I've just received this from Hagerty, my insurance company:
URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT
S.B. 708, Old Car Emissions Exemption Remains Threatened in California
and Pro-Hobbyist Inoperable Vehicle Bill (A.B. 789) Introduced
As you are aware, legislation has been introduced in the California Senate to
repeal the state's current rolling emissions test exemption for vehicles 30
years old and older. The original S.B. 708 repeals the current pro-hobbyist
exemption and replaces it with an exemption for vehicles that are 45 or more
model years old commencing January 1, 2005.
SEMA is being told that the bill's sponsor, Sen. Dean Florez, may have plans
to amend the bill to retain the 30-year rolling exemption but add a
qualifying mileage limitation. In other words, if you drove your older
vehicle over a specified number of miles, the exemption would no longer apply
and vehicles of all model years would be forced back into the Smog Check
program. THE HAGERTY PROTECTION NETWORK AND SEMA REMAIN OPPOSED TO S.B. 708!!
We Urge You to Contact Senator Florez Immediately to Oppose the Imposition of
a Mileage Limit on the 30-Year Exemption
The arguments remain the same:
Existing law in California exempts all pre-1974 vehicles from emissions
testing until 2003. After 2003, vehicles 30-years old and older are exempt
from emissions testing.
California's current emissions testing exemption recognizes the minimal
impact of vehicles 30-years old and older on vehicle emissions and air
quality.
Vehicles 30-years old and older constitute a small 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.
Vehicles 30-years old and older often serve as necessary low-cost
transportation for low income Californians, the elderly, students, etc.
Legislators and regulators are feeling the heat from a failed effort to meet
air quality goals and are looking for a convenient scapegoat. The old car
hobby should not carry the burden of their mistakes!
Please phone, fax or e-mail Senator Florez to express your continued
opposition to S.B. 708. Senator Florez can be reached at:
916/445-4641 (Phone)
916/327-5989 (Fax)
Senator.Florez@sen.ca.gov (E-mail)
More hobbyist legislation in CA-SEMA also recently sent us the following
Legislative Alert regarding a pro-hobbyist bill that has been introduced in
the California legislature.
A bill (A.B. 789) has been introduced in the California Assembly that exempts
vehicles having a certification of nonoperation on file with the DMV from
city and county public nuisance ordinances. The vehicle would have to be
stored or parked in a legal manner on private property and not readily
visible from the street.
We Urge You to Contact Your State Legislators to Support A.B. 789
A.B. 789 provides safeguards for hobbyists to work on collector vehicles on
private property.
A.B. 789 establishes reasonable provisions that vehicles be properly parked
and located out of ordinary public view, which can generally be achieved by
means of inside storage, fencing, trees, shrubbery, etc.
A.B. 789 allows collectors to maintain wrecked, dismantled or inoperative
vehicles and their parts on private property.
A.B. 789 demonstrates a real effort by legislators and hobbyists to enact
reasonable and fair compromise legislation.
Please contact your state legislators immediately to support A.B. 789. To
find out who your state senators are, contact the California Senate general
information line at 916/445-4311or you can access this information via the
Hagerty Protection Network website, "Advocacy Avenue" section at
http://www.hagerty.com/advocacy/adv_sections.asp?z=contact or by emailing or
calling Sydney McManus, Hagerty Protection Network Legislative Director, at
smcmanus@hagerty.com or 800-922-4050, x8787. Please email a copy of your
correspondence to smcmanus@hagerty.com or fax a copy of your letters to SEMA
at 202/783-6024 Attn: Steve McDonald/Brian Caudill. Please be certain to
include your name and address on your correspondence.
Thank you for your commitment and efforts to keep the hobby strong!
Sincerely,
McKeel Hagerty
Hagerty Protection Network
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