Thread: SEMA and California

Tweet

Looks like SEMA and the State of California have come to an agreement on how to title Specially Constructed Vehicles, including an amnesty program for those that may have been titled improperly. It may not be what the typical car builder may want, but at least it demonstrates a willingness to come to a workable solution. Here is a link to SEMA's press release:

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=62654

Pat

Looks like it could be a workable solution, anyway..... At least somebody finally stood up to the state and slowed things down some in the state's attempt to get every car they don't consider "green" off the highways!!! It's a start, anyway... Now if the Ca. residents with Hot Rods start putting a bit of pressure on their legislators to back off a bit....might at least be able to keep the laws from getting much worlse....

Thanks to SEMA, looks like Hot Rodding can stay alive for awhile out there, anyway....

While I'm a big supporter of SEMA's efforts at fighting onerous legislation don't be distracted in all this. The real objective of the state is tax revenue. Once they feel they've gotten as much out of that as they can they'll be back on track to impose more control. It's a constant battle to retain whatever level of freedom we still have, and too few are willing to fight the fight. The LS3 package that's been CARB approved is not a cheap solution. It lists for something around $9k according to a couple vendors I talked to at SEMA last week. That's just the hardware cost, labor, of course, will be on top of that. It wouldn't surprise me to see a bunch of glass cars for sale in Cali, further depressing an already soft market.

I wonder if we will see aggressive prosecution once the amnesty period ends? At least now people have an option to doing something illegal to title and register their specialty built cars. I also wonder if Ford and Chrysler will step up and offer something similar for those that prefer their flavor. I know a number of people who have used later model pull out motors for swaps and gotten them smog legal through the referee program.

Pat

It's all about money.........it always is. I lived in one of the most restrictive Sates (Pennsylvania) where at one time ANY modification to a car made it illegal to drive. You couldn't LEGALLY lower, raise, hop up, or modify a car in any way. They also had a State Inspection program that was a joke. If you knew the guy inspecting it a few bucks handed over in cash got you a sticker.

What scares me about this California thing is that whatever happens there eventually makes it's way across country to all the other States. This can't be good.


Don

Originally Posted by Stu Cool

I wonder if we will see aggressive prosecution once the amnesty period ends? At least now people have an option to doing something illegal to title and register their specialty built cars.

Pat

Anyone who's run a small business has played a similar "game". There are multiple agencies with a staggering number of regulations and mandates that could stop commerce as we know it dead in it's tracks. Most people who start a business are unaware (in a certain way happily) of all the potential bureaucratic pitfalls that await them. The saving grace is that the legal web is so vast and entangling that it's not economically enforceable by the state/agencies to it's maximum level. The business people who end up surviving (approximately one fifth of those who start) do so by figuring out which agencies, and which laws/rules/mandates, do get enforced the most.

So it will likely be with our hobby. A few years ago when Cali started this thing about "improperly" titled rigs, and initiated the annual 500 exemptions, they targeted the highest profile vehicles. Cobra kit cars and professional shops (some might remember the "raid" on Boyds, though other lower profile shops were targets too) were hit first. The Cobra replica community was rife with stories of pulled titles (many of which were blatantly dubious such as registering as a '65 Ford sedan). Fines were paid, some cars re-registered, and back taxes collected. This current move is just a continuation of that, which is why I say there will be more in the future as long as there is a revenue stream to be tapped. Some hobbyists will gamble, and if they are low profile scenarios they might get away with it..........call it collector car roulette. Others will gamble and be fined, maybe charged with a felony that will probably be pleaded away with money changing hands. All in all it won't be good for our hobby, but really, who cares.................well other than the minority (albeit one with no particular advantage as other so called minorities enjoy) that is we.

Since we're often involved with nostalgia, here is a quaint message from 60 years ago..............maybe a little corny but timely.........and prescient.

That's why I like real original steel, titled cars to start with. So far they haven't tried real hard yet to get us, it's only a matter of time though. The SEMA Legislation is at
least a start, it may cost some bucks, but we can still build'em! It continues to get more and more expensive every year to play. My Dad did the Hot Rod thing in the 60's-80's and now cries about how darn expensive it's gotten. I wish I could get him goin' agian. The cars just sit in the garage.
Keith

Another thought. California for being a liberal state, tends to lead the way for other states regarding lots of legislation. Seems most things having to do with auto's always come from Cali first and are adopted in almost every state. SEMA legislation is being signed into law in other states quit often that was modeled in California. We are not always right but, it's gotta start somewhere.

Keith

_______________________________________
Not a politician nor do I want to be.............

Actually Ca. used to lead the way in progressive legislation, or whatevery they want to call it this week.... I believe most states now watch to see what California does, then they know how things shouldn't be done!!!! A "liberal" state that is by far the most restrictive of all to live in for a gearhead.....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Actually Ca. used to lead the way in progressive legislation, or whatevery they want to call it this week.... I believe most states now watch to see what California does, then they know how things shouldn't be done!!!! A "liberal" state that is by far the most restrictive of all to live in for a gearhead.....

Ha Ha, very true.....You said it nicer than I would though.