It’s been a crazy year for everyone, but no matter how busy the folks at the Specialty Equipment Market Association get, they still make time to fight for the hobby in the name of all of us. All year long, we’ve brought you updates on SEMA’s actions in the area of automotive legislature through their Law & Order update. And now, it’s time to recap just how far we’ve all come thanks to SEMA and the SEMA Action Network (SAN).

One of the areas we saw get major attention in the industry this year was that of registration rules, regulations and fees. In states like Connecticut, SEMA successfully fought against legislation that would require the retirement of year-of-manufacture plates for collector cars. Similarly, SEMA successfully fought to have the use of vintage plates or reproduction vintage plates allowed on collector vehicles in states like Maryland and Montana.

In addition to license plate issues, SEMA fought against unfair fees and regulations when it came to registering a classic automobile. In Wyoming, Texas, South Carolina, and Idaho, SEMA-opposed bills aiming to increase registration fees for passenger vehicles, including or limited to collector vehicles, died when legislature adjourned for the season.

SEMA was also successful in California, where they helped to get the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to develop an engine certification process for specially constructed vehicles. There was also success in North Carolina, where a bill asking to have titles issued promptly for owners of out-of-state vehicles was signed into law.

Another area we saw gain plenty of attention this last year was the required taxes associated with collector cars. In Connecticut, enthusiasts were able to sigh in relief when a SEMA-opposed bill aiming to increase the taxes on collector, antique, rare or special interest vehicles died when legislature adjourned for the year. This proposed bill would have also upped the age-requirement for vehicles registered as rare or antique, as well as put a mileage cap on such vehicles. Similarly, a Missouri bill proposing to impose a vehicle-miles-traveled tax on all passenger vehicles also died at legislature adjournment.

How to handle inoperable vehicles in states across the country was also a hot topic this year. In Montana, a bill aiming to limit the number of inoperable vehicles allowed on a single property was pulled from consideration following opposition spearheaded by SEMA.

While that bill was retracted from consideration, Nevada moved forward with a similar bill asking that inoperable vehicles be added to the list of things considered a public nuisance. Although an amended bill was signed into law, inoperable vehicles only need to be screened from the public in areas of 700,000 people or more and can not be considered a public nuisance.

The concern of street-legal modifications has always been an issue in the hot rod community, and SEMA saw its share of this topic this year as well. In North Carolina, SEMA fought against a bill aiming to impose a fee on anyone who equipped their vehicle with headlamps that changed the original design. This bill died when legislature adjourned for the year.

SEMA also fought against a bill in Maine aiming to put even more restrictions on suspension modifications, especially on lifted vehicles. SEMA successfully got the bill pulled from consideration.

Finally on a state level, SEMA was able to make huge strides when it came to Collector Car Appreciation day. While many areas already celebrate the pro-hobby day, this year proclamations were made in York County Virginia, New York, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Washington Parish Louisiana, and Madera County California, and even Nova Scotia and Manitoba, Canada in honor of this special day. In Michigan, the whole month of August was dubbed Automotive Heritage Month.

On the Federal level, we also saw a ton of action from SEMA, including continuation of their fight for the Bonneville Salt Flats in correspondence with the Save the Salt project, and the fight to maintain Johnson Valley OHV Recreation Area in California open to the public.

We’ve seen a lot of debates and issues arise this year as the government and automotive enthusiasts both fight for their positions. But in the end, SEMA and the SAN fought the good fight for enthusiasts nation wide, securing our hobby for one more year!