Collector Car Appreciation Day Recognized; Other Hobbyist Bills Die
Prior to the adjournment of the New York State Legislature, the State Assembly issued a resolution memorializing Governor Andrew Cuomo to proclaim July 13, 2012 as “Collector Car Appreciation Day” in the state. However, the legislature failed to complete action on a series of other bills that would have had an impact, both positive and negative, on the automotive hobby. These bills will have to be reintroduced in 2013. To follow is a brief summary:
S.B. 3213/A.B. 2080/A.B. 4323: Despite being passed by the Senate, legislation to allow historical vehicle owners to only pay a one-time registration fee of $100 upon initial registration died in the Assembly when the legislature adjourned for the year. The $100 one-time fee would have replaced the current annual fee of $28.75.
S.B. 201/A.B. 2073: SEMA model legislation to create a vehicle titling and registration classification for street rods and custom vehicles and exempt these vehicles from emissions inspections died without any action taken in the Senate or Assembly. The bills defined a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Kit cars and replica vehicles would have been assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation as the production vehicle they most closely resemble.
A.B. 4385: A bill to exempt historical motor vehicles from the metropolitan commuter transportation district supplemental registration fee died without committee action.
A.B. 2127: Legislation to provide for the issuance of special historic vehicle plates to be issued to owners for display on a trailer towing such historic vehicle also died without committee action.
A.B. 1318: A SAN-opposed bill to establish a progressive purchase surcharge for some new motor vehicles based on state calculations of carbon emissions died without consideration. Depending on the vehicle purchased, this surcharge could have required owners to pay up to $2,500 more for the vehicle.
Thank you to those who responded to the Action Alerts on these bills.