Legislative Notes
5 Best and Worst Bills of 2010
As the state legislatures closed down their legislative sessions last December, SEMA highlighed the best and worst automotive bills of 2010. While some of these bills were enacted into law, most did not make it through this year and could be reintroduced in future sessions. Keep an eye out, and get ready to help support the best and oppose the worst in 2011!
5 Best
California S.B. 232/A.B. 1740: Seek to remove the 500 per year vehicle limitation and allow for an unlimited number of specially constructed vehicle registrations. Bills were not enacted into law.
Ohio H.B. 199, New York A.B. 2429/S.B. 3547, New Jersey A.B. 448/S.B. 687 and Massachusetts H.B. 4557: Aim to create vehicle registration and titling classifications for street rods and custom vehicles, including kit cars and replicas, and provides for special license plates. The Massachusetts bill was enacted into law. The other three bills were not enacted into law.
Iowa S.F. 2035: Allow an antique vehicle to be registered as a limited-use (1,000 miles annually) antique vehicle for a low $5 fee. Bill was not enacted into law.
Vermont S.B. 237: For the purpose of regulation, includes a provision stipulating that hobbyists maintaining inoperable vehicles on private property are not to be confused with the owners of automobile graveyards. Bill was enacted into law.
Louisiana H.B. 118: Exempts all antique vehicles, defined as 25 years old and older, from the motor vehicle inspection requirements, which include equipment inspections and emissions inspections in certain areas. Bill was enacted into law.
5 Worst
California A.B. 859: Require an annual smog-check inspections for all cars 15 years old and older. Bill was not enacted into law.
Nebraska L.B. 688: Expand the definition of "abandoned motor vehicle" to include project cars and trucks that are left unattended for only six hours on private property without valid plates, title or permit, or that are inoperable, partially dismantled, wrecked, junked or discarded. Bill was not enacted into law.
New York A.B. 1235: Provides that no automotive refinish material labeled "for professional use only" can be sold unless the purchaser demonstrates and meets all local ordinances for the use and application of the material, denying amateur hobbyists the opportunity to paint their own hobby cars. Bill was not enacted into law.
Virginia H.B. 462: Bans the sale of "any aftermarket exhaust system component" that would cause the vehicle to produce undefined "excessive or unusual noise." Bill was not enacted into law.
Washington H.B. 2059: Implement a vehicle scrappage program and provides sales-tax incentives for trade-in vehicles more than 15 years old that do not comply with emissions standards. All trade-in vehicles would be destroyed, regardless of their historical value or collector interest. Bill was not enacted into law.