TRALA's Legal Action Fund: Supporting Successful Advocacy
Despite the economy and resulting business slow-down, state and federal governments are gearing up for an aggressive push to impose new regulations, taxes and fees on the renting and leasing industry in the coming year. TRALA’s advocacy program is ready and able to speak out loudly against these efforts. Contributions to the Legal Action Fund are necessary to insure that we have the resources not only to engage in the fight but to win it.
TRALA’s record of success in legislative and regulatory defense of our industry has continued to date in 2009, thanks in large part to contributions to the 2008-2009 Legal Action Fund. Attempts to impose legal liability, higher insurance, increased taxes and higher fees have been defeated by TRALA in the past year in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Texas. Still, state and local governments across the country are seeking new ways to bring in revenue and many will be looking at the truck renting and leasing industry as a potential source of funding. TRALA needs to be prepared financially to quickly engage, fight and win these battles when they arise.
New government leaders in the federal and state governments are also pushing regulatory changes that will directly and negatively impact the truck renting and leasing industry. Several states, particularly California, are moving to enact new emissions regulations for Transportation Refrigeration Units (TRUs) as well as in-use heavy-duty trucks. The federal government is also exploring a number of regulatory actions on diesel emissions, greenhouse gasses and fuel efficiency standards, as well as new security programs containing operational mandates for truck rental companies. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) planned overhaul of lease accounting standards could also significantly impact the way TRALA companies market their lease products.
| TRALA Legislative Victories | Industry Savings |
|---|---|
| 2009 | |
| CA VLF Increase Truck Exclusion | $950,000 |
| Texas gross lease receipts tax | $850,000 |
| Florida MFR increase for rental vehicles | $900,000 |
| Florida $2 per day rental tax | $1,100,000 |
| Illinois registration fee increase | $700,000 |
| 2008 | |
| APU Exemption from FET | $3,500,000 |
| Colorado $6 per day rental tax | $3,000,000 |
| New Mexico WTD enforcement reform | $350,000 |
| Alberta vicarious liability reform | $9,000,000 |
| 2007 | |
| Texas temporary operating authority | $250,000 |
| British Columbia vicarious liability reform | $11,000,000 |
| New Mexico indemnification clause prohibition | $1,000,000 |
| Indiana wheel tax | $100,000 |
| Connecticut parking ticket liability | $150,000 |
| Michigan joint and several fuel tax liability | $250,000 |
| Idaho permanent trailer registration | $100,000 |
| 2006 | |
| Alaska rental tax | $100,000 |
| Alabama permanent plate | $100,000 |
| Kentucky property tax | $400,000 |
| Illinois self insurance | $3,000,000 |
| Colorado reimbursement fee | $900,000 |
| Rhode Island and Illinois engine idling | $400,000 |
| CO, MD & Maine data ownership bills | |
| Texas margin tax | $11,000,000 |
| SAFEport Transportation Security | $1,000,000 |
Legal Action Fund contributions will also go towards helping TRALA continue to preserve the protections it has won for the industry through the nationwide pre-emption of state vicarious liability laws. Trial lawyers are looking for new avenues to circumvent the federal pre-emption law known as the Graves Amendment through the courts. TRALA has filed seven amicus briefs in vicarious liability cases and won positive decisions in the U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court, the Florida Supreme Court, the Florida Court of Appeals and the New York Court of Appeals. However, TRALA will have to remain vigilant in the defense of the Graves Amendment in court, in state legislatures and in the U.S. Congress. TRALA will also be aggressively protecting the vicarious liability reforms secured in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario.
Please help TRALA ensure the necessary resources to continue its record of success on behalf of the truck renting and leasing industry and we appreciate your continued support.
How can I contribute?
Contributions to TRALA's Legal Action Fund are deductible as a business expense for most members. However, TRALA estimates that 10% is not deductible because of TRALA's lobbying activities.
For your convenience, you have two payment options. You can either pay by credit card or print this page as an invoice and mail with your check to TRALA.
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