Working with the Tire Industry Association (TIA), SEMA is opposing New York legislation to require all motor vehicle tires, except those intended for vehicles 10,001 pounds or more, to carry a date of manufacture molded on both sides. SEMA and TIA are opposing the bill because the date of a tire’s manufacture is already on the sidewall, found as part of the Tire Identification Number (TIN). Moreover, manufacturers have just retooled their molds due to the new tire labeling regulations the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued in 2002. In addition, no scientific data exists that will identify a specific date when tires are “too old” to be used. SEMA and TIA also believe that this legislation may serve to confuse consumers into believing that newer tires answer critical safety concerns. While consumers should be aware of how old their tires are, consumers have much greater safety concerns such as proper inflation levels, tread depth and overloading.

In what could be the state’s first step in limiting custom wheel and hubcap options for motor vehicle enthusiasts, New York legislation that would prohibit the sale and use of motor vehicles equipped with spinner hubcaps has been introduced in the New York State Legislature. The bill would subject vehicle owners to fines of up to $750 for a third or subsequent violation. Those convicted of selling spinner hubcaps could be fined $150 for each violation. The measure ignores the fact that custom wheels are not prohibited by Federal law and that spinner hubcaps have no proven detrimental effect on motor vehicle safety. New York has become the latest state to attempt a ban on spinners. Earlier this year, SEMA defeated similar legislation in Iowa and Virginia. More information is available at www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=61913.

SEMA Show 2005 exhibitors interested in building a Toyota-based project vehicle for the Show have until Friday, July 1, to submit proposals to the automaker. Interested companies must submit a written proposal to be considered. For information on what to include in the proposal, visit www.sema.org/oem.

A new bill (A.B. 7413) has been introduced in the New York Legislature to provide that historical-vehicle owners pay only a one-time registration fee of $23 upon initial registration. The bill has been referred to the New York Assembly Transportation Committee for consideration. The reduced registration fee would be available to owners of historical vehicles owned and operated as an exhibition piece or collector’s item and used for club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar uses. Under current New York law, a historical motor vehicle is either a vehicle manufactured more than 25 years ago or one that has unique characteristics and is determined to be of historical, classic or exhibition value. The $23 one-time fee would replace the current annual fee of $23. More information is available at www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=61914.

Legislation providing for an emissions-test exemption for vehicles within the first four years of the specific model year was approved by the Missouri State House of Representatives. The measure also exempts those vehicles owned by persons 65 years old or older which have traveled less than 5,000 miles since their last emissions inspection. The bill will next be considered by the State Senate. Missouri already exempts vehicles 26 years old and older from the emissions-test requirement because of a SEMA-sponsored bill signed into law last year.

Working with State Representative and former SEMA Board Member Calvin Hill, SEMA amended legislation in Georgia to permit the use of blue-dot taillights on antique, hobby and special interest vehicles. The measure was signed into law by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. The bill was introduced to ban flashing, blinking, revolving or stationary blue lights on all but vehicles owned or leased by law enforcement agencies. Under the SEMA amendment, these specified vehicles will be permitted to display a blue light or lights of up to one inch in diameter as part of a vehicle’s rear stop lamps, rear-turning indicator lamps, rear hazard lamps and rear reflectors.

At least for this year, SEMA defeated legislation in Hawaii that sought to provide a schedule of increased fines for those who violate the state’s ban on the sale, installation and use of certain motor vehicle mufflers. Current law in Hawaii essentially prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with an exhaust system of a type installed as standard factory equipment. Laws like these effectively discriminate against the motor vehicle aftermarket and the motoring public by restricting exhaust systems to those installed by the motor vehicle manufacturers. SEMA is working to encourage the adoption of exhaust-noise standards that allow vehicle owners to prove compliance by an objectively measured, fair and predictable procedure. SEMA-sponsored exhaust-system laws have been enacted in California, Washington State, New Hampshire and Maine. The Hawaii bill may be considered again next year.

SEMA stalled final action on Illinois legislation to ban vehicles equipped with a “muffler or exhaust system that clearly has been modified to amplify or increase the noise of the vehicle.” The bill was quickly passed by the House in the final days of the legislative session, before being stopped by SEMA in the Senate. Under the measure, vehicles determined to have been modified by virtue of a “visual observation” would have failed emissions inspection. How emissions inspectors would have determined that an exhaust system increases noise by virtue of a “visual inspection” was not explained in the bill. SEMA will work with state legislators next year to help establish reasonable noise limits for modified exhaust systems applicable to an easy to administer test standard, as the association has done in California, Washington and Maine.

In response to a five-year campaign by SEMA and a group of Mexican importers, the Mexican government has formally dropped its bid to establish a wheel standard in that country. COFEMER, the Mexican consumer protection agency, has spoken numerous times in opposition to the proposed regulation. Recently, the Mexican Chamber of Commerce and AMIA—the Mexican Car Manufacturers Association—have also come out against the proposed regulation. The wheel standard was widely viewed as a trade barrier to outside products as the standard would have established non-safety related tests, unique to the Mexican market, and thus would have forced companies wishing to continue selling in that market to make product specifically for Mexico.

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have evolved over the past several years from fairly large devices that required involved installation in a vehicle to handheld devices not much bigger than a PDA. GPS systems can now be interfaced with real-time traffic information, used to locate broken-down vehicles and allow companies to track vehicles to pinpoint locations at all times. In addition to the tracking capabilities, GPSbased data-logging systems can be valuable on the racetrack, providing detailed records of lap times, speeds, g-forces and more. To learn more about GPS technology and its uses, check out the “More Eyes in the Skies” article in the June issue of SEMA News. The article is available online at www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=52884.

Maine Governor John Baldacci signed into law a version of SEMA-model legislation to create a registration class for custom vehicles. Under the new law, custom vehicles are defined as at least 30-years old and of a model year after 1948 or manufactured to resemble a vehicle from that era. The bill also allows customs to have a body constructed from non-original materials and assigns these vehicles the same modelyear designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble, allowing qualifying replicas and kit cars to be accommodated under this registration class. The measure requires the Chief of the State Police to convene a committee comprised of representatives from the custom vehicle industry to provide advice and technical assistance regarding potential inspection standards and procedures.

SEMA-supported legislation to permit accent lighting on motor vehicles has been signed by Maine Governor John Baldacci. The new law permits the use of optional accent lighting that meets certain conditions, including color and intensity restrictions. The new law also provides for under carriage neon lighting, although not for use on public roadways, and allows blue interior and dash lighting under some circumstances.

Bills in at least three states seek to ban "spinners," wheels/hubcaps that simulate movement even when a vehicle is stopped. Legislators say spinners can be disconcerting to other drivers and possibly play a role in causing accidents. A Bill pending in New York (S.B. 4740) seeks to prohibit use or sale of spinners—fining vehicle owners up to $750 for spinners and $150 for spinner hubcaps for each one sold. An Iowa bill would ban spinners and fine motorists $10 if their vehicle is equipped with spinners. However, a Virginia bill seeking to ban spinners died in committee. Specialty wheels and tires now comprise a $3.2 billion industry, double from a decade ago and now 10% of the automotive aftermarket industry. Spinning wheels can cost several thousand dollars, while spinner hubcaps can cost less than $100. Richard Riekeberg, manager of the Big O Tire store in Altoona, Iowa, says “Spinning wheel covers are most popular with customers in their 20s.” In January of this year he stated that his store sells about six sets a year, at a cost of $2,000 per set. Regarding the pending New York ban, SEMA is urging members to contact Members of the New York Senate Transportation Committee to voice their opposition towards S.B. 4740 because: * S.B. 4740 ignores the fact that custom wheels are not prohibited by Federal law and should not be restricted in New York. * S.B. 4740 ignores the fact that the Federal government rescinded the entire hub cap standard in 1996 when it was concluded that there was no safety problem relating to hub caps and that the standard was overly design-restrictive. * S.B. 4740 ignores the fact that manufacturers are required to notify the Federal government of a safety problem or defect related to motor-vehicle equipment within five days of becoming aware of such an issue. * S.B. 4740 ignores the fact that spinner hubcaps have no proven detrimental effect on motor-vehicle safety.

According to recent data from AutoPacific’s New Vehicle Study, new-car buyers tend to purchase better tires (32%) and wheels (31%) whereas new-truck buyers are purchasing spray-in bedliners (28%) and tow accessories (23%). The study is based on recent results from a survey mailed to new-vehicle buyers, and the total unweighted count of samples received is 32,042. One-third of survey respondents indicated that they have and/or plan to modify their new vehicle.

Akebono Corp. announced the availability of its EURO™ and Akebono Street Performance™ Application Catalogs. Each one of these exciting new catalogs is designed and geared towards their specific market: The EURO Catalog—Contains 87 part numbers that represent about 90% of the late-model European applications, from Audi to Volvo, and most include front and rear applications. This product line gives distributors, jobbers, repair facilities and ultimately the European car owner a unique alternative to the typical dusty, noisy European brake pads. These ceramic based pads virtually eliminate dust and noise while maintaining a very positive pedal feel. The Akebono Street Performance Catalog—Contains 55 part numbers that target the "tuner" or "enthusiast" car owner. Brake performance and shiny wheels go hand-inhand with Akebono Street Performance pads. Say good-bye to the typical noisy wheel tarnishing performance pads. Again this product line gives distributors, jobbers, repair facilities and the car owner a unique alternative to the competitors. These ceramic-based pads virtually eliminate dust, which help keep wheels clean with OE fit and enhanced braking performance. Source: Akebono Corp.