Below is the February 2002 email edition of the Specialty Equipment Market<BR>Association's (SEMA) "Driving Force" newsletter. As always, feel free to<BR>reprint any or all of the information contained within it. All we ask is<BR>for attribution if you choose to do so. If you need any additional<BR>background please do not hesitate to contact us.<BR> If you do not wish to receive any future editions of the email Driving<BR>Force, please respond to this email with "remove" and we will delete your<BR>email address from our list.<P>Brian Caudill<BR>Editor<BR>________________________________________________________________________<P><BR>SEMA Action Network Responds to Federal Scrappage Plan<P> ?I?m writing to request that you oppose Section 803 of S. 1766, the Energy<BR>Policy Act of 2002.?<P> In the past month, we?ve received bundles of letters from SEMA Action<BR>Network (SAN) car clubs and individual members that begin with the previous<BR>statement. That is great news. It?s proof that enthusiasts across the<BR>country are heeding the call to help ensure the hobby a scrappage-free<BR>future.<BR> By now, every SAN member has probably seen our legislative alert on U.S.<BR>Senate Bill 1766, Section 803. We have mailed, faxed, e-mailed and posted<BR>the information all over the place in the past two months?and we continue to<BR>do so.<BR> Still, there may be some SAN members who have not heard the message. For<BR>the uninitiated, it goes like this: In an effort to address the nation?s<BR>?energy crisis,? Section 803 of U.S. Senate Bill 1766 seeks to federally<BR>fund state-run scrappage (car-crusher) programs for vehicles over 15 years<BR>old. People who scrap their vehicles will receive a minimal payment and, if<BR>they choose to buy a new fuel-efficient vehicle, an additional credit<BR>towards that purchase.<BR> Obviously, the convenient scapegoat here is older vehicles. However,<BR>scrappage won?t address the overall problem of national fuel consumption. In<BR>fact, scrappage is a public policy fraud. Here are the facts on this<BR>legislation:<P>1) This legislation requires that scrappage programs crush EVERY car. There<BR>is no special dispensation for collector vehicles and no parts recycling. In<BR>other words, if a little old lady turns her ?65 Le Mans in for crushing, it?<BR>ll be crushed into a block of metal?along with all the parts for restoring a<BR>?65 GTO. For every Mustang II crushed, there?s one less front suspension<BR>available for a street rod project.<P>2) Cars scrapped are typically second or third cars that sit idly in someone<BR>?s side yard until a scrappage program offers a ?bounty? on older cars.<BR>These cars are not driven and have little effect on national overall fuel<BR>economy.<P>3) This legislation cannot guarantee that cars surrendered for scrappage<BR>will be replaced by more fuel-efficient vehicles. Nothing prevents someone<BR>from using the money they were paid to crush a fuel-inefficient vehicle to<BR>buy another vehicle that gets even worse gas mileage.<P> SEMA is asking SAN members to spread the word. Consider placing our<BR>legislative alert in your club newsletter, on your website or on the counter<BR>at the local hangout or speed shop. Distribute copies at your rod run, car<BR>show or rally. The more letters generated, the better chance we have of<BR>defeating this hobby-threatening legislation.<BR> If you, your club, or your club members have not yet acted to defeat this<BR>legislation, it?s not too late. Write your U.S. Senators. Tell them you<BR>oppose Section 803 of S. 1766. Tell them about your car. Tell them what the<BR>hobby means to you, your family and your community. Information on your U.S.<BR>Senators is available at <A HREF="http://www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp" TARGET=_blank>www.enjoythedrive.com/legislative/contact_legislator.asp</A> or via the SEMA<BR>Washington, D.C., office at 202/783-6007.<BR> SEMA is proud of the efforts SAN members have made to help defeat Section<BR>803 of S. 1766, the Energy Policy Act of 2002. We have also been fighting<BR>this legislation inside the beltway. The two, in combination, are a powerful<BR>punch.<BR> Keep those letters coming!<P><BR>California Revisions to Scrappage Program Don?t Go Far Enough<P> At a hearing scheduled for Thursday., Feb. 21, staff members of the<BR>California Air Resources Board (CARB) will recommend unfortunate revisions<BR>to the operations of its statewide scrappage program. These potential<BR>revisions would limit parts recycling to non-emissions and<BR>non-drivetrain-related parts.<BR> CARB?s staff recommendation is particularly offensive because California<BR>law specifically mandates that scrappage programs allow parts recycling?a<BR>mandate CARB flatly ignores.<BR> As a counterproposal, SEMA supports a pro-hobbyist policy that would allow<BR>for total recycling and resale of parts from vehicles destined for the<BR>crusher.<BR> The bottom line is that CARB thinks that nobody cares if classic or<BR>potentially classic cars, parts and parts-cars are crushed beyond<BR>recognition. We urge California enthusiasts to prove them wrong. California<BR>SEMA Action Network clubs and contacts are encouraged to attend this hearing<BR>to fight for total across-the-board parts recycling. Let your views be<BR>heard!<P> Date: Feb. 21<BR> Time: 9:00 a.m.<BR> Place: California Environmental Protection Agency<BR> Air Resources Board<BR> Coastal Valley Hearing Room, 2nd Floor<BR> 1001 ?I? Street<BR> Sacramento, CA 95814<P><BR>Inoperable Vehicle News<P>Pro-Hobbyist Vehicle Storage Bill in New Hampshire Passes House<P> A bill (H.B. 617) that would prohibit local areas from applying ?junkyard?<BR>regulations to antique automobile collectors pursuing their hobby has been<BR>passed by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The bill only protects<BR>noncommercial hobbyist activities.<BR> Antique motor vehicles over 25 years old would simply be required to be<BR>maintained and stored out of public view. In addition, one uninspected and<BR>unregistered vehicle that is less than 25 years old could be stored on the<BR>owner?s property. Representative Lawrence Artz (R-34), an enthusiast<BR>himself, introduced H.B. 617 in the last legislative session and has worked<BR>hard to shepherd it through the New Hampshire House of Representatives. The<BR>bill now moves to the New Hampshire Senate for consideration.<P>Pro-Hobbyist Vehicle Storage Bill in New Jersey Fails to Pass<P> Despite the efforts of George Reinis, Bill Beranato and other New Jersey<BR>SEMA Action Network members, a bill (A.B. 1403) which would have prohibited<BR>municipalities from implementing an ordinance or land use regulation that<BR>prevents automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby has failed to pass<BR>the state legislature. A.B. 1403 would have permitted hobbyists to store<BR>collector and parts-cars on their property provided they were located out of<BR>ordinary public view.<BR> Look to see that this bill is reintroduced during New Jersey?s next<BR>legislative session.<P><BR>Cops ?n Rodders<BR>Car Club Gives Back to the Community<P> Last March, Larry Hudson, a former Ohio police officer, founded the Cops ?n<BR>Rodders car club. Hudson had several goals in mind when he started the club:<BR>1) To promote interest in the hobby, 2) To improve the relationship between<BR>law enforcement and vehicle enthusiasts, and 3) To provide funds for the<BR>Fraternal Order of Police Critical Incident Response Service. The Critical<BR>Incident Response Service helps police officers and their families cope with<BR>the stressful and sometimes traumatic situations associated with this<BR>important line of work.<BR> In less than a year, the club?s membership has grown to 50 members,<BR>including active and retired police officers, as well as sponsored non-law<BR>enforcement hobbyists. They held two events in 2001, raising $1,500?$1,000<BR>of which paid transportation costs for police officers to travel to New York<BR>City to help with Sept. 11 rescue efforts.<BR> Hudson says the Cops ?n Rodders club is already planning events for 2002,<BR>including another one of its car show and cruise ins. For more information<BR>on the club or their upcoming events, contact Larry Hudson at 614/224-5700<BR>or e-mail info@copsnrodders.com. Cops ?n Rodders also has a website at <A HREF="http://www.copsnrodders.com." TARGET=_blank>www.copsnrodders.com.</A> <P>If you have a story regarding a positive relationship between vehicle<BR>enthusiasts and law enforcement, Driving Force wants to hear about it. Write<BR>to us at SEMA, Attn: Andrew Rasberry, 1317 F Street, NW, Suite 500,<BR>Washington, D.C. 20004, or e-mail us at andrewr@sema.org, or fax us at<BR>202/783-6024.<P>Can You Believe?<BR>Low, Slow and Pulled Over? Three Times<P> Recently, a Washington State SEMA Action Network member was driving home<BR>from a local off-road area where he was watching a friend ride his dirt<BR>bike. During what should have been a short trip, he was stopped THREE times!<BR>We?ll call him ?Jim.?<BR> Jim was driving his ?77 Buick LeSabre lowrider when all this occurred.<BR>First off, he notes that at no time was he operating the hydraulics while on<BR>public streets.<BR> As Jim was making his way through the center of town, he noticed an officer<BR>following him. When he pulled into a convenience store to grab a soda, the<BR>cop pulled over and sat outside. When Jim got back on the road, the officer<BR>got behind him again and pulled him over. He told Jim that he had observed<BR>him driving erratically, that the vehicle was too low, and that Jim had<BR>tried to give him the slip by pulling into the convenience store.<BR> Jim, having fairly good knowledge of Washington State vehicle code,<BR>politely disputed all three claims. After measuring the vehicle, the officer<BR>determined that it was in compliance but suggested that he raise it slightly<BR>to avoid further problems. Jim took his advice and once again set out for<BR>home.<BR> Less than a mile later, Jim was pulled over again. This time, the officer<BR>approached the vehicle and stated that he had witnessed Jim using the<BR>hydraulics on the road and that his vehicle was too high! Once again, Jim<BR>politely disputed both claims, explaining that a bump in the road had caused<BR>his car to bounce a little and that the vehicle was set at that height<BR>because another officer?not five minutes earlier?had recommended it. Jim was<BR>allowed to resume his journey, still citation-free.<BR> Round three occurred just two blocks later. This officer spent almost 30<BR>minutes examining Jim?s ride and informed him that he would probably be<BR>receiving multiple citations in the mail. To date, Jim has never received a<BR>single citation in the mail.<BR> Lest you think this was some rowdy teenager being the enthusiast in<BR>question is almost 30 years old and owns his own business. The worst part of<BR>the story may be that all the unplanned stops on the way home that day made<BR>Jim late in picking up his children from daycare and for his college night<BR>class!<P>If you have a "Can You Believe?" you would like to share, send it to us at:<BR>andrewr@sema.org or SEMA, Attn: ?Can You Believe,? 1317 F Street, NW, Suite<BR>500, Washington, D.C. 20004.<P><BR>Newly Introduced Legislation<P>Note: The following bills are not laws. They have been recently introduced<BR>and are currently being considered for adoption by the respective state<BR>legislatures.<P>Emissions<P>New Jersey S.B. 121 would direct the Department of Environmental Protection<BR>to implement Phase II of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program<BR>starting in 2006.<P>Lighting<P>Mississippi H.B. 65/H.B. 435 would require drivers to burn headlamps when<BR>atmospheric conditions necessitated the use of windshield wipers.<P>Safety Inspections<P>Mississippi H.B. 306 would eliminate the motor vehicle safety inspection<BR>program.<P>Tags, Titles and Registration<P>Indiana S.B. 116 would permit antique vehicles to display an authentic or<BR>reproduction year of manufacture license plate.<P>Indiana S.B. 211 would provide registration requirements for specially<BR>constructed vehicles.<P>Miscellaneous<P>Vermont H.J.R. 158 would honor the accomplishments of Mr. Terry Ehrich,<BR>president of Hemmings Motor News.<P><BR>FEBRUARY SAN CLUB EVENTS<P>PENNSYLVANIA<P>? Feb. 15-16, Philadelphia?66th annual AACA Meet<BR> Sponsor: Antique Automobile Club of America<BR> Information: 610/666-5950<P>WISCONSIN<P>? Feb. 17, Milwaukee?37th annual Greater Milwaukee Winter Swap Meet<BR> Sponsor: Model A Ford Club, Wisconsin Chapter<BR> Information: 262/255-4525<P><BR>*** The SEMA Government Relations team offers condolences to the family,<BR>friends and colleagues of the late Terry Ehrich of Hemmings Motor News.<BR>Ehrich was a big supporter of the collector car hobby as anyone that ever<BR>lived. We will miss his contribution to the hobby. We will miss him. Rest in<BR>peace.

Section 822 has been removed from the <B>'Senate Energy Policy Act'</B><BR> <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=004241" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=004241</A>