The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is holding a public workshop February 3, 2012, in San Francisco to gather additional information on how to implement a tire fuel efficiency consumer information program. The program is required under a 2007 law.

Legislation that originally threatened to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount charged for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates will be amended by the Virginia House Counties, Cities and Towns Committee.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems that meet an objective noise limit was introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature. Car owners would be issued a certificate of compliance if the exhaust system emitted no more than 95 decibels in a fair and predictable test.

SEMA is supporting legislation in the West Virginia State Legislature to provide owners of antique motor vehicles with a cap on property taxes paid on antique motor vehicles. The bill was approved by the House Roads and Transportation Committee and will now be considered by the House Finance Committee.

SEMA is opposing legislation to ban motor-vehicle exhaust systems that increase the noise level above the level emitted by the originally installed system. Under the bill, violators would not pass the state’s required inspection.

SEMA is supporting a bill in the Iowa State Legislature to allow any vehicle that is 25 years old or older and used only for exhibition, entertainment or educational purposes to be registered for an annual fee of $5.

A SEMA-supported bill to exempt restoration and custom shops from the requirement that they provide written estimates for the repair of any vehicle that qualifies for a “horseless carriage” or “collector vehicle” license plate, or is a “parts car,” “street rod” or “custom vehicle” was approved by the Washington Senate Labor Committee.

SEMA-model legislation that would allow West Virginia’s vehicle hobbyists to install and use aftermarket modified exhaust systems was reintroduced in the West Virginia State Legislature.

SEMA-model legislation that would prohibit cities or towns from enforcing an ordinance, development regulation, zoning regulation or administrative practice that prevents legitimate automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby, was approved by the Washington State Senate Government Operations Committee.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seized nearly 25,000 counterfeit and pirated goods in fiscal year 2011—a 24% increase from the previous year. The value of the seizures actually decreased by 5%, totaling $179 million for fiscal year 2011.