Press Release: SEMA Forms Lighting Task Force

  
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 24, 2003) - SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market
Association, has convened the SEMA Lighting Task Force.  Formed at the
direction of the SEMA Board of Directors and chaired by Hella Inc. President
Mitch Williams, the Task Force is a group of SEMA-member motor vehicle
lighting companies dedicated to proactively encouraging and advocating SEMA
member compliance with existing state and federal lighting laws and
regulations.

"The Task Force is committed to promoting vehicle safety while ensuring the
freedom of consumers to responsibly accessorize and enhance the safety of
vehicles with motor vehicle lighting equipment," Williams said. "The Task
Force and its members will strive to work cooperatively with the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and to review and address
consumer and law enforcement concerns to safety issues related to the
manufacture, sale and use of motor vehicle lighting equipment." Mitchell
said that the Task Force also will work with state and local government
agencies regarding the same topics.

The Task Force recently met in Washington with NHTSA officials who are
charged with overseeing federal lighting regulations to discuss the group's
goals and to gain insight into pending agency regulatory actions. NHTSA
intends to propose new lighting rules this year, with more to follow in
2004. The rules will address consumer complaints regarding the perceived
glare from HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, HID look-alike lamps
and other advanced lighting sources, as well as higher-mounted headlamps and
supplemental front-mounted lamps. New rules could also address
headlamp-aiming requirements.
 
"The primary goal of our meeting in Washington was to open lines of
communication with a government entity that can have a significant impact on
the future of the aftermarket lighting industry," Williams said.  "We came
away with a clear idea of NHTSA's views on the various lighting issues.
After discussion among our group, we will go back to NHTSA and present the
aftermarket industry's perspective on the lighting issues NHTSA feels are
most important."
Williams also indicated that participation in the Task Force is a
demonstration of the industry's belief that a dialogue on issues of concern
creates a win-win situation for NHTSA, SEMA members, and consumers.

Lighting industry representatives Brian Torres of APC, Jeff Bendit and John
Preher of Catz, Michael DeHaas of KC HiLites Inc., Richard Churchill of PIAA
Corp. USA, and Williams attended the Task Force meeting with NHTSA in
Washington.

For more information about the SEMA Lighting Task Force, contact Steve
McDonald at SEMA's Washington office, 202/783-6007, ext. 31, or
stevem@sema.org <mailto:stevem@sema.org> . 
Participation in the SEMA Lighting Task Force does not represent an
endorsement of the practices or activities of the Task Force member
companies.