By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN). For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN). For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In cooperation with Wisconsin's collector vehicle community, legislation has been introduced in the Wisconsin Senate to allow minor modifications to collector vehicles, exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from importer certification label requirements, and expand rights for historic military vehicle owners. A companion bill will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives. The measure seeks to allow modifications to vehicles registered as collector vehicles, as long as the body of these vehicles is not modified. Currently, upgrades, such as safety glass, radial tires, a radio or hubcaps are reasons to deny registration. This bill will allow changes that retain the spirit of historic authenticity. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN). For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in North Carolina to impose a fine on any person who equips a car with headlamps that “change the original design.” The SEMA-opposed bill conflicts with the Federal “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.” Lawmakers and the courts have made clear that the standards adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are to be performance standards, not design standards, and that such standards are to apply equally to motor vehicles and motor-vehicle equipment. Further, all headlamps, be they manufactured by car manufacturers or in the aftermarket, are required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The bill also includes the requirement that an inspection mechanic use a light meter to determine if an aftermarket headlamp conforms with FMVSS No. 108, but does not require a light meter test of original equipment headlamps. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation has been introduced in North Carolina to impose a fine on any person who equips a car with headlamps that “change the original design.” The SEMA-opposed bill conflicts with the Federal “National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.” Lawmakers and the courts have made clear that the standards adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are to be performance standards, not design standards, and that such standards are to apply equally to motor vehicles and motor-vehicle equipment. Further, all headlamps, be they manufactured by car manufacturers or in the aftermarket, are required to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The bill also includes the requirement that an inspection mechanic use a light meter to determine if an aftermarket headlamp conforms with FMVSS No. 108, but does not require a light meter test of original equipment headlamps. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The SEMA Action Network (SAN)-opposed legislation that would have increased annual registration fees for motor vehicles weighing 8,000 lbs. or less died when the Idaho Legislature adjourned for the year. The fee increase would have varied depending on the age of the vehicle. The bills would have increased the annual registration fees from $48 to $96 for vehicles 1–2 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 3–4 years old; from $36 to $72 for vehicles 5–6 years old; from $24 to $48 for vehicles 7–8 years old; and from $24 to $48 for vehicles more than 8 years old. 

Further, these measures made no special exception for hobby cars, such as kits, classics, old timers, reconstructed, replica, specially constructed and street rods that constitute a small portion of the vehicle fleet, are infrequently operated and deserving of lower registration fees.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

With opposition from SEMA, legislation that threatened to disallow the use of year-of-manufacture license plates in Connecticut after July 1, 2013, was amended in committee to continue to allow use of these plates. Under the original bill, the owner of an antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicle who was authorized to display a year of manufacture plate could continue to display the plate until the registration period expired. However, upon renewal of registration, the owner would have been required to display a current registration plate. 

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

With opposition from SEMA, legislation that threatened to disallow the use of year-of-manufacture license plates in Connecticut after July 1, 2013, was amended in committee to continue to allow use of these plates. Under the original bill, the owner of an antique, rare or special-interest motor vehicle who was authorized to display a year of manufacture plate could continue to display the plate until the registration period expired. However, upon renewal of registration, the owner would have been required to display a current registration plate. 

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