[Chrysler300] California Smog Legislative alert

["Bob Jasinski" <rpjasin@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Folks,

Those of you in California with collector cars built in the '70s will be
affected by this change in the law, if Governor Scharzenegger signs this
bill.  Please join me in calling the Governor's office and voice your
opposition to removing the 30 year smog exemption for collector cars.  It
was only a few years ago that the exemption was for 25 year old cars, now it
is 30 years, if this bill goes through, PERMANENT TESTING will be required
for all 1976 and newer vehicles.  Please see below.

Bob Jasinski
Danville, CA


URGENT CALIFORNIA ALERT--IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED

The Specialty Equipment and Manufacturers Association (SEMA) sent the Hager
Protection Network the following Urgent Legislative Alert to share with our
customers, agents, and supporters in California. If you have any questions
regarding this alert, please call or email Sydney McManus, Hagerty
Protection Network Legislative Director, at 800-922-4050, x8787 /
smcmanus@xxxxxxxxxxx or Steve McDonald, SEMA Vice President of Governmental
Affairs at stevem@xxxxxxxxx

The Final Stand:  California Emissions Exemption Repeal Bill Moves to
Governor for Signature or Veto

On Friday (Aug. 27), the California Legislature 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.  The amendments do not protect car collectors and are
being opposed by Hagerty, SEMA and the major car clubs and organizations in
California.  The bill is now in the hands of the Governor who can choose to
veto it or sign it into law.

We Urge You to Contact Governor Schwarzenegger IMMEDIATELY to Request His
Veto of A.B. 2683!

The Governor may be reached at:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633

To send an Electronic Mail please visit:
<http://www.govmail.ca.gov>

The bill requires 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, this bill continues to 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, this bill 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 this bill would stop regulators from
bringing 1975 and older vehicles back into the Smog Check program at a later
date.


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 stevem@xxxxxxxx  or Sydney McManus at
smcmanus@xxxxxxxxxxx if you have any questions.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter and your continued
commitment to the hobby.

Sincerely,

McKeel Hagerty
Hagerty Protection Network




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