driftfactory
08-25-2004, 12:55 PM
We got this from SEMA today.
URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT (IMMEDIATE ACTION)
California Emissions Exemption Repeal Bill Passes in Senate; Moves to Assembly
Yesterday, the California Senate approved A.B. 2683 with damaging amendments. A.B. 2683 is the legislation that would repeal the state’s current rolling emissions-test exemption for vehicles 30 years old and older. The bill repeals the current pro-hobbyist exemption and replaces it with a law requiring the permanent testing of all 1976 and newer model- year vehicles. Under pressure from the Governor’s office, bill sponsors amended the bill “allegedly” to protect the interests of car collectors. The amendments do no such thing and are being opposed by SEMA and the major car clubs and organizations in California. The bill now moves to the California Assembly, which must agree to the amendments before the bill goes to the Governor for his signature or veto. We have identified key legislators in the Assembly (see below) whose votes could make the difference between winning or losing this battle.
We Urge You to Call These Legislators IMMEDIATELY to Request That They Vote Against A.B. 2683 as Amended!
The amendments do the following:
1. Require vehicles of the post 1975 model year insured as
collector cars (driven only to parades, exhibitions, etc.) and at least 35- years old to continue in the Smog Check program for the duration of the vehicle’s life.
2. Revise the Smog Check testing regimen for these qualifying
vehicles to include a tailpipe test, functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks. The vehicle would be forced to comply with the exhaust emissions standards for the vehicle’s class and model year as prescribed by California regulators.
Despite assurances from the bill’s sponsors that a good faith effort would be made to address hobbyist concerns, these amendments betray the trust of the collector car community. There is nothing that differentiates a
1975 from a 1976 vehicle requiring one be accorded a lifetime exemption while the other is not. Further, with regulators having proposed yearly testing of these older vehicles, these amendments could be far costlier and even more burdensome to vehicle collectors in the future. In addition, regulators could set emissions standards to any level that suits their purposes in order to ensure inspection failures of these 1976 and later model cars. Finally, nothing in these amendments would stop regulators from bringing 1975 and older vehicles back into the Smog
Check program at a later date.
KEY CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
Calderon, Ronald S. (916) 319-2058
Canciamilla, Joe (916) 319-2011
Chan, Wilma (916) 319-2016
Chavez, Ed (916) 319-2057
Correa, Lou (916) 319-2069
Dutra, John (916) 319-2020
Firebaugh, Marco A. (916) 319-2050
Horton, Jerome (916) 319-2051
Levine, Lloyd (916) 319-2040
Maldonado, Abel (916) 319-2033
Matthews, Barbara (916) 319-2017
Montanez, Cindy (916) 319-2039
Nation, Joe (916) 319-2006
Oropeza, Jenny (916) 319-2055
Parra, Nicole (916) 319-2030
Ridley-Thomas, Mark (916) 319-2048
Salinas, Simon (916) 319-2028
Simitian, Joe (916) 319-2021
Steinberg, Darrell (916) 319-2009
Vargas, Juan (916) 319-2079
Wesson, Herb J. Jr. (916) 319-2047
The truth remains the same:
- California’s current law recognizes the minimal impact of vehicles 30- years old and older on vehicle emissions and air quality.
- Vehicles 30-years old and older still constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle population and are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction.
- Antique and classic vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven (a fraction of the miles each year as a new vehicle).
- Legislators, regulators and stationary source polluters are feeling the heat from a failed effort to meet air quality goals and are looking for a convenient scapegoat, using false data and inflated annual mileage
assumptions to further their case. The old car hobby should not carry
the burden of their mistakes!
Please contact Steve McDonald at [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Produced by:
SEMA
1575 S. Valley Vista Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT (IMMEDIATE ACTION)
California Emissions Exemption Repeal Bill Passes in Senate; Moves to Assembly
Yesterday, the California Senate approved A.B. 2683 with damaging amendments. A.B. 2683 is the legislation that would repeal the state’s current rolling emissions-test exemption for vehicles 30 years old and older. The bill repeals the current pro-hobbyist exemption and replaces it with a law requiring the permanent testing of all 1976 and newer model- year vehicles. Under pressure from the Governor’s office, bill sponsors amended the bill “allegedly” to protect the interests of car collectors. The amendments do no such thing and are being opposed by SEMA and the major car clubs and organizations in California. The bill now moves to the California Assembly, which must agree to the amendments before the bill goes to the Governor for his signature or veto. We have identified key legislators in the Assembly (see below) whose votes could make the difference between winning or losing this battle.
We Urge You to Call These Legislators IMMEDIATELY to Request That They Vote Against A.B. 2683 as Amended!
The amendments do the following:
1. Require vehicles of the post 1975 model year insured as
collector cars (driven only to parades, exhibitions, etc.) and at least 35- years old to continue in the Smog Check program for the duration of the vehicle’s life.
2. Revise the Smog Check testing regimen for these qualifying
vehicles to include a tailpipe test, functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks. The vehicle would be forced to comply with the exhaust emissions standards for the vehicle’s class and model year as prescribed by California regulators.
Despite assurances from the bill’s sponsors that a good faith effort would be made to address hobbyist concerns, these amendments betray the trust of the collector car community. There is nothing that differentiates a
1975 from a 1976 vehicle requiring one be accorded a lifetime exemption while the other is not. Further, with regulators having proposed yearly testing of these older vehicles, these amendments could be far costlier and even more burdensome to vehicle collectors in the future. In addition, regulators could set emissions standards to any level that suits their purposes in order to ensure inspection failures of these 1976 and later model cars. Finally, nothing in these amendments would stop regulators from bringing 1975 and older vehicles back into the Smog
Check program at a later date.
KEY CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY MEMBERS
Calderon, Ronald S. (916) 319-2058
Canciamilla, Joe (916) 319-2011
Chan, Wilma (916) 319-2016
Chavez, Ed (916) 319-2057
Correa, Lou (916) 319-2069
Dutra, John (916) 319-2020
Firebaugh, Marco A. (916) 319-2050
Horton, Jerome (916) 319-2051
Levine, Lloyd (916) 319-2040
Maldonado, Abel (916) 319-2033
Matthews, Barbara (916) 319-2017
Montanez, Cindy (916) 319-2039
Nation, Joe (916) 319-2006
Oropeza, Jenny (916) 319-2055
Parra, Nicole (916) 319-2030
Ridley-Thomas, Mark (916) 319-2048
Salinas, Simon (916) 319-2028
Simitian, Joe (916) 319-2021
Steinberg, Darrell (916) 319-2009
Vargas, Juan (916) 319-2079
Wesson, Herb J. Jr. (916) 319-2047
The truth remains the same:
- California’s current law recognizes the minimal impact of vehicles 30- years old and older on vehicle emissions and air quality.
- Vehicles 30-years old and older still constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle population and are a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction.
- Antique and classic vehicles are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven (a fraction of the miles each year as a new vehicle).
- Legislators, regulators and stationary source polluters are feeling the heat from a failed effort to meet air quality goals and are looking for a convenient scapegoat, using false data and inflated annual mileage
assumptions to further their case. The old car hobby should not carry
the burden of their mistakes!
Please contact Steve McDonald at [email protected] if you have any questions. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Produced by:
SEMA
1575 S. Valley Vista Dr.
Diamond Bar, CA 91765