Images: SEMA on Flickr

Now that summer is in full swing, the heat is on all over the country. But we’re not just talking about the temperature. We’re also talking about the legislative heat that SEMA is on top of as the show and race seasons hit their high points for 2013. That’s right, even when the kids are out of school, summer vacations are in as prevalent as pools in Arizona and car shows are popping up on every corner, the Specialty Equipment Market Association is keeping a watchful eye on the legislative action going on in all 50 states. Here’s what our SEMA Law & Order update revealed this month:

Starting in the state with extreme emission requirements, antique and collector car owners (and builders) could be facing a decline in genuine parts for their vehicles if a proposed legislative action is successful. Recently, a California Senate committee approved legislation that would authorize the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) to provide additional financial assistance to vehicle owners to retire a “gross polluting” vehicle.

Currently, the BAR provides low-income vehicle owners with $1,500 of financial assistance to retire their vehicle and $1,000 of financial assistance to all other vehicle owners. With this new proposal, individuals planning to retire a vehicle will receive even more compensation and will not be required to prove that the vehicle was registered in the last two years. If successful, this could mean a decline in vintage parts and vehicles available for restoration projects.

Good news is coming out of Connecticut this month after a SEMA-opposed action aiming to disallow year-of-manufacture plates was amended to allow the continuation of these plates even after a vehicle’s registration had expired and face renewal. Under the unamended bill, those owners running year-of-manufacture plates on their vehicles would have been allowed to keep their plates until the vehicle’s registration expired, after which they would have to switch to new plates. Luckily, antique vehicle owners can now rest easy and continue to use their vintage plates.

The related matter of changing the age requirements for vehicles registered as antiques or special interest vehicles is still being considered in Connecticut, however. If approved, antique vehicles will have to be at least 30 years old rather than the 20-year-old requirement that stands now, and an increase in estimated value for property tax purposes could happen, with the value on these vehicles being raised from just $500 to $2,500. In West Virginia, a similar bill aiming to increase property taxes paid by vintage vehicle owners died when legislature adjorned for the year.

South West of Connecticut, Florida vehicle owners are rejoicing after the Senate approved a bill aiming to reduce vehicle registration fees. If approved by the House, the bill will take $2.40 off of registration fees annually until a savings of $12.00 is accomplished.

Although this may seem minor, it is expected to save taxpayers $220 million annually once fully implemented.

Further West, Idaho vehicle owners can breath easy for the time being after a bill proposing to increase vehicle registration fees on vehicles lighter than 8,001lbs died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Although older vehicles would not have been subject to as great of an increase in fees, there was no provision in the bill for antique, vintage, collector, kit or special-use vehicles. South Carolina has introduced a similar bill aiming to increase registration fees on a sliding scale based on the vehicle owner’s age, which SEMA opposes.

Heading back over to the East Coast, SEMA-supported legislation was signed into law by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley requiring that the state provide vintage reproduction plates for qualified vehicles for at least one year. The new plates will be produced to resemble the 1910 Maryland plates with a yellow background and black lettering. The Motor Vehicle Administration estimates that the new plates will cost $20 extra to obtain and will be available starting January 1, 2014. A related bill, which would only require one plate to be issued and displayed on Maryland vehicles, died when legislature adjourned for the year. Fortunately, a similar bill has been introduced in Ohio, aiming to require only one plate be displayed on vehicles, and is being considered currently.

In Nevada, inoperable or “junk” vehicles are on their way to being safe from removal from private property as a “public nuisance” thanks to SEMA-amended legislation. The original Nevada bill aimed to allow inoperable or junk vehicles to be removed from private property at the owner’s expense if the vehicles were found to be a public nuisance and the owner did not remove them within a designated time after an issuance of a formal notice.

Under the amendment, such vehicles would only have to be screened from public view. The bill would also disallow unregistered vehicles from being considered a public nuisance. Approved by the Assembly, the bill now moves on to a Senate committee for approval.

A similar bill was amended beyond SEMA-approval in Washington, where a bill was originally introduced to allow private owners up to six vehicles on private property (screened from the public) for restoration purposes. The bill was then amended considerably to only allow private owners three vehicles and put the burden of proof of compliance on the property/vehicle owner. This bill was denied further consideration by the House committee after an initial review. SEMA states that it looks forward to working on a bill that supports both city intentions and hobbyists in 2014.

In North Carolina, owners of out-of-state vehicles of which are 35 years or older, will be able to obtain a title in a prompt 30 days soon if the House approves a Senate-approved bill asking for just that. Under the bill, the state is allowed to inspect the vehicle within the first 15 days and must issue the title for out-of-state vehicles that are 35 years or older within the following 15 days.

In an unrelated bill, North Carolina vehicle owners could face fines if they have changed their vehicle’s original headlamps to some other design if a bill is approved by the House. SEMA opposes this bill, as it goes against National Highway Traffic Safety Administration standards that require a comparable or better performance rather than design for any modified headlamps. SEMA is working with lawmakers to amend the bill before it moves forward.

Tying up the Law & Order update from SEMA, we learned that legislation has been introduced in Wisconsin that would allow minor modifications to collector cars without the penalty or possibility of having a registration request denied so long as the body of the vehicle is not changed. Currently, Wisconsin can deny registration for such upgrades as safety glass, hubcaps, radial tires or a radio. If passed, the bill will not only allow vehicle owners to slightly modify their vehicles while keeping the vintage authenticity intact, it will also exempt former military vehicles, historic military vehicles and collector vehicles from the current importer certification label requirements.

In a final note, the fourth annual Collector Car Appreciation Day is scheduled for July 12th. Businesses, car clubs and enthusiasts are encouraged to celebrate the automotive hobby and what it does for the economy each year on this day with events, car shows, BBQs, etc.  Now go out and enjoy those cars!