By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations.

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations. The bill implements the Society of Automotive Engineers standards for testing of exhaust noise levels. Under the legislation, a vehicle cannot be in violation of the 95-decibel exhaust noise limit unless it has been tested under these fair standards.

The bill currently awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations.

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations. The bill implements the Society of Automotive Engineers standards for testing of exhaust noise levels. Under the legislation, a vehicle cannot be in violation of the 95-decibel exhaust noise limit unless it has been tested under these fair standards.

The bill currently awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations.

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations. The bill implements the Society of Automotive Engineers standards for testing of exhaust noise levels. Under the legislation, a vehicle cannot be in violation of the 95-decibel exhaust noise limit unless it has been tested under these fair standards.

The bill currently awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations.

SEMA-model legislation (H. 854) has been introduced in Vermont to create a fair testing procedure for vehicle owners accused of exhaust noise violations. The bill implements the Society of Automotive Engineers standards for testing of exhaust noise levels. Under the legislation, a vehicle cannot be in violation of the 95-decibel exhaust noise limit unless it has been tested under these fair standards.

The bill currently awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Current law only permits the display of a single plate for vehicles which are model year ’48 or older, as well as reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year ’48 or older.

H.F. 2028 awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee. A similar bill (S.F. 193) was carried over from the 2019 legislative session and awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Current law only permits the display of a single plate for vehicles which are model year ’48 or older, as well as reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year ’48 or older.

H.F. 2028 awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee. A similar bill (S.F. 193) was carried over from the 2019 legislative session and awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Current law only permits the display of a single plate for vehicles which are model year ’48 or older, as well as reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year ’48 or older.

H.F. 2028 awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee. A similar bill (S.F. 193) was carried over from the 2019 legislative session and awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle.

Legislation (H.F. 2028) has been introduced in Iowa that would allow all motor vehicles to display a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle. Current law only permits the display of a single plate for vehicles which are model year ’48 or older, as well as reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles built to resemble vehicles which are model year ’48 or older.

H.F. 2028 awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee. A similar bill (S.F. 193) was carried over from the 2019 legislative session and awaits consideration in the Senate Transportation Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

As of February 8, 2020, imported bumper stampings for motor vehicles (HTSUS 8708.10.30) will now be subject to the 25% steel tariffs and 10% aluminum tariffs. The tariffs are above any duties already being collected. Several countries are exempted from the tariffs: Argentina, Australia, Canada and Mexico for the aluminum tariffs, and Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea for the steel tariffs.

When the additional tariffs were announced, they would have also applied to body stampings for motor vehicles. However, the body stamping tariffs were later limited to tractors for agricultural use (8708.29.21). 

The U.S. government first began imposing the metal tariffs in March 2018 based on a finding that a global over-supply had depressed prices and posed a national security threat to U.S. domestic production. Until now, the tariffs only applied to processed raw materials (steel/aluminum plate, sheets, bars, etc.), not finished products (e.g., wheels, exhausts, etc.). Over the past two years, however, the Trump Administration has documented a dramatic increase in the volume of certain finished products that could be construed as circumventing the tariffs. Products identified include bumper and body stampings along with nails, staples, electrical wire and several other products. The Administration’s goal is to maintain domestic steel production at or above 80% capacity levels and to stabilize aluminum production.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

As of February 8, 2020, imported bumper stampings for motor vehicles (HTSUS 8708.10.30) will now be subject to the 25% steel tariffs and 10% aluminum tariffs. The tariffs are above any duties already being collected. Several countries are exempted from the tariffs: Argentina, Australia, Canada and Mexico for the aluminum tariffs, and Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea for the steel tariffs.

When the additional tariffs were announced, they would have also applied to body stampings for motor vehicles. However, the body stamping tariffs were later limited to tractors for agricultural use (8708.29.21). 

The U.S. government first began imposing the metal tariffs in March 2018 based on a finding that a global over-supply had depressed prices and posed a national security threat to U.S. domestic production. Until now, the tariffs only applied to processed raw materials (steel/aluminum plate, sheets, bars, etc.), not finished products (e.g., wheels, exhausts, etc.). Over the past two years, however, the Trump Administration has documented a dramatic increase in the volume of certain finished products that could be construed as circumventing the tariffs. Products identified include bumper and body stampings along with nails, staples, electrical wire and several other products. The Administration’s goal is to maintain domestic steel production at or above 80% capacity levels and to stabilize aluminum production.

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