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Update on North Carolina Street Rod and Replica Vehicle Bill
As many of you are aware, a version of SEMA model legislation (S.B. 476) that would create a vehicle registration classification for street rods,
replicas and modified vehicles was introduced in the North Carolina State Legislature. The SEMA model has been enacted into law, with an
overwhelmingly positive response, in approximately 20 states around the country.
SEMA has been working with North Carolina legislators and
regulators for the past two years in an attempt to mitigate the stringent reforms that were put in place by state regulators pursuant to the DMV
scandal relative to titling procedures. We are aware that there is also an effort underway to promote separate legislation (S.B. 820, H.B. 861)
that proponents believe will retain the key components of the SEMA-model language while relieving vehicle owners of unfair title branding and
inspection concerns.
It is critically important to SEMA that our membership and hobbyist network remain unified behind a single legislative
effort. It is equally important that the bill adequately addresses the concerns of all parties, while offering the benefits other states have
experienced from these new registration and titling classifications. To that end, we are working with the North Carolina Legislature and
hobbyists in an effort to achieve these goals. We remain committed to working alongside the hobbyist network in North Carolina to ultimately
supporting the best legislation possible.
Unfortunately, in this process, there have been several misrepresentations made about the involvement
of the SEMA membership. Jim Barber of Classic Automotive Restoration (Belews Creek, NC) has generously given up his time over the years as a
consultant on behalf of several efforts initiated by SEMA’s Washington, D.C. office. He had no hand in drafting the SEMA model bill or the
bills that have emerged from the North Carolina Legislature. He joins SEMA in working to support legislation that will benefit all affected
parties.
We will be in touch shortly with updated information. If you have any questions, please send those to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org