By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A new law was enacted in 2012 to establish the California Legacy License Plate Program. The plates have been available for pre-order, and cost $50 for non-personalized or personalized plates.

Consumers may choose from one of three classic designs from the ’50s–’60s. However, the law only allows until January 1, 2015, to reach the required minimum 7,500 pre-orders for any one of the plate styles. Currently, none of the plates have reached the required number of applications.

Black lettering on yellow background: 1,213 applications received
Yellow lettering on black background: 4,224 applications received
Yellow lettering on blue background: 901 applications received

If 7,500 applications are not received by January 1, 2015, any fees paid for the California Legacy plates will be refunded to the applicant. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Thanks to the efforts of several members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, the Michigan State Senate issued a resolution commemorating August 2013 as Automotive Heritage Month in the state. This action follows U.S. Senate Resolution 176, which designated July 12, 2013, as Collector Car Appreciation Day and was requested by the SEMA Action Network (SAN) to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.  

Formed in 2005, the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus is a bipartisan group of hundreds of state lawmakers from all 50 states whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by the SAN, the Caucus is raising the motor-vehicle hobby’s profile in the state legislatures and in the public's eyes. Among the Caucus members sponsoring the Michigan resolution were Senators Kowall, Jones, Hune, Anderson and Hopgood.

Michigan is home to the world-famous Woodward Dream Cruise, which according to the resolution is the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic car culture, attracting more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 musclecars, street rods, custom, collector and special-interest vehicles to Michigan every year. This year’s cruise takes place on August 17. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Thanks to the efforts of several members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, the Michigan State Senate issued a resolution commemorating August 2013 as Automotive Heritage Month in the state. This action follows U.S. Senate Resolution 176, which designated July 12, 2013, as Collector Car Appreciation Day and was requested by the SEMA Action Network (SAN) to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.  

Formed in 2005, the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus is a bipartisan group of hundreds of state lawmakers from all 50 states whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by the SAN, the Caucus is raising the motor-vehicle hobby’s profile in the state legislatures and in the public's eyes. Among the Caucus members sponsoring the Michigan resolution were Senators Kowall, Jones, Hune, Anderson and Hopgood.

Michigan is home to the world-famous Woodward Dream Cruise, which according to the resolution is the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic car culture, attracting more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 musclecars, street rods, custom, collector and special-interest vehicles to Michigan every year. This year’s cruise takes place on August 17. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Thanks to the efforts of several members of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, the Michigan State Senate issued a resolution commemorating August 2013 as Automotive Heritage Month in the state. This action follows U.S. Senate Resolution 176, which designated July 12, 2013, as Collector Car Appreciation Day and was requested by the SEMA Action Network (SAN) to raise awareness of the vital role automotive restoration and collection plays in American society.  

Formed in 2005, the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus is a bipartisan group of hundreds of state lawmakers from all 50 states whose common thread is a love and appreciation for automobiles. Supported by the SAN, the Caucus is raising the motor-vehicle hobby’s profile in the state legislatures and in the public's eyes. Among the Caucus members sponsoring the Michigan resolution were Senators Kowall, Jones, Hune, Anderson and Hopgood.

Michigan is home to the world-famous Woodward Dream Cruise, which according to the resolution is the world’s largest one-day celebration of classic car culture, attracting more than 1 million visitors and more than 40,000 musclecars, street rods, custom, collector and special-interest vehicles to Michigan every year. This year’s cruise takes place on August 17. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A federal judge has ruled that the Federal Reserve improperly inflated the fees banks and card companies are allowed to charge retailers when their customers swipe debit cards. The fees are currently set at $.21 per transaction plus $.01–$.03 more to cover fraud prevention and other adjustments. Retailers argued that the fees are too high to compensate the financial institution’s “authorization, clearance or settlement” costs.  

The Dodd-Frank financial reform law provides the Federal Reserve with oversight of fees for processing debit card transactions (“interchange” fees). When the Dodd-Frank legislation was being debated in 2010, SEMA and 54 other trade associations asked Congress to limit the amount card companies could charge merchants when processing payments. Congress addressed swipe fees but not credit card fees. The Federal Reserve had initially recommended a $.12 transaction cap but then raised the fee to $.21.

The judge’s ruling does not take immediate effect. The Federal Reserve will now have time to reconsider its fee structure. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A federal judge has ruled that the Federal Reserve improperly inflated the fees banks and card companies are allowed to charge retailers when their customers swipe debit cards. The fees are currently set at $.21 per transaction plus $.01–$.03 more to cover fraud prevention and other adjustments. Retailers argued that the fees are too high to compensate the financial institution’s “authorization, clearance or settlement” costs.  

The Dodd-Frank financial reform law provides the Federal Reserve with oversight of fees for processing debit card transactions (“interchange” fees). When the Dodd-Frank legislation was being debated in 2010, SEMA and 54 other trade associations asked Congress to limit the amount card companies could charge merchants when processing payments. Congress addressed swipe fees but not credit card fees. The Federal Reserve had initially recommended a $.12 transaction cap but then raised the fee to $.21.

The judge’s ruling does not take immediate effect. The Federal Reserve will now have time to reconsider its fee structure. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

By SEMA Editors

	Show Director Tom Gatusso will present a comprehensive webinar that will guide exhibitors through everything from basic setup to little-known tips on getting the best return on their SEMA Show investment.

Learn from the experts! Discover the most efficient way to prepare for the 2013 SEMA Show and manage your booth space. On Thursday, August 15, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT), Show Director Tom Gattuso and Jennifer Carr, director of operations for ConvExx—the company that manages the SEMA Show—will present a comprehensive webinar that will guide exhibitors through everything from basic setup to little-known tips on getting the best return on their SEMA Show investment. Participation requires only a computer and an Internet connection.

This webinar will thoroughly cover the online exhibitor manual, Show hours, frequently asked questions, how to book hotels, where to park, how to use press releases and other means to promote a booth and publicize celebrity appearances, and how to use the online exhibitor directory to bring buyers to your space.

The webinar will also cover how to order booth materials, such as carpeting and rental exhibits, as well as contracting for electrical service and the best ways to transport freight to and from the Show. Carr and Gattuso will explain how to use official SEMA Show contractors to obtain best pricing for floral arrangements, buyer lists, lead-retrieval systems, audiovisual equipment, computers, security and more.

Join us Thursday, August 15, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT) for a webinar packed full of important information. Register now for this timely educational opportunity!

This SEMA Education Institute (SEI) webinar will provide member companies with the information they need, and you don’t even have to leave your desk or office to participate! And remember: SEI webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Members can view the first webinar in this series for free.