A version of SEMA model legislation to create a vehicle registration classification for street rods, replicas and custom vehicles was signed into law by Governor Bev Perdue. The new law is the product of negotiations between SEMA and the hobbyist network in North Carolina. The law retains the key components of the SEMA-model bill while relieving vehicle owners of unfair title branding and inspection concerns. The measure provides specific registration and titling classes for street rods and replicas; allows for the use of non-original materials; creates a titling and registration criterion that assigns replica vehicles the same model year designation as the production vehicle intended to be replicated and requires that the title of a replica vehicle clearly indicates that the vehicle is a replica and not an original. The law is slated to take effect on Oct. 1, 2009.
Thank you and congratulations to all who participated in this effort.