At the urging of the SEMA Action Network and the hobbyist community in the state, West Virginia legislation bill (S.B. 49) has been amended in committee. The bill originally sought to redefine “abandoned motor vehicles” to include vehicles or vehicle parts which are either unlicensed or inoperable, or both, are not in an enclosed building and have remained on private property for more than 30 days. Under the amendment, antique motor vehicles would be exempted from the scope of the measure, as would motor vehicles or parts that are obscured from view by means of blocking or screening behind natural objects, plantings, fences, or other appropriate visual barriers. The amendment largely mirrors SEMA model legislation to create fair standards for inoperable vehicles.
The amended bill was approved by the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and sent to the Judiciary Committee for consideration.