Pro-Hobby Stret Rod/Custom Bills Introduced
To date in this new legislative season, New York (S.B. 615) Missouri (H.B. 283) and Rhode Island (H.B. 5487) have all introduced SEMA model legislation to create vehicle registration classifications for street rods and custom vehicles These bills all mirror legislation already enacted in Illinois that defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom vehicle as an altered vehicle manufactured after 1948.
Each of these bills exempts street rods and customs from periodic vehicle inspections and emissions inspections and a range of standard equipment requirements. They also provide that replica vehicles will be assigned the same model-year designation as the production vehicle it most closely resembles and allows the use of non-original materials
SEMA Action Network director Brian Caudill noted, "We are pleased that SEMA's model legislation is finding support across the country from both state legislators and from SEMA Action Network clubs like the Rhode Island Street Rod Association and the Show-Me Rods of Missouri. We are hopefull that hobbyists in other states that don't have proper and effective street rod and custom vehicle registration categories will pursue similar action.

New Jersey Law Revised. reported by Bob Shields
Starting Friday August 15, 2003 the cost of a ticket for (39:3-29 Failure to show your Drivers License, Registration or Insurance card at the time you are stopped) will be raised from $44.00 to $176.00. Make sure you have the proper documentation with you at all times because if your just going to the the store and you get stopped you just spent $173.00. Also the fine for not having all 3 is $519.00. That's a lot of Mod money.

New Jersey and Pennsylvania Score Victories in the operations of local racetracks. SEMA Action Network

New Jersey  URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Legislation to Establish  Exhaust Noise Limit Introduced in New Jersey; to be Considered by Assembly Committee
Legislation (A.B. 3738) that would require the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to prescribe a decibal limit to which all aftermarket mufflers sold in the state would have to be certified to operate has been introduced in the New Jersey State Legislature. The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Robert Gordon, gives no instruction as to what the decibal limit should be.
In some states, noise limits for modified exhaust are established by a SEMA model bill and applicable to an easy to administer test standard> The SEMA mosel provides for the testing of vehicle exhaust noise to a standard adopted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) with an established noise limit of 95-decibels (SAE J1169). Under the SAE standard, a sound meter is placed 20 inches from the exhaust outlet at a 45-degree angle and the engine is revved to three quarters of maximum rated horsepower. The highest decibel reading is recorded.
To date, with the popular support of vehicle enthusiasts and related businesses, the model has been enactrd in California, Washington State, and Maine. This year the SEMA model was introduced in Virginia.
DON'T DELAY! Contact Assemblyman Gordon and members of the New Jersey Assembly Environmental and Solid Waste Committee immediately by phone at (609) 292-5135 or e-mail to request their support of the 95-decibel limit under SAE J1169.
For more information go to www.sema.org.

New Jersey Withdraws Proposal to Regulate Racetrack Noise-2000 In a victory for New Jersey drag racing enthusiasts, SEMA and the National Hot Rod  Association (NHRA), the New Jersey Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) has withdrawn a proposed rule to re-establish noise restrictions for racetracks. New Jersey racetracks have been exempt from noise restrictions since 1971, but were encouraged to enter into "good neighbor" voluntary agreements with surrounding areas to address hours of operation etc.
The draft proposed rule would have drastically impacted track operation and the drag racing sport and hobby in New Jersey by severely limiting track operating hours, reqiring mufflers on racing vehicles and requiring tracks to certify that "street legal" vehicles comply with New Jersey Dept of Motor Vehicle standards.
The DEP will continue reviewing the issue to determine if there are better approaches to regulating racetrack noise.