[DeTomaso] Washington State Poised to Take its Place as Hot Rod Nirvana

[Mike Thomas]

I thought y'all might be interested to read this.  One more great reason to
live the Northwest.
 
Mike Thomas
Panteras Northwest.
 

Washington State Poised to Take its Place as Hot Rod Nirvana 

Governor Gregoire to Sign Street Rod and Custom Vehicle Bill into 
Law on April 18, 2011.

Anyone who has ever tried to license a homebuilt car knows how difficult it
can be to title and register such a vehicle. Not only is the process
lengthy, it's frustratingly arduous.  hotrodaroma020
<http://upfrontimages.com/index-art/Hotrodaroma_2011-020.jpg> But all that
is about to change. On Monday, April 18, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire
will sign into law Senate Bill 5585, which will enact new classifications
for custom vehicles, street rods, hot rods, kit cars, replicas, etc.

According to State Senator Michael Carrell, sponsor of the bill (and
collector, restorer, and avid car enthusiast in his own right), the new
classifications will help streamline the registering and titling process,
making it faster and a whole lot easier to take that creation of yours to
the street. READ MORE HERE <http://upfrontimages.com/cont_stories.html> 

  _____  

"If someone puts a 2009 Ford engine in the body of a 1949 Ford Coupe," says
Senator Carrell in a written press release, "there shouldn't be any
confusion about how to legally license the vehicle. Moreover, if someone
builds a car from the ground up from scrap parts, aftermarket items or
custom-manufactured pieces, it could be classified any number of different
ways. The new law will establish constancy, and clarify previously unclear
registration requirements." 

Classifications will break down as follows: Altered vehicles manufactured
before 1949 will be categorized as street rods, and altered vehicles at
least 30 years old and manufactured after 1948 will be categorized as
customs. Kit cars an hotrodaroma022
<http://upfrontimages.com/index-art/Hotrodaroma_2011-022.jpg> d replica
vehicles will be assigned certificates of title bearing the same model years
as the production vehicles they most closely resemble.

The law will also acknowledge that original parts may no longer be
available, and that technological advancements have created improved
materials. It will allow for the use of non-original components and will
create a titling criterion that assigns these vehicles the same model year
designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble. Further,
the law will exempt street rods and customs from a range of standard
equipment requirements and emissions inspections; vehicles in this class
will be held to standards applicable to the designated model year. Finally,
the use of "blue dot" taillights will be permitted, a favorite among
restorers of classic automobiles.

Mike Dingell, director of the SEMA Action Network (SAN), who worked closely
with Senator Carrell to draft the original bill, expressed great
satisfaction with the new law. "This type of legislation is a top priority
for SAN," he says. "We want enthusiasts to express themselves by building
their dream cars and to share them and enjoy them on America's streets."
Similar laws have been successful in helping hobbyists title their rides in
21 other states, and SAN is working to add more to that list.
hotrodaroma051 <http://upfrontimages.com/index-art/Hotrodaroma_2011-051.jpg>


Washington State car enthusiasts owe a big thanks to both Senator Carrell
and Mike Dingell for their efforts in moving this legislation to completion.
To say thanks, you can contact Mike Dingell by email at miked at sema.org. To
keep abreast of and support the work of SAN and SEMA, visit
http://www.semasan.com <http://www.semasan.com/> . 

To say thanks to Senator Carrell, send your message to him in care of
Michelle.Lewis at leg.wa.gov. Anyone wishing to attend the bill signing
ceremony in the Governor's Conference Room in Olympia as a guest of Senator
Carrell's should contact Michelle Lewis at (360) 786-7654 or by e-mail at
Michelle.Lewis at leg.wa.gov. 

By Rob Sillence. (c)2011 Upfront Images, LLC.