5 Must-Know Legal Issues For Every Import Owner
Text By Luke Munnell, Photography by Luke Munnell, Staff
Create Change
In each of the scenarios above there is a larger problem lurking. Exhaust legislation is a continual hindrance to enthusiasts, who are quick to point out that adding an aftermarket exhaust frees up power, thus decreasing fuel consumption and emissions. The same can be said regarding vehicle ride height legality and the fact (proven by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and General Motors), that lowering a car decreases drag, again decreasing fuel consumption and emissions. But the real danger lies in the precedent set by codes that are not objectively defined, and cannot objectively be enforced.
Speaking from experience, I can promise you the properly aimed HID bulbs that have been in our Project DC2's factory projector headlights for the past three years drastically increase visibility compared to stock halogens, without hindering the visibility of other drivers-an improvement to safety that could potentially land me a citation, and the manufacturer of our HID kit a hefty fine. And I can't even begin to count the number of clean, safe, fuel-efficient, yet fast cars we've come across that can never be made street legal simply because their modifications won't pass a visual smog test. On the subject of race gas legality, enthusiasts running race fuel on private property has never been a problem, even if it was in their street cars at the track on the weekends. Vehicles filled with race gas cruising the streets may have been (even if in arguably insignificant numbers), but enforcing legality on public roads should never cost enthusiasts their freedoms off them.
You could go on modifying your import however you please, dodging the rollers and hoping for the best. We wish you luck. But that's a temporary solution to problems that will only get worse for enthusiasts unless we represent ourselves to those with the ability to create change. Taking the proper steps, it's surprisingly easy to do.
Log onto SEMA's official enthusiast site (www.semasan.com) and join the SEMA Action Network (SAN) for free-we already have. You can research federal and state motor vehicle code, be alerted of legislation threatening automotive culture, and learn the top 10 ways to effectively communicate with lawmakers and make your opinions count-a system that's been proven to work. Most importantly, your involvement will strengthen a professional organization with government representation in all 50 states and at the federal level, whose full-time staff is committed to researching laws and legislation, constructing and passing model bills to standardize vehicle law, and defending enthusiasts' rights at all times. We have a voice. Let's make it count. www.semasan.com
By Luke Munnell
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