Got this from the Haggarty newsletter:

FLOREZ REVERSES ON CLASSIC CAR SMOG RULES
By VIC POLLARD, Californian Sacramento Bureau
e-mail: vpollard@bakersfield.com
Tuesday April 15, 2003, 10:56:17 PM

SACRAMENTO -- With Jay Leno and the rest of California's classic car buffs on his case, State Sen. Dean Florez has dropped his proposal to require smog checks for cars as old as 1958 models.

Leno, "The Tonight Show" host who has a large collection of vintage autos, personally called Florez's office to lobby against the plan.

The lawmaker was also inundated with letters, e-mails and phone calls from many other members of the highly organized hobby car community.

One of their tools was a cartoon depicting Florez in his state-leased SUV chasing classic cars out of California.
Florez was forced to back down on the bill, one in a package of 10 bills aimed at cleaning up the air in the Central Valley, before it even got its first legislative hearing.

The bill, SB 708, isn't dead, but it has been amended to crack down on cars that emit visible smoke. Originally, it called for requiring regular smog checks and repairs for cars up to 45 model years old. If in effect this year, it would apply to cars made in 1958 or later. That would have replaced the state's existing exemption for cars older than 30 model years, which this year is 1973.

"Given all the fights we have on all the other air pollution bills," Florez said, "it wasn't going to help to push that one."

He said classic car fans made a convincing argument that most of the oldest cars on the road, while they may be some of the worst polluters, aren't usually driven to and from work daily.

"We told the classic car folks that we're going to continue to talk to them," Florez continued, "but that was just too much of a detailed type of proposal."

Florez's legislative aide, Michael Rubio, said Leno called after reading a newspaper article about the smog bills.
" He said he wanted to know what the deal was with (SB) 708," Rubio said. "Several days later, he called back and said, 'You've got me thinking now.' And I said 'Can I start at the beginning?'"

He said Leno listened carefully and discussed his thoughts on the smog problem and the bill at some length, urging Florez to carefully distinguish between older cars that are driven for basic transportation and those that are merely exhibited most of the time.

Other problems, he said, are the difficulty of getting repair parts for older cars and the fact that emission controls were not mandated on cars until the late 1960s.

The same arguments were made by the classic car community's chief lobbyist, Steve McDonald of the Special Equipment Marketing Association, a trade group of manufacturers, retailers, publishers and restorers.

"Obviously we're thrilled that the senator has agreed to modify the legislation and refocus the target on what we believe is a more effective one, that being smoking vehicles," McDonald said.

So are hobbyists like Jan VanderPool of Bakersfield, who, with his fiancée, owns three vintage Ford Mustangs.
" That's definitely a big relief to me," he said.

VanderPool said it took years and a lot of effort to get the rolling exemption from smog checks for cars that are more than 30 years old enacted in 1997.

Florez and his staff appeared surprised, if not shellshocked, at the size and aggressiveness of the lobbying campaign against the smog check proposal.

But it was no surprise to VanderPool, who has been through similar drills before when legislation was proposed that helped or hurt car hobbyists.

"A lot of us have had to get pretty political," he said. "We've had to get active and kind of watch our backs."


graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/hurray.gif :cool: graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/beers.gif

Chuck you beat me to it!! Strength in unity is the key here, thanks to those that took the time to get involved....

graemlins/hurray.gif Good news!!

Sounds like Sen. Dean Florez needs a beating :D
You wonder what kind of hidden agenda he's operating with!

Nice work guys! graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Alrighty then graemlins/hurray.gif

From what I could determine, Florez was looking for way's to get additional Smog Credits to offer to businesses to move up to the Sac valley area. In the old days, they had a pretty good setup due to the B-52's that use to fly out of the local base up there. Since that has stopped, the smog credits for the area were reduced substantially.
Really wonder how much Jay Leno did? Think he could have had some pretty good lines for his show if this happened

Yahoo!!!

graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif

Let the build up continue smile.gif smile.gif

Originally posted by Chuck Constantine:
Really wonder how much Jay Leno did?I suspect the idea of being the subject of a coupe of Jay's monologues (I liked the cartoon of the SUV chasing the old car!) might have had something to do with this...

The bill wouldn't have been passed to really "clean up" the air in California, but rather, to expand the number of cars that need to be smogged and, also, increase the amount of income that CA makes from vehicle emission checks.

A friend was telling me that California is under investigation from the Federal Government about their emission standards.

woohoo!

Your right biff malibu. I am a smog tech in a independent shop in Santa Cruz,California. A representative from the bureau automotive repair just did his rounds in our town. Are shop had a 4% failure rate for smog checked vehicles. He told me the state average was 16% for independent shops. He told me that the state was in danger of losing its smog check program if the state didn't show a higher failure rate. He also said the state might go centralized instead of individual shops. Anyway, the smog check program is a money maker for the state and all the politicians. They get $8.25 from every smog check performed in the state. With the average househould having three cars each. They are getting rich!!!!!!!!!!

graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/hurray.gif
Brandon

What is interesting to me is the lost revenue for businesses that design and manufacture aftermarket parts for classic vehicles. That is an entirely different market than the "tuners".

These industries also generate tax revenue. Having that bill would have been, as Joan Worley used to say, a double whammy!

Some people I guess never took economics, or even simple math.

Oh well, glad that's over as my Bro lives in CA.

Later.

I dont think this is the last we'll hear about smog law changes in California. There has been talk about not allowing 2-stroke engines to be purchased in the future, smogging jet ski's and boats etc. :eek:

Soon I'll have to get my As& smog checked for greenhouse gases :rolleyes:

I don't think that my car came with smog equipment. The only thing that I would have to worry about are all the after market bolt ons, stroker motor, 3.73 rearend, headers, cam, etc. I would have been screwed had California passed that law. Also, my car is driven daily, so I wouldn't have fit into the less than 12K miles a year.

Good thing the law didn't pass! graemlins/hurray.gif

Originally posted by Chuck Constantine:
I dont think this is the last we'll hear about smog law changes in California. There has been talk about not allowing 2-stroke engines to be purchased in the future, smogging jet ski's and boats etc. :eek:

Soon I'll have to get my As& smog checked for greenhouse gases :rolleyes: 1981 and up 2 strokes, if I am not mistaken, are already illegal. One of the Sr. VP's at my job found a bike to restore and he has yanked the 4 stroke and is buying a 2 stroke from his buddy to put in it. Course, he kinda has to hid this from the authoritahs.....he wants the two stroke for the off the line quick revs.

The power of the pen (e-mail) now its up to the power of the voter. All of you car enthusiast who live in Fresno, Kern, King & Tulare counties should be motivated to vote next election so you can decide if you want to keep Mr. Florez on the state payroll.

Even though I don't live in CA, that's great news! I was worried about that one!

great news guys! thanks for passing it along to us calif folks who hadn't heard about it yet. Tony

Whoo Hoo!!! I heard something about Lawn Mowers being smogged.

i live in indiana and dont have that problem but i have been following this subject for quite a while and i am very happy to see this bill dropped because it would have been just a matter of time till the rest of the states ran with it especially here in the midwest. it seems to follow order of the east and west coast.happy cruisin guys......!

I don’t remember who notified me by e-mail asking to write the Calif. senate. They gave a list of who was for the bill, may have been someone from SEMA.

SEMA does a good job getting the word out when they need a show of strength. This was one of those times the public (voters?) got behind SEMA and wrote enough letters to all the democratic senators (republicans were going to vote against the bill.) The senators were over whelmed how many voters were pissed off graemlins/angry.gif and could have a real backlash the next time any of the “D” is up for re election.
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Great news!! graemlins/thumbsup.gif but..... we can't let down our guard for even a minute.. last time the smog machine at my shop was updated the newest software contains info for all the old cars we love..An you better belive whats driving this is the all mighty TAX dollar...it's geared to removing anything thats not in HIGH TAX & LICENCE fee catogory . we all need to stand togather all the time or we're going to get Screwed first chance they get! :eek:

Don't light that victory cigar yet! Flores and the committee are still fighting. Here is the link directly to the latest amended version from 04/22/03. http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0701-0750/sb_708_bill_20030422_amended_sen.html
Use www.sen.ca.gov (http://www.sen.ca.gov) , go to legislation and type 708 into the box to the right of "Bill" for the current status. I would ask that all copy the link and check it frequently.

after reading the NEW version it has stricken all mention of vehicle year exemptions. Now it reads to include ALL cars no matter what year they were made... This sounds worse than before! It is very vague now also in definition of what is and will be exempted.

This is a portion of an analysist review of SB 708

The last part mentions are letters & phone calls.


SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE BILL NO: SB 708 SENATOR KEVIN MURRAY, CHAIRMAN
AUTHOR: Florez VERSION: 4/22/03

Analysis by: Steve Schnaidt
FISCAL:yes
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before

Wednesday, April 23, 2003)

SUPPORT:

OPPOSED:
Note : the Committee has received many letters and calls from individuals opposing the bill's previous provisions on smog checks for older vehicles. That opposition does not appear related to the current version of the bill.

Interesting, this is what I got a couple of days ago but it doesnt seem to match the referenced document I read.

Dear Hagerty customers and agents,
The Specialty Equipment and Market Association (SEMA) sent us the following press release explaining the recent victory with S.B. 708. SEMA heartily commended your efforts and said that the pressure you exerted through your phone calls, letters and emails, convinced Senator Florez to abandon his attempts to repeal California’s current emissions exemption for collector cars (see 4th paragraph of release). Thank you again for all of your tremendous efforts!


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Steve McDonald, stevem@sema.org
Brian Caudill, brianc@sema.org SEMA, 202/783-0865

SEMA / CALIFORNIA STATE SENATOR FIND ALTERNATIVE TO OLD CAR EMISSIONS EXEMPTION REPEAL
New Bill Would Strengthen "Smoking" Vehicle Law

WASHINGTON (April 23, 2003) - California State Senator Dean Florez has modified Senate Bill 708 (S.B. 708). The original S.B. 708 threatened to repeal the state's current rolling emissions test exemption for motor vehicles 30 years old and older. It sought to revoke the current pro-industry/pro-hobbyist exemption and replace it with an exemption for vehicles that are 45 or more model years old commencing Jan. 1, 2005. A SEMA-drafted alternative that beefs up the existing California law prohibiting the operation of "smoking" motor vehicles will replace the original bill.

"California officials continue to develop strategies to address failed efforts to meet air quality goals. Old cars often are targeted as convenient scapegoats," said SEMA Government Affairs Director Steve McDonald. "Over time Senator Florez has become convinced that the antique and classic vehicles that benefit from the current emissions exemption are overwhelmingly well-maintained and infrequently driven. Forcing these vehicles back into the Smog Check program represented flawed environmental policy and created no real benefit to the quality of the air breathed by state residents. We are thrilled that Senator Florez ultimately agreed with our assessment."

The new S.B. 708 increases fines for violators of the state's current law prohibiting vehicles that emit excessive smoke. This legislation also adds vehicles cited for a smoking vehicle violation to those eligible for the state's Consumer Assistance Program. The program provides financial repair assistance up to $500 for certain low-income vehicle owners who qualify. "This alternative will result in real, verifiable emission reductions that help eliminate a significant source of pollution, and it does so without harm to consumers and hobbyists alike," said SEMA Technical Consultant Frank Bohanan. "The repair assistance provisions will likely reduce drivers' operating costs in addition to helping clear the air."

In seeking this alternative, Senator Florez acknowledged the thousands of phone calls and letters opposing his original bill that were generated by the California vehicle hobbyist community and related industry members. "California SEMA Action Network (SAN) car clubs and individual hobbyists did outstanding work in opposing the original S.B. 708. Within minutes after sending our legislative alerts, the phone calls, faxes and email began pouring into Sacramento," said SAN Director Brian Caudill. "California hobbyists provided the passion and the horsepower which enabled SEMA to make our arguments to Senator Florez. This is exactly how our enthusiast-industry partnership is supposed to work."

Existing law in California exempted all pre-1974 vehicles from emissions testing until Jan. 1, 2003. After Jan. 1, vehicles 30-years old and older are exempt from emissions testing. This law, enacted in 1997, acknowledges 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 in California and are regarded by clean air regulators and industry watchdogs as a poor source from which to look for emissions reduction.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, represents the $27 billion specialty automotive industry. Founded in 1963, the trade association has more than 4,500 member companies. It is the authoritative source of research data, trends and market growth information for automakers and the specialty auto products industry. The industry provides appearance, performance, comfort, convenience and technology products for passenger cars, minivans, trucks, SUVs and recreational vehicles. For more information, contact SEMA at 1575 S. Valley Vista Dr., Diamond Bar, CA, 91765-3914; call 909/396-0289; or visit www.sema.org (http://www.sema.org) or www.enjoythedrive.com (http://www.enjoythedrive.com) .

You can bet this isn't the last we've heard of potentially harmful smog laws. For one reason (among others already mentioned), in California we're burdened with term limits on our state reps. Or, more to the point, very short term limits. While Sen. Lorenz may have seen the light, he'll be out of office after two terms max and we'll have to educate his replacement. Some of you have indicated you think the guy is evil. Perhaps. I don't know him. On the other hand, he could have been truly unaware of the classic car segment and written that proposal out of ignorance. At any rate, he has backed off. Whether he did so in light of new information or because of the backlash (or both), who knows.

I might have to start watching the tonight show with Jay Leno!! Thanks for the info. graemlins/beers.gif

Originally posted by JohnLadd:
Some of you have indicated you think the guy is evil. Perhaps. I don't know him. On the other hand, he could have been truly unaware of the classic car segment and written that proposal out of ignorance "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity." I forget who said that, but I like it.

Then aqain, with politicians it's probably both, which is a usually good thing.

Reid

Hey, its a great topic, but how long does it have to stay at the top of the list of posts?

Joey, if you lived in California you would want to see it at the top. We all sleep with our pens ready to write if there is any indication of a change in our smog law that affect what we have already won. I'm guessing it will move after the legislation passes.

why this needs to stay up at top till the law is passed..... EVIL lives becouse of Disinterest of Rightous Men !!!! (Hey I heard it in a sermon once)... seems to fit here real well graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Maybe I am paranoid, The new version, The power goes to the locals who may be looking for a excuse to pull you over. In His/Her opinion your car is putting out too much smoke. You get a fix-it ticket to the referee station to discuss the modifications on your car. graemlins/angry.gif You will be on your on, Tom & Jay want be around to help.
What if you get a letter from a road side sniffer telling you to make a date with the smog check station?
All the smog regulations are still there for our cars, Just not the inspections.
JMOP Bob J.

Again, no matter what state you live in. If you see the correct smog stuff for your car, buy it. Someday you may need it.

This is one of the reasons I chose a 65, other than a pvc valve I don't believe there was any smog equipment necessary. Also as I understand the law when they say vehicles 25 years or older are "exempt" doesn't that mean that they are not subject to the fix it tickets etc?

Exempt means that they don't get tested biannually but the smog equipment needs to be intact. If they start doing the roadside testing and pull you over, they can do a visual along with a sniffer test. If you fail, you will need to get it fix.

Glenn

I think part of the reason that 73 and older cars are exempt is the fact that the smog equiptmeny just isn't out there. Try finding an old charcoal canister and smog pumps. They just aren't out there and if you do stumble across one they are expensive. I am not too sure about the whole system, which means I'm screwed living in CA, but I think it would be ridiculous to get a ticket for not having a smog pump on your car because the original one broke and replacement parts are non existant.