Images: The SEMA Action Network on Facebook

Autumn is the perfect time for off-roading adventures and with the Specialty Equipment Market Association on your side, you can explore with a little more certainty that your favorite hobby will continue on for years to come. Check out this month’s SEMA Law & Order updates below!

State Level

This month, there are a lot of updates pertaining to the vintage off-road scene, with states like New Hampshire and Rhode Island sending bills on to be enacted into law that would allow the use of (New Hampshire) or the issuance (Rhode Island) of year-of-manufacture plates for classic vehicles. In New Hampshire, vehicles from the 1975 model year or earlier can now run year-of-manufacture plates (changed from the 1960 model year and older) and vehicles in Rhode Island that are 25 years or older are now eligible to get year-of-manufacture plates from the DMV. Similar bills in New York and Illinois pertaining to the use of vintage or single license plates on vehicles of a certain age died when legislators in both states adjourned for the year.

Another recent hot topic encompasses the production, distribution and sale of gasoline with increased ethanol in it. In Illinois, a bill that would allow the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to give gas stations information on and encouraging the sale of E15 gasoline died when legislation in the state adjourned. Though there are many arguments for and against the increase of ethanol in gasoline, some downfalls include vehicle warranties possibly being voided (most warranties are void if gas with ethanol levels above 10 percent is used) and gas prices could rise even more. We’re calling this bill’s bereavement a victory.

A SEMA-supported bill aiming for the exact opposite (which would have banned the sale of gasoline with more than 10 percent ethanol) died in New Hampshire upon legislative adjournment. We hope to see this bill reintroduced next year.

Individuals who like running “blue” headlights on their on/off highway vehicles in South Carolina can take a sign of relief as legislation that aimed to ban the use of aftermarket “blue-colored” headlamps died when state legislation adjourned for the year. While these types of headlamps (whether factory or aftermarket) currently comply with federal headlamp color requirements, the South Carolina bill would have attempted to go further with the state’s headlight color requirements.

In National News

For those of you who enjoy taking your vehicles out to the Bonneville Salt Flats for some fun, SEMA has good news this month as a recent project to start restoring the salt in the location has been successful. In June, upon request of the Save the Salt Coalition (in partnership with SEMA, the US Bureau of Land Management and the Southern California Timing Association), around 2,000 tons of salt was deposited at the end of the access road to the Bonneville Salt Flats by Shelton Construction.

The salt was then graded and dried, creating a hardened surface just like the Salt Flats is known for. This proves that salt can be deposited in the area for restoration of targeted areas of the Bonneville Salt Flats, adding to the preservation abilities for the area that will ultimately keep the historic racing grounds open for future automotive activities.

SEMA continues to act in the best interest of the automotive hobby, from the hot rod scene to the off-road community. Be sure to check back here next month for another round of SEMA Law & Order updates and stay connected to all of SEMA’s causes through the SEMA Action Network.