10 Worst Car Bills of the last Legislative Session

[Ms Grumpy]

While reading my latest issue of Super Chevy I found this article talking about all the restrictions that local and state governments are trying to implement. I thought that I would share. The article stated that the story was written with information taken from the SEMA.

Worst 10 Bills Of 2009-2010 Legislative Session
Taken from Super Chevy November 2010 issue.

1. California A.B. 859
Instead of having to undergo a smog check inspection every other year, this bill would require an annual smog check inspections for all cars 15-years old and older. Ironically, the bill would also require that funds generated through the additional inspection fees charged to vehicle owners would then be used to scrap older cars.

2. Colorado S.B. 95
Current law in Colorado only requires that vehicles from model year 1976 and newer undergo emissions testing. This bill would reset the model year target to include all model year 1959 and newer vehicles, including seldom-driven collector items, for required emissions testing.

3. Hawaii H.B. 1878
Tort law is seldom codified into state statute, but this bill aims to do just that by creating a cause of action (basis on which an individual can sue another individual) for maintaining an inoperable vehicle on private property. To succeed in such an action, the inoperable vehicle must directly or indirectly “injure” the person bringing the suit, possibly by decreasing their property value.

4. Michigan H.B. 5897
Michigan historic vehicles owners must pay a registration fee of $30 every ten years to operate on the state’s roads. Historic vehicles that use an authentic Michigan license plate from the vehicle’s model year are required to pay a one-time registration fee of $35. Under this bill to pad the state coffers, both registration fees would become due annually at a rate of $30 per year. This fee increase ignores the fact that these older cars are driven about one-third the miles each year as a new vehicle.

5. Nebraska L.B. 688
This bill would expand the definition of “abandoned motor vehicle” to include project cars and trucks that are left unattended for only six hours on private property without valid plates, title or permit, or that are inoperable, partially dismantled, wrecked, junked, or discarded. You heard that correctly! Six hours. In Nebraska, motor vehicles are defined as abandoned for the purpose of allowing state and local authorities to remove them from private property.

6. New York A.B. 1235
This bill provides that no automotive refinish material labeled “for professional use only” can be sold unless the purchaser demonstrates and meets all local ordinances for the use and application of the material. Bad luck for amateur hobbyists who want to paint their own hobby cars.

7. New York A.B. 2800
Commonly referred to as “gas-guzzler” legislation, this bill would charge higher toll and registration fees for vehicles based on the vehicle’s weight, emissions and fuel-efficiency ratings. If enacted, a consumer’s ability to purchase their vehicle of choice, not to mention vehicle safety, would be dramatic.

8. Virginia H.B. 462
This bill would ban the sale of “any aftermarket exhaust system component” that would cause the vehicle to produce “excessive or unusual noise.” Since no definition exists in Virginia for what qualifies as “excessive or unusual noise,” this prohibition would effectively ban the sale of any of these parts, generally purchased for their durability, performance and appearance.

9. Washington H.B. 2059
Implementing a vehicle scrappage program, this bill would provide sales tax incentives (for the first $2,000 of tax paid) for trade-in vehicles more than 15-years old that do not comply with emissions standards. All trade-in vehicles would be destroyed, regardless of their historical value or collector interest. Scrappage programs such as these destroy key pieces of America’s automotive and industrial heritage, and inhibit restoration projects that rely on these vehicles as a source for parts that are no longer being manufactured.

10. West Virginia H.B. 3087/S.B. 456
Can operating a vehicle with an exhaust system that may be annoying to some be considered a crime against the state? These West Virginia bills endeavor to include vehicles with exhaust systems deemed disturbing or loud in the definition of “disturbing the peace,” a crime that carries a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence, jail for six months, or both. West Virginia currently has no standard on which to base whether an exhaust system is disturbing or loud and these judgment calls would be left to a law enforcement officer’s subjective opinion.

[Ms Grumpy]

With all the negative, I just wanted to add a positive.

10 Best Bills of 2009-2010 Legislative Session

1. California S.B. 232/A.B. 1740
California currently provides for the emissions-system certification and model-year designation for specially constructed vehicles, including kit cars. Vehicle owners choose whether a smog test referee certifies the engine model year or the vehicle model year. To determine model year, inspectors compare the vehicle to those of the era that the vehicle most closely resembles. Only those emission controls applicable to the model year and that can be reasonably accommodated by the vehicle are required. The DMV provides a new registration to the first 500 specially constructed vehicles per year that meet the criteria. These bills seek to remove the 500 per year vehicle limitation and allow for an unlimited number of specially constructed vehicle registrations.

2. Washington S.B. 5246 & Michigan S.B. 590
Crafted after SEMA model legislation to provide for the hobby of collecting and restoring vehicles, these bills prohibit cities or towns from enforcing any restrictions that prevent automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Junked, wrecked or inoperable vehicles, including parts cars, stored on private property would only require screening from public view.

3. New York A.B. 10698
Under current New York law, a historical motor vehicle is either a vehicle manufactured more than 25 years ago or one which has unique characteristics and determined to be of historical, classic or exhibition value. This bill creates a $100 one-time fee that would replace the current annual fee of $28.75 for the registration of these vehicles.

4. Ohio H.B. 199, New York A.B. 2429/S.B. 3547, New Jersey A.B. 448/S.B. 687 & Massachusetts H.B. 4557
The SEMA street rod and custom model bill seeks to create vehicle registration and titling classifications for street rods and custom vehicles, including kit cars and replicas, and provides for special license plates. These bills define a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. Kit cars and replica vehicles would be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation that the body of the vehicle was constructed to resemble.

5. West Virginia H.B. 2775/H.B. 3243/H.B. 4222/H.B. 4575
Recognizing the historical importance of antique vehicles, these West Virginia bills aim to reduce the financial burden placed on antique vehicle owners by reducing the taxes and fees that they must pay on these vehicles.

6. Idaho H.B. 591
In order to direct finite resources, this bill seeks to exempt vehicles driven less than 1,000 miles per year from the state’s mandatory emissions exemption program, regardless of the vehicle’s age.

7. Iowa S.F. 2035
Establishing reasonable fees for the operation of a vehicle that is only driven occasionally is the goal of this bill. Allowing any antique motor vehicle to be registered as a “limited-use” antique vehicle, the bill opens up the limited use classification for an annual fee of $5. “Other occasional use” is added to the purposes for which a limited use antique vehicle may be driven. “Other occasional use” is defined as driven not more than 1,000 miles annually. 8. Maryland H.B. 252 Recognizing that it is not an effective use of resources to perform emissions tests on newer vehicles, this bill exempts these vehicles from the state’s mandatory emissions inspection program for the first four years after production.

9. Vermont S.B. 237
For the purpose of regulating salvage businesses in the state, this bill includes a provision stipulating that hobbyists are not to be confused with the owners of automobile graveyards. It includes a definition of an “automobile hobbyist” as a person not primarily engaged in the sale of vehicles and parts or dismantling junk vehicles and excludes from the definition of an “automobile graveyard” an area used by an automobile hobbyist for storage and restoration purposes.

10. Louisiana H.B. 118
Current Louisiana law exempts vehicle that are 40 years old and older from the state’s inspection requirements. This bill exempts all antique vehicles, defined as 25 years old and older, from the motor vehicle inspection requirements, which include equipment inspections and emissions inspections in certain areas.

[grumpy]

Thanks for posting this info. Its important that we keep up on this stuff.

[Derek69SS]

The time for a 2nd Revolution is fast approaching...

[Highway Star]

I'll add a detail or two Nancy,

In Louisiana, in order to have one of those tags, your vehicle needs to be inspected by the state highway patrol, certified as a street rod or antique, or whatever, and then you can have the special plate, pay the $$$, and then exempt yourself from inspections afterward. I'd sure like to not need to have mine inspected...those inspection station flunkies and their greasy mitts had me ALL fired up...

[Chevelle_Nut]

The greenies are not going to stop until all internal combustion engines are gone, they want our cars gone first because in their minds they are the worst pollution culprits. The only way they legally can take them off the road is through legislation and red tape, we all need to unite and fight the liberal government, Nov 2nd is the first step.

[Ms Grumpy]

You can search "10 worst bills of the legislative session" on line to get information on how to contact you local representative. We all need to make an effort to stop the madness.

[1970Turtle]

Originally Posted by Ms Grumpy

5. Nebraska L.B. 688
This bill would expand the definition of “abandoned motor vehicle” to include project cars and trucks that are left unattended for only six hours on private property without valid plates, title or permit, or that are inoperable, partially dismantled, wrecked, junked, or discarded. You heard that correctly! Six hours. In Nebraska, motor vehicles are defined as abandoned for the purpose of allowing state and local authorities to remove them from private property.

That's harsh! Guess if you got tired of working you would have to take a nap with your arms tied around the driveshaft to make it look like you're still working on it

[Ms Grumpy]

Billy,
After reading all of the bills I was amazed at how silly/stupid some of them sounded.

[1970Turtle]

Makes you wonder if these people go out for happy hour then come back and make some of these bills.