Nostalgics Under Attack Again from CA Bill

Posted August 28, 200816 yr

08-27-2008 09:41 PM

California may not have much rust, but it’s got something far, far worse: legislators on the constant attack against old cars. The latest culprit is Assemblyman Dave Jones, who has drafted a bill that would require all cars 15 years or older to undergo annual emissions testing. Currently, the state law says pre-1976 cars are exempt. Even worse, Jones is, as SEMA discovered, trying to sneak this in as an amendment to an unrelated bill!

Do we really have to go over, yet again, why these laws are… what’s the term… stupid? Apparently so. Here we go:

These old cars make up only a tiny fraction of the total number of cars and trucks on the roads today.
Most collectors do not use their vintage cars as daily drivers.
And most of all, encouraging the disposal of an old car so that a new one can take its place does not account for the manufacturing costs of the new vehicle.

This is merely the latest in a string of attempts to send more old cars to the scrapper. Earlier year this year a similar bill was introduced but defeated thanks in part to those who wrote in expressing their outrage/sound reasoning. However, California and Texas also have buyback programs designed to take old cars off the street. Come on, legislators, think about it. How much fossel fuel does it take to turn a pile of iron ore buried in a mountain - along with plastics, rubber and assorted chemicals - into a new car? Let us get every mile we can out of these old cars.

The hearing is set for August 28. If you are a California resident, please write to your senator and express your views on the subject. Thank you! Full details and legislator’s email addresses after the jump.

In an effort to avoid public scrutiny, California Assemblyman Dave Jones (Assemblymember.jones@assembly.ca.gov) has amended a completely unrelated bill with language to require annual Smog check inspections for vehicles 15-years old and older. This represents an obvious attempt to sneak through legislation in the closing days of the legislative session that had been previously defeated (A.B. 616). The new bill is designated as A.B. 3053.

While pre-1976 motor vehicles would remain exempt under existing California law, this proposal ignores the fact that vehicles 15-years old and older still constitute a small portion of the overall vehicle population and are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction. Furthermore, the bill would direct that the funds generated through annual inspection fees be used to scrap older cars. This represents another attempt by California legislators and regulators to scapegoat older cars.

This is the type of activity that fuels distrust in public officials. SEMA caught this lawmakerâ€™s underhanded attempt to circumvent public process and is now calling on you to help defeat A.B 3053 before itâ€™s too late.

Time is of the Essence! We Urge You to Call the California Senate Appropriations Committee (List Below) Immediately to Oppose A.B. 3053

California Senate Appropriations Committee

Senator Tom Torlakson â€“ Chair

Phone: 916/651-4007

Email:

senator.torlakson@sen.ca.gov

Senator Dave Cox

Phone: 916/651-4001

Email:

senator.cox@sen.ca.gov

Senator Sam Aanestad

Phone: 916/651-4004