SEMA Alert: Bill to Require ANNUAL Emissions Moves to Senate

[Pantheus]

Once again John Stewart, CA4WDC Natural Resources Consultant, shares information on yet another money grab, for vehicles 15 years old and older, but does exempt pre-1976 vehicles still.  So today this would cause annual smog inspections on 1977 - 1992 vehicles. And every two years on 1993 to 2003.

SEMA Alert: Bill to Require ANNUAL Emissions Moves to Senate
California Bill to Require ANNUAL Emissions
Tests for Vehicles 15-Years Old Moves to Senate Appropriations Committee

Legislation (A.B. 616) to require annual Smog check inspections for vehicles 15-years old and older has been approved by the California Assembly and the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration on August 20th. A.B. 616 would also require that funds generated through the additional inspection fees be deposited into an account which can be used to scrap older cars. You may recall that in 2004 a new law was enacted in California to require the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles. Pre-1976 motor vehicles would remain exempt under A.B. 616.

We Urge You to Contact Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee (List Below) Immediately to Oppose A.B. 616

• A.B. 616 ignores the minimal impact vintage cars have on air quality.

• A.B. 616 could entice vintage car owners into allowing these vehicles to be scrapped.

• A.B. 616 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.

• A.B. 616 ignores the fact that classic vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven.

• A.B. 616 would increase costs by creating an annual inspection fee for owners of these vehicles.

• A.B. 616 represents another attempt by California legislators and regulators to scapegoat older cars.

• A.B. 616 would dramatically impact the ability of fixed and low income motorists from owning and driving their older vehicles.

Please contact members of the California Senate Appropriations Committee immediately by phone, fax or e-mail to request their opposition to A.B. 616.

Please e-mail a copy of your letter to stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.

Senate Appropriations Committee

Senator Tom Torlakson (Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4007
Email: Senator.Torlakson@senate.ca.gov

Senator Dave Cox (Vice Chair)
Phone: (916) 651-4001
Email: Senator.Cox@senate.ca.gov

Senator Samuel Aanestad
Phone: (916) 651-4004
Email: Senator.Aanestad@senate.ca.gov

Senator Roy Ashburn
Phone: (916) 651-4018
Email: Senator.Ashburn@senate.ca.gov

Senator Jim Battin
Phone: (916) 651-4037
Email: Senator.Battin@senate.ca.gov

Senator Gilbert Cedillo
Phone: (916) 651-4022
Email: Senator.Cedillo@senate.ca.gov

Senator Ellen Corbett
Phone: (916) 651-4010
Email: Senator.Corbett@senate.ca.gov

Senator Robert Dutton
Phone: (916) 651-4031
Email: Senator.Dutton@senate.ca.gov

Senator Dean Florez
Phone: (916) 651-4016
Email: Senator.Florez@senate.ca.gov

Senator Sheila Kuehl
Phone: (916) 651-4023
Email: Senator.Kuehl@senate.ca.gov

Senator Jenny Oropeza
Phone: (916) 651-4028
Email: Senator.Oropeza@senate.ca.gov

Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas
Phone: (916) 651-4026
Email: Senator.Ridley-Thomas@senate.ca.gov

Senator George Runner
Phone: (916) 651-4017
Email: Senator.Runner@senate.ca.gov

Senator Joe Simitian
Phone: (916) 651-4011
Email: Senator.Simitian@senate.ca.gov

Senator Darrell Steinberg
Phone: (916) 651-4006
Email: Senator.Steinberg@senate.ca.gov

Senator Mark Wyland
Phone: (916) 651-4038
Email: Senator.Wyland@senate.ca.gov

Senator Leland Yee
Phone: (916) 651-4008
Email: Senator.Yee@senate.ca.gov


 

[47JHeep]

So today this would cause annual smog inspections on 1977 - 1992 vehicles. And every two years on 1993 to 2003.

• A.B. 616 ignores the minimal impact vintage cars have on air quality.

• A.B. 616 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.

• A.B. 616 ignores the fact that classic vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven.

Do you the statisics on the numbers for the first two statements?  Is there a web site that this info can be found?  I feel it is important if we are using quantitive stats that they can be validated.
-What data is available to support the minimal impact, what is the percent of the possible reduction?
Not trying to argue, I agree with the statements but how can I educate myself so I know the answers?

The third statement above...I'm sorry I'm having trouble with this one...there are many 77 to 93 vehicles on the road today that are really heaps and driven daily.  Some may qualify as classics, but I wonder if many even have insurance!!

[Pantheus]

Google is your friend, too.   

Here is the link to SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) who is opposing this bill

http://www.sema.org/Main/StartPage.aspx

Here is the link to Semasan (the SEMA Action Network)

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?ID=/content/SEMASANcom/HomePage

Here is the link to the bill's "progress" along its path

http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_616&sess=CUR&house=B&site=sen

Here is the bill's legislative analysis

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0601-0650/ab_616_cfa_20070413_154448_asm_comm.html

I am merely the messenger.  And with a 47 Heep that isn't affected, but two Fords that ARE (but they haven't been modified, and regularly pass every two years.)  So it'll cost me double to smog them.

Ken

[47JHeep]

Yes, but the 47 Heep is just one of many here at Bean's Half...  Okay, thanx for the smiles after pointing me in the right direction...Google...  I'll check out the links.
Sorry, I'm just one that likes to know the facts when I start to quote figures...you can get burned...it is important to be correct in this case...
Onward and upward thru the fog to google I go...

[Pantheus]

 SEMA Legislative Alert September 5, 2007

California Bill to Require ANNUAL Emissions Tests for Vehicles 15-Years Dead for the Year

In a major victory for enthusiasts in California, the Senate Appropriations Committee rejected SAN-opposed legislation (A.B. 616) that threatened to require annual Smog check inspections for vehicles 15-years old and older.  After having been approved previously by the full California Assembly and the Senate Transportation Committee, the bill is dead for the year.

“Car clubs and individual hobbyists across the state loudly and forcefully objected to passage of this bill,” said SEMA Vice President of Government Affairs Steve McDonald.  “Ultimately, the lawmakers in Sacramento heard their message.”

Through thousands of phone calls and emails, SAN members were able to convince committee members that these vehicles constitute a small portion of the overall vehicle population and are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction.

In correspondence to his constituents, Senator Dave Cox expressed his opposition to the bill, “I have not yet seen any evidence that 15 year old vehicles pollute our air substantially more than 14 year old vehicles.  Declaring all vehicles 15 years or older are guilty of being gross polluters without any empirical data is backwards and does not reflect the spirit of the law.”

Of additional concern to the enthusiast community were provisions in the bill that would have required that funds generated through the additional inspection fees be deposited into an account which could be used to scrap older cars.

“We are especially indebted to those legislators who opposed the bill because it would have placed an undue burden upon car owners simply because their vehicle is older than an arbitrary date set in law,” McDonald added.

The SAN would like to thank the countless individuals and car clubs whose dedication and persistence in contacting lawmakers in Sacramento as this bill moved through the legislative process.  Special thanks to the Association of California Car Clubs for the coordinated effort by their member clubs in opposing this bill.

[Scooterloo]

WHOO HOOOOOOO!!