain TIA’s “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” The educational sessions will be located in the skybridge between the Central and South Halls (near the Show management office) of the LVCC, and there will be plenty of directional signage to let attendees know where the session rooms are located.

In addition, SEMA will place a permanent TIA representative on their Show Committee, as well as on their Wheel & Tire Council, effective immediately. TIA will also continue their outreach to the tire manufacturers in order to better ensure their representation in the Expo activities.

SEMA is also making a special effort to reach out to the tire manufacturers on an individual basis to find new, innovative ways they can reduce the cost of exhibiting at the Expo. All Expo exhibitors are eligible to receive a one-on-one audit of their Show plans, which could save exhibitors up to 20% on their Show-related spending.

“Today ushers in a new day for the tire industry. With the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA and the fact that it will now unite exhibitors from all sectors of the tire industry in our own, tire-focused area, we are optimistic that it will become the premier event in the world for the tire industry,” said TIA President Wayne Croswell.

Recognizing that the SEMA Show serves as the premier trade show for the tire industry, TIA and SEMA announced late last year a joint effort in which the two organizations vowed to work closely with one another to provide the tire industry with greater value in the SEMA Show. The Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA is a result of that collaboration.

"By working with TIA, we have created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry," said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. "We're excited and confident that the 2010 SEMA Show and the Global Tire Expo will be more meaningful and relevant than ever before for tire manufacturers and buyers."

Kersting points out that the SEMA Show has the added benefit of drawing more than 50,000 buyers from all over the world, including those not currently in the tire market. "Many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The dedicated floor section and the other new programs will help buyers discover the potential that the tire industry has to offer."

"This is a new day for the tire industry. Tire manufacturers can now rest assured that they will literally have a 'seat at the table' when it comes to all aspects of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. Their concerns will receive the timely attention they deserve, and, what is even more exciting, is the fact that they will no longer just be exhibitors—they will be true partners in this event," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Tire industry companies looking for exhibition space in the new Expo should visit www.SEMAShow.com. Attendee registration is expected to open in April. TIA is continuing to work with SEMA on other aspects of the Expo. More improvements are expected in the coming months and will be announced as they develop.

	The new Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA at the 2010 SEMA Show will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA have announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The new Expo will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

To reinforce the “tires-only” focus, the Expo will have its own branding, entrance units and color scheme. Tire manufacturers’ booths will be placed in the center in order to provide a greater level of prominence, and TIA will work with them individually to assist them with every aspect of exhibiting at the Show.

The Expo will also include expanded educational session tracks targeted to the tire market. The tracks are “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2” and “Management at 4.” Every day of the Show, each track will feature a session relevant to tire dealers and be led by knowledgeable experts in the tire industry. One of the “Tires at 2” sessions will remain TIA’s “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” The educational sessions will be located in the skybridge between the Central and South Halls (near the Show management office) of the LVCC, and there will be plenty of directional signage to let attendees know where the session rooms are located.

In addition, SEMA will place a permanent TIA representative on their Show Committee, as well as on their Wheel & Tire Council, effective immediately. TIA will also continue their outreach to the tire manufacturers in order to better ensure their representation in the Expo activities.

SEMA is also making a special effort to reach out to the tire manufacturers on an individual basis to find new, innovative ways they can reduce the cost of exhibiting at the Expo. All Expo exhibitors are eligible to receive a one-on-one audit of their Show plans, which could save exhibitors up to 20% on their Show-related spending.

“Today ushers in a new day for the tire industry. With the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA and the fact that it will now unite exhibitors from all sectors of the tire industry in our own, tire-focused area, we are optimistic that it will become the premier event in the world for the tire industry,” said TIA President Wayne Croswell.

Recognizing that the SEMA Show serves as the premier trade show for the tire industry, TIA and SEMA announced late last year a joint effort in which the two organizations vowed to work closely with one another to provide the tire industry with greater value in the SEMA Show. The Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA is a result of that collaboration.

"By working with TIA, we have created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry," said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. "We're excited and confident that the 2010 SEMA Show and the Global Tire Expo will be more meaningful and relevant than ever before for tire manufacturers and buyers."

Kersting points out that the SEMA Show has the added benefit of drawing more than 50,000 buyers from all over the world, including those not currently in the tire market. "Many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The dedicated floor section and the other new programs will help buyers discover the potential that the tire industry has to offer."

"This is a new day for the tire industry. Tire manufacturers can now rest assured that they will literally have a 'seat at the table' when it comes to all aspects of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. Their concerns will receive the timely attention they deserve, and, what is even more exciting, is the fact that they will no longer just be exhibitors—they will be true partners in this event," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Tire industry companies looking for exhibition space in the new Expo should visit www.SEMAShow.com. Attendee registration is expected to open in April. TIA is continuing to work with SEMA on other aspects of the Expo. More improvements are expected in the coming months and will be announced as they develop.

	The new Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA at the 2010 SEMA Show will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA have announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The new Expo will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

To reinforce the “tires-only” focus, the Expo will have its own branding, entrance units and color scheme. Tire manufacturers’ booths will be placed in the center in order to provide a greater level of prominence, and TIA will work with them individually to assist them with every aspect of exhibiting at the Show.

The Expo will also include expanded educational session tracks targeted to the tire market. The tracks are “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2” and “Management at 4.” Every day of the Show, each track will feature a session relevant to tire dealers and be led by knowledgeable experts in the tire industry. One of the “Tires at 2” sessions will remain TIA’s “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” The educational sessions will be located in the skybridge between the Central and South Halls (near the Show management office) of the LVCC, and there will be plenty of directional signage to let attendees know where the session rooms are located.

In addition, SEMA will place a permanent TIA representative on their Show Committee, as well as on their Wheel & Tire Council, effective immediately. TIA will also continue their outreach to the tire manufacturers in order to better ensure their representation in the Expo activities.

SEMA is also making a special effort to reach out to the tire manufacturers on an individual basis to find new, innovative ways they can reduce the cost of exhibiting at the Expo. All Expo exhibitors are eligible to receive a one-on-one audit of their Show plans, which could save exhibitors up to 20% on their Show-related spending.

“Today ushers in a new day for the tire industry. With the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA and the fact that it will now unite exhibitors from all sectors of the tire industry in our own, tire-focused area, we are optimistic that it will become the premier event in the world for the tire industry,” said TIA President Wayne Croswell.

Recognizing that the SEMA Show serves as the premier trade show for the tire industry, TIA and SEMA announced late last year a joint effort in which the two organizations vowed to work closely with one another to provide the tire industry with greater value in the SEMA Show. The Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA is a result of that collaboration.

"By working with TIA, we have created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry," said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. "We're excited and confident that the 2010 SEMA Show and the Global Tire Expo will be more meaningful and relevant than ever before for tire manufacturers and buyers."

Kersting points out that the SEMA Show has the added benefit of drawing more than 50,000 buyers from all over the world, including those not currently in the tire market. "Many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The dedicated floor section and the other new programs will help buyers discover the potential that the tire industry has to offer."

"This is a new day for the tire industry. Tire manufacturers can now rest assured that they will literally have a 'seat at the table' when it comes to all aspects of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. Their concerns will receive the timely attention they deserve, and, what is even more exciting, is the fact that they will no longer just be exhibitors—they will be true partners in this event," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Tire industry companies looking for exhibition space in the new Expo should visit www.SEMAShow.com. Attendee registration is expected to open in April. TIA is continuing to work with SEMA on other aspects of the Expo. More improvements are expected in the coming months and will be announced as they develop.

	The new Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA at the 2010 SEMA Show will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

The Tire Industry Association (TIA) and SEMA have announced the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA, which will be a tire industry-only part of the SEMA Show, taking place November 2–5, 2010 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). The new Expo will be open to all segments of the tire industry, including automotive, commercial, retreading, recycling and more.

To reinforce the “tires-only” focus, the Expo will have its own branding, entrance units and color scheme. Tire manufacturers’ booths will be placed in the center in order to provide a greater level of prominence, and TIA will work with them individually to assist them with every aspect of exhibiting at the Show.

The Expo will also include expanded educational session tracks targeted to the tire market. The tracks are “TPMS at 10,” “Tires at 2” and “Management at 4.” Every day of the Show, each track will feature a session relevant to tire dealers and be led by knowledgeable experts in the tire industry. One of the “Tires at 2” sessions will remain TIA’s “Successful Tire Dealers Share Their Secrets.” The educational sessions will be located in the skybridge between the Central and South Halls (near the Show management office) of the LVCC, and there will be plenty of directional signage to let attendees know where the session rooms are located.

In addition, SEMA will place a permanent TIA representative on their Show Committee, as well as on their Wheel & Tire Council, effective immediately. TIA will also continue their outreach to the tire manufacturers in order to better ensure their representation in the Expo activities.

SEMA is also making a special effort to reach out to the tire manufacturers on an individual basis to find new, innovative ways they can reduce the cost of exhibiting at the Expo. All Expo exhibitors are eligible to receive a one-on-one audit of their Show plans, which could save exhibitors up to 20% on their Show-related spending.

“Today ushers in a new day for the tire industry. With the creation of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA and the fact that it will now unite exhibitors from all sectors of the tire industry in our own, tire-focused area, we are optimistic that it will become the premier event in the world for the tire industry,” said TIA President Wayne Croswell.

Recognizing that the SEMA Show serves as the premier trade show for the tire industry, TIA and SEMA announced late last year a joint effort in which the two organizations vowed to work closely with one another to provide the tire industry with greater value in the SEMA Show. The Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA is a result of that collaboration.

"By working with TIA, we have created the Global Tire Expo to meet the needs of the tire industry," said Chris Kersting, SEMA President and CEO. "We're excited and confident that the 2010 SEMA Show and the Global Tire Expo will be more meaningful and relevant than ever before for tire manufacturers and buyers."

Kersting points out that the SEMA Show has the added benefit of drawing more than 50,000 buyers from all over the world, including those not currently in the tire market. "Many buyers at the SEMA Show are looking to expand their product lines to include tire-related products. The dedicated floor section and the other new programs will help buyers discover the potential that the tire industry has to offer."

"This is a new day for the tire industry. Tire manufacturers can now rest assured that they will literally have a 'seat at the table' when it comes to all aspects of the Global Tire Expo—Powered by TIA. Their concerns will receive the timely attention they deserve, and, what is even more exciting, is the fact that they will no longer just be exhibitors—they will be true partners in this event," said TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield.

Tire industry companies looking for exhibition space in the new Expo should visit www.SEMAShow.com. Attendee registration is expected to open in April. TIA is continuing to work with SEMA on other aspects of the Expo. More improvements are expected in the coming months and will be announced as they develop.