Californians - any SB708 news?

[cowtown]

Does anyone have any "inside" information about where this smog bill is headed? I gather it's gone back to committee as amended, but haven't heard anything else.

The amended bill now exempts '74 and older models driven less than 12,000 miles per year...
BUT, the 30 year rolling exemption window has been cancelled, and replaced with a 45-year window.

All those nice 2.7 cars that were engine swap candidates (yes, like mine-I do have some self-interest here) now are going to need smogging for the next 10 years if this thing passes.

Any news?

[bigchillcar]

Hi colin,
I saw your post so thought I'd say hello. I posted pics in a thread near yours. The quality isn't the greatest, but I think you can get the gist. Thanks again for everything. I put the check in the mail Friday morning.
Ryan

[targa80]

I have not heard anything from my state senator yet.

[Joe Bob]

Amended 3/26/03

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0701-0750/sb_708_bill_20030326_amended_sen.html

Still sucks....removes the thirty year rolling exemption and replaces with a 45 year one.....allows vehicles prior to 74 to be exempt if under 12,000 miles a year.

[agabriel]

Does anyone drive a pre '74 car more than 12K miles a year? I know its not fun, but that seems like a good comprimise to me....

Anthony

[Joe Bob]

I don't call it a comprimise at all...in 2013 one of my current rides would be exempt. I plan on having it still.

This bill would make me wait until 2028.....I will be 71 years old. That sucks....

[agabriel]

I'm just curious - but after you modify it will the car will it still be a daily driver? Maybe its a northeast thing with all the snow (1/2 foot tonight...) and stuff I like the idea that its a weekend warrior. I would like to do an older car over at somepoint in the next few years, but I don't see it as a daily driver.

How much mileage do you put on your car year? Although I see a car as a great deal of fun and I don't think should emissioned the way many do, I think emissions (to a point) is a good thing. I'm sure there are other things we could do to a make the world a better place, cars seem like an alright place to put a few regs. (to a point)... There not saying your '83 can't be changed, there just saying you can't drive it more 12K miles a year. It doesn't even sound like your going to have to put special "Antique Plates" on it.

Am I way off - I could be.

Anthony

[island911]

The fact that CA has people trying to 'replace a thirty year rolling exemption with a 45 year one', indicates way too many bureaucrats.

. . that and a $35,000,000,000 State budget shortfall this year.

I seriously question how much longer California can sustain their culture of continually increasing bureaucracies.

[Rich911E]

Hmmm, time for inspection again Now, where did I put that darn SMOG SPEEDO?

Rich

[Joe Bob]

The issue of smog equipment wearing out and the gubmint NOT requiring the manufactures to keep making replacement parts. Up until the mid 80s the control equipment was a hodge podge of add on devices that are now NLA. THEN they require us to throw X amount of dollars at it until we can get a waiver.

That's stupid. The way I look at it, is that if a car can make 25-30 years without some soccer mommy totalling it by turning left while talking on the phone and smacking the kids..... the owner should be given a break on the smog limits.....

[island911]

Mike, you obviously have the technical background on the subject to see that the arguments for more testing are bogus.

But as long as you argue the technical merits, you'll be missing the argument that the bureaucrats are having... which is; "can we build our state bureaucracy a little higher?"

[tobluforu]

Can't argue w\money, and they want ours...

[jyl]

Originally posted by agabriel
I'm just curious - but after you modify it will the car will it still be a daily driver? . . . There not saying your '83 can't be changed, there just saying you can't drive it more 12K miles a year. It doesn't even sound like your going to have to put special "Antique Plates" on it.

That is not what the amended bill says! That is what Sen Florez wants us to think it says but read the actual language of the bill.
- If the car is a 1973 or earlier, it is exempt from smog if driven under 12,000 miles/year, otherwise it must be smogged.
- If the car is a 1974 or later, then it must be smogged until it is 45 years old. There is no 12,000 mile/yr exemption for a post-1973 car!!!

So, basically, Sen Florez' amended bill says your 1974, or 1984, Porsche isn't going to be treated as a collector car until it is 45 years old - by which time many or most of us will be wearing diapers in the old folks' home - or in a pine box.

SB 708 is still a menace. I strongly urge all of us to email and call our State Senators immediately and state your continuing opposition to the bill. Emphasize that you continue to oppose the bill even as amended. Search prior threads for how to do this.

Don't delay - we don't know when the bill will come up for re-vote, we don't know who's making what backroom deals ("you support my bill, I'll support your bill") right now. This is urgent.

Edit: here's a link to a prior thread on the subject. SB708 (Repeal Smog Exemption) Still A Threat

[Joe Bob]

Ummmm, yiup.....dat's the wayz I reads the thang too.....

Another bill to rip off our rights. The origional bill giving cars a 30 year rolling exemption was originally written as a 25 year rule....there was a "conference" between houses and they watered it down to 30.....NOW they want to remove it all together.


Of course they have tried repeatedly for three years.....they have all died in commitee or on the floor. Keep up the emails and letters. This one will do the same.

[cowtown]

I just worry that this one will slip through because no one's payng attention. I have seen ZERO mainstream press coverage of this bill.

SEMA published a press release, but I don't know what else they are doing to fight it. These legislative clowns are grasping for any laws they can pass relatively cheaply, to make themselves look needed. God forbid they would settle down and actually solve the budget problem.

Of course, I have no one but myself to blame for buying a '75 car a couple months ago for an engine swap...and thinking the law as passed would be something I could rely on. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...well, you know the rest.

[banjomike]

Well I told my state senator (Burton) again that I don't like this bill even as amended. (I have a 76) But I feel it is a futile gesture unless they really get swamped on the issue. Hell even swamping every congress person in the nation repeatedly didn't stop the war, or the patriot act, or the tax cut for the rich, etc...

[agabriel]

Well I know when I'm wrong - and I think that bill sucks... I read it a bit different, my bad....

Good luck with it guys -

Anthony

[pbs911]

That's stupid. The way I look at it, is that if a car can make 25-30 years without some soccer mommy totalling it by turning left while talking on the phone and smacking the kids..... the owner should be given a break on the smog limits.....

That's so true it funny.

If that bill passes, I will seriously look into buying a 72 tub and transfering the parts currently on my car.


BTW, the bill is coming up for hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on April 29, 2003.