Post by jps4jeep on Mar 30, 2004 11:54:16 GMT -3
Borrowed from Scott Hatch!
Please contact your State Representative and tell them to support this Bill!
Massachusetts and Missouri to Introduce SEMA Model Street
Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill
Massachusetts State Representative Viriato "Vinny" deMacedo (R-
Plymouth) has agreed to introduce SEMA's model street rod/custom
vehicle bill in the Massachusetts Legislature. The legislator has forwarded
a draft of the bill to the state's regulatory community and to the SEMA
government affairs staff before formal introduction in early 2004. In
addition, State Representative Tom Green (D-St. Charles) will reintroduce
the SEMA model in Missouri. Citing the expense to the state of offering
additional specialty license plates, Missouri's governor vetoed the SEMA
model in the last session. The Missouri Legislature overwhelmingly had
passed this bill. Unfortunately, the SEMA model was attached to other
bills, unrelated to the street rod/custom sections, that created a slate of
new special license plate options. This year, Representative Green has
committed to keeping the SEMA model as a stand-alone bill. The SEMA-
model bill is still pending in New York (S.B.615, A.B. 5224) and Rhode
Island (H.B. 5487). It was enacted in Illinois in 2002 (Public Act 92-0668).
The SEMA model bill provides for special license plates, and it exempts
rods and customs from a state's periodic inspections and emissions tests.
It also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling
criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as
the production vehicle it most closely resembles.
Under the provisions of the bill, use of these vehicles is limited to
occasional transportation, exhibits, club activities, parades, tours and
similar uses. Vehicles registered under this bill may not be used for general
daily transportation. As part of the bill, hobbyists will also be
allowed to use
blue-dot taillights for rear stop lamps or turn indicator lights. Vehicles
registered under these designations would be charged a one-time-only
registration fee.
"We are extremely pleased that Massachusetts is poised to join the
parade of states that have embraced our street rod/custom vehicle
registration legislation. This bill recognizes the immeasurable amount of
time, money and thought that automotive hobbyists invest in their cars,"
said SEMA Senior Director of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. "For
many vehicle enthusiasts in Massachusetts and Missouri and throughout
America, building, maintaining and enjoying their vehicles is a favorite
pastime. This legislation represents an opportunity to acknowledge their
commitment to the hobby and to protect it for future generations.
"As in Illinois and the other states, the Massachusetts and Missouri bills, if
enacted, will offer the added benefit of also including qualifying replica
cars and kit cars in these specialty vehicle titling and registration
classifications," McDonald added.
SEMA-Model Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill
- Defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949
and a custom vehicle as an altered vehicle manufactured after 1948.
- Provides specific registration classes and license plates for street rods
and custom vehicles.
- Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from periodic vehicle
inspections and emissions inspections.
- Provides that vehicles titled and registered as street rods and custom
vehicles may only be used for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club
activities, parades, tours, etc. and not for general daily transportation.
- Provides that a replica vehicle will be assigned the same model-year
designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles and allows
the use of non-original materials.
- Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from a range of standard
equipment requirements.
- Allows the use of blue-dot taillights on street rods and custom vehicles.
For more information about how to enact pro-hobby street rod and custom
vehicle legislation in your state, please contact Steve McDonald at
stevem@sema.org.
Please contact your State Representative and tell them to support this Bill!
Massachusetts and Missouri to Introduce SEMA Model Street
Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill
Massachusetts State Representative Viriato "Vinny" deMacedo (R-
Plymouth) has agreed to introduce SEMA's model street rod/custom
vehicle bill in the Massachusetts Legislature. The legislator has forwarded
a draft of the bill to the state's regulatory community and to the SEMA
government affairs staff before formal introduction in early 2004. In
addition, State Representative Tom Green (D-St. Charles) will reintroduce
the SEMA model in Missouri. Citing the expense to the state of offering
additional specialty license plates, Missouri's governor vetoed the SEMA
model in the last session. The Missouri Legislature overwhelmingly had
passed this bill. Unfortunately, the SEMA model was attached to other
bills, unrelated to the street rod/custom sections, that created a slate of
new special license plate options. This year, Representative Green has
committed to keeping the SEMA model as a stand-alone bill. The SEMA-
model bill is still pending in New York (S.B.615, A.B. 5224) and Rhode
Island (H.B. 5487). It was enacted in Illinois in 2002 (Public Act 92-0668).
The SEMA model bill provides for special license plates, and it exempts
rods and customs from a state's periodic inspections and emissions tests.
It also allows for the use of non-original materials and creates a titling
criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model-year designation as
the production vehicle it most closely resembles.
Under the provisions of the bill, use of these vehicles is limited to
occasional transportation, exhibits, club activities, parades, tours and
similar uses. Vehicles registered under this bill may not be used for general
daily transportation. As part of the bill, hobbyists will also be
allowed to use
blue-dot taillights for rear stop lamps or turn indicator lights. Vehicles
registered under these designations would be charged a one-time-only
registration fee.
"We are extremely pleased that Massachusetts is poised to join the
parade of states that have embraced our street rod/custom vehicle
registration legislation. This bill recognizes the immeasurable amount of
time, money and thought that automotive hobbyists invest in their cars,"
said SEMA Senior Director of Government Affairs Steve McDonald. "For
many vehicle enthusiasts in Massachusetts and Missouri and throughout
America, building, maintaining and enjoying their vehicles is a favorite
pastime. This legislation represents an opportunity to acknowledge their
commitment to the hobby and to protect it for future generations.
"As in Illinois and the other states, the Massachusetts and Missouri bills, if
enacted, will offer the added benefit of also including qualifying replica
cars and kit cars in these specialty vehicle titling and registration
classifications," McDonald added.
SEMA-Model Street Rod/Custom Vehicle Bill
- Defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949
and a custom vehicle as an altered vehicle manufactured after 1948.
- Provides specific registration classes and license plates for street rods
and custom vehicles.
- Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from periodic vehicle
inspections and emissions inspections.
- Provides that vehicles titled and registered as street rods and custom
vehicles may only be used for occasional transportation, exhibitions, club
activities, parades, tours, etc. and not for general daily transportation.
- Provides that a replica vehicle will be assigned the same model-year
designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles and allows
the use of non-original materials.
- Exempts street rods and custom vehicles from a range of standard
equipment requirements.
- Allows the use of blue-dot taillights on street rods and custom vehicles.
For more information about how to enact pro-hobby street rod and custom
vehicle legislation in your state, please contact Steve McDonald at
stevem@sema.org.