WASHINGTON, March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Arkansas joined the growing list
of states to enact SEMA model legislation to amend the vehicle titling and
registration classification for street rods and create a classification for
custom vehicles. The bill was approved by the Arkansas State Legislature
and signed into law by Governor Mike Beebe. Under the new law, a street rod
is defined as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as
an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948.
Importantly, kit cars and replica vehicles will be assigned a certificate
of title bearing the same model year designation as the production vehicle
they most closely resemble. Arkansas joins Virginia, Washington, Colorado,
Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Missouri, Montana and Rhode Island as states that
have enacted similar bills into law.
The new law allows for the use of non-original materials, provides for
special license plates and permits the use of blue dot taillights. In
addition, the measure exempts street rods and customs from a range of
standard equipment requirements and emissions controls (only that equipment
required in the model year that the vehicle resembles). Vehicles titled and
registered as street rods and custom vehicles may only be used for
occasional transportation, exhibitions, club activities, parades, tours,
etc. and not for general daily transportation.
"The new law recognizes the unique nature of these vehicles as hobbyist
cars," said SEMA Vice President, Government Affairs Steve McDonald. "For
many vehicle enthusiasts in Arkansas and throughout America, building,
maintaining and enjoying their vehicles is a favorite pastime. This law
represents an opportunity to acknowledge their commitment to the hobby and
to protect it for future generations."
The new law is the product of months of consultation with state
legislators, regulators and the local hobbyist and business community.
Arkansas State Representative Johnny Key, the bill's sponsor, remarked,
"It's been great working with SEMA and its member businesses in our state.
We've managed to craft and pass a piece of legislation that inserts common
sense into titling and registration for customs and street rods to the
benefit of the hobbyist community statewide."
"Backed by the hard work and perseverance of Representative Key, we are
extremely gratified that Arkansas has joined the list of states that
recognize street rods and customs as distinct classes of vehicles,"
McDonald added. "The new law offers the benefit of also including
qualifying replicas and kit cars in these specialty vehicle titling and
registration classifications."
The model bill will continue to be pursued by SEMA in states that
either don't have registration classifications for these vehicles or have
laws that are lacking in some way. SEMA efforts are ongoing this year to
work with the state legislatures in Florida, New York, Massachusetts,
Connecticut and Nevada on this initiative and to add others to that list in
the coming legislative sessions.
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association founded in 1963,
represents the $34 billion specialty automotive industry of 6,817
member-companies. It is the authoritative source for research, data, trends
and market growth information for the specialty auto parts industry. The
industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and
technology products for passenger and recreational vehicles. For more
information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA.
91765, tel: 909/396-0289, or visit http://www.sema.org and http://www.enjoythedrive.com.
SOURCE SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association)
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Related links:
http://www.enjoythedrive.com
http://www.sema.org
CONTACT:
Steve McDonald of SEMA, +1-202-783-6007, ext.
31, stevem@sema.org
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