The Maine Event
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Delivering Up-to-Date Information to America’s Car Clubs and Enthusiasts www.semasan.com AUGUST 2005 Y EQ LT UIP IA M C E E N P T S M A N O R I K T E A T I ASSOC Serving the Motor Vehicle Aftermarket The Maine Event MAINE QUICK HITS New Law a Knockout for Custom Cars version of SEMA-model legislation to create a Optional Lighting: SAN-supported legislation to per- registration class for custom vehicles was signed into mit accent lighting on motor vehicles was signed into Alaw by Maine Governor John Baldacci. Maine joins law. The new law permits the use of optional accent Montana, Illinois, Missouri and Rhode Island as states that lighting that meets certain conditions, including color have enacted the bill. and intensity restrictions. The new law also provides Sponsored by State Representative A. David Trahan, the for undercarriage neon lighting, although not for use new law defines custom vehicles as at least 30 years old and of on public roadways, and allows blue interior and dash a model year after 1948 or manufactured to resemble a vehicle lighting under some circumstances. from that era. The law also allows customs to have bodies Maine Inoperable Vehicles: Working with officials from the constructed from non-original materials and assigns these Representative A. David Trahan Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the vehicles the same model-year designations as the produc- Maine Municipal Association and the state’s vehicle tion vehicles they most closely resemble, allowing qualifying enthusiast community, the SAN amended a bill that replicas and kit cars to be accommodated under this registration class. threatened to repeal the current hobbyist exemption “It took a long time and a lot of work by many people, but it appears that from the state’s graveyard laws. The original bill would this legislation has finally happened,” said Representative Trahan. “Having custom have required hobbyists to get business licenses and be vehicles is a wonderful economic-development initiative that should help boost our regulated as automobile graveyards. Under the SAN economy. I hope that someday Maine is a amendment, hobbyists will retain the exemption but will destination for custom-car enthusiasts!” “It took a long time and a lot be required to screen project cars from public view and The measure requires the chief of of work by many people, but it appears that this legislation has properly handle vehicle fluids to prevent environmental the state police to convene a committee comprised of representatives from the cus- finally happened... I hope that contamination. The bill, with the SAN amendment, was someday Maine is a destination for passed by the Maine Legislature and signed into law. tom-vehicle industry to provide advice and technical assistance regarding poten- custom-car enthusiasts!” tial inspection standards and procedures. —-Maine State Representative Nitrous: SAN-supported legislation to expand the A. David Trahan permissible use of cars equipped with nitrous-oxide The new law is the product of months of systems was signed into law. In 2003, working with consultation with the state legislators, the Maine Custom Auto Association, SAN amended regulators and the local hobbyist community, including the Maine Custom Auto a Maine bill that originally threatened to prohibit the Association. The custom-vehicle registration class was added to the state’s existing operation of vehicles equipped with nitrous oxide or street-rod-friendly registration laws. other “power booster systems” (e.g. superchargers) on “Backed by the hard public roads. Under the amendment, the bill permit- work and perseverance of ted vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide systems if all Representative Trahan, canisters of nitrous have been removed or if the vehicle SEMA members and is en route to or from a racetrack. The new law also the state’s vehicle enthu- allows the public highway use of vehicles equipped with siast community, we are nitrous systems if they are en route to a car show, off- extremely gratified that highway competition or fill station. Maine will join the list of states that recognize cus- Street Rods: SAN-supported legislation to repeal the toms as a distinct class of requirement that a vehicle owner be a member of a vehicles,” said SEMA Vice qualified street rod owner’s organization to apply for a President, Government street rod registration was signed into law. Affairs Steve McDonald. “The new law offers the benefit of also including qualifying replicas and kit cars in this specialty-vehicle registration classification.” Tires: SAN-supported legislation to repeal the require- SEMA and the SEMA Action Network will continue to pursue the model ment that a vehicle must only be equipped with tires legislation in states that either don’t have registration classifications for these vehicles that meet or exceed the load and speed rating of the or have laws that are lacking in some way. original equipment tires was signed into law. Additional information on the street rods and custom vehicles can be found on page 3 of this issue of Driving Force or on the SAN website at www.semasan.com. SEMA Government Relations Office In for the Long Haul Vice President of Government espite sweltering heat up north, monsoon-like condi- and Technical Affairs Dtions down south and the radiator fan on the bus disin- Steve McDonald tegrating 50 miles into the trip, the SEMA Action Network Director of Federal (SAN) made the annual pilgrimage across the heartland on Government Affairs Stuart Gosswein the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. Starting in Milwaukee, Government and Wisconsin and winding its way down to Kissimmee, Florida, Public Affairs Manager the Power Tour brought car enthusiasts from across the Jason Tolleson country in what has become one big rolling family reunion. At each venue the SAN took photos of Research Coordinator enthusiasts and their vehicles, which were then sent back to their hometown newspapers. Ben Burdick “I would personally like to thank the over 1,000 enthusiasts who signed up for SAN while on Technical Consultant the Power Tour,” said SAN Director Frank Bohanan Jason Tolleson. “Each day of the tour, Editorial Director I had the opportunity to meet with Steve Campbell countless individuals who understand Editor the importance of becoming involved Jason Tolleson in influencing the laws that impact our hobby.” 1317 F St., NW, Ste. 500 Editor’s note: For you long haulers Washington, D.C. 20004-1105 202/783-6007 out there who had your cars featured in Fax: 202/783-6024 your local papers, please send a copy to: For more legislative and regulatory information, check out the SEMA Action Network SEMA Action Network website: 1317 F Street, NW, Suite 500 www.semasan.com Washington, D.C. 20004 www.semasan.com In for the Long Haul Long the for In • Newly Introduced Legislation Introduced Newly • August 2005 SAN Club Events Club SAN 2005 August • Hey, That’s My Car! My That’s Hey, • Your Title Here! Title Your • Off-Road News Off-Road • You’ve Got Mail! Got You’ve • Maine Quick Hits Quick Maine • The Maine Event Event Maine The INSIDE AUGUST 2005 AUGUST AUGUST 2005 Newly Introduced Legislation Attention Car Clubs, Event Organizers and Enthusiasts! Note: The following state bills are not laws. They were recently introduced and are Put SAN on Your Mailing List! currently under consideration by the respective state legislatures: We’d like to know what’s going on with SEMA Action Network clubs and enthu- siasts across the country; what charity events you’re involved in; when and where the EQUIPMENT rod runs, car shows, trail rides,rallies and tech meetings are held; and what legislative Pennsylvania HB 727/HB 1760: Prohibits the use of nitrous-oxide sys- and regulatory issues concern club members and individual enthusiasts. tems on public roadways. Owners of vehicles equipped with nitrous-oxide One of the best ways to keep us abreast of what’s going on and what’s impor- systems must remove the canisters while operating on public roadways. Exemption provided for vehicles going to or returning from racetracks tant to the vehicle hobbies nationwide is for us to receive your club newsletters and as long as the nitrous lines are disconnected while on public roadways. updates. Please consider placing SEMA on your mailing list. Send correspondence to: Provides penalties for violations. Jason Tolleson, SEMA, 1317 F Street, N.W., Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004-1105. Or by e-mail at [email protected]. Pennsylvania HB 1294: Requires sellers to notify a buyer if a vehicle contains a vehicle-event data recorder. Allows removal of data recorder with consent of owner and provides penalties. We invite you to stop MISCELLANEOUS On The by and meet with Jason Tolleson, director of the Pennsylvania HB 1776: Prohibits drivers with learner’s permits or junior Road Again driver’s licenses from using mobile phones. Provides exception for emer- SEMA Action Network, gency situations. at these events in August: New York SB 5603: Creates the “motor vehicles owners’ right to repair 36th Annual Street Rod 11th Annual Woodward act,” requiring manufacturers to release vehicle-repair information to owners. Nationals Dream Cruise August 4-7 August 20 Louisville, Kentucky www.woodwarddreamcruise.com www.nsra-usa.com August 2005 SAN Club Events August 28, Rothsville August 19-21, Spokane 16th Annual “A Taste of Britain” 4th Great Northwest Nationals Continued from page 4 Sponsor: Lanco MG Club Sponsor: Goodguys OREGON Information: www.lancomgclub.com or Information: www.good-guys.com