Does anyone know what Colorado may have on the books or is trying to pass in the legislature?
Where might one find out this kind of thing? I am new to the state, relatively, and would like to make my small, insignificant voice heard.

I have been too complacent watching our valuable rights slowly being eroded away. Is it too late to take a stand and fight? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Checking on what your state legislators are up to is very simple- just go to the Legislative section from the AACA Website front page. There you will find a link to a section that displays the Websites for each individual state legislature. These sites explain how your state government operates, they allow you to search existing law using key-word searches, and also allow you to review pending legislation. Many of these sites also tell you who is on which committee, where a particular piece of legislation is in process and what the next steps likely would be. They all have an easy way for you to find out who your representatives are and also e-mail contact information. The front page of the AACA legislative section also gives you some good information on how to write an effective letter, etc.

Pay attention also to that nasty federally funded scrappage stuff recently posted by Tom Cox. Every letter, every e-mail, every phone call counts!

I'm glad to see you are interested in helping to protect our hobby.
Terry

Terry--

Who is AACA Legislative Club contact for PA? And does anyone have an email for this person? Thanks in advance.

Joe

Thanks for the information, Terry. I read the letters posted by Tom and was appalled at the idea. What in God's name are they thinking? Why is something old immediately made suspect and thrown away? It happens all the time. Buildings, films, you name it. I am a trained archaeologist. To me these are valuable, if not invaluable, features and artifacts that help define who we were and how we got here. Yes this is worth fighting. The powers that be want to make us homogenous and are working to limit our rights, slowly, inexorably in minute ways they erode what we take for granted and what our forefathers, our ancestors fought so hard to create.
This is a car club for many, but it is also a forum through which we can voice our concerns and fight the erosion that is occuring. By saving the cars from scrappage we not only save a valuable resource and artifact, we are fighting the insideous, yes I said insideous, actions to reduce our freedoms of choice, to take away our rights by taking away those things we enjoy, and find important. It is the numbing of the American mind and spirit.

If we sit quietly and wait, we will not only lose what we have, we will lose the spirit to fight and gain it back. I will do what I can to save the old cars, their parts and their history. It is but one front on which we can show our voice. I hope others will join me in this.
I want to see a day when our children see and understand the importance and value of the artifacts of the past and how it reflects our future. Not just in the material value but also in the cultural value that makes it American.

OK, I will now return you to your normally scheduled program. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Joe, to answer your question, AACA does not have state-specific reps. Each AACA Region/Chapter has the ability ( and should) have one designated rep who monitors legislation, can assist with understanding of existing laws and publicize them (e.g. how to properly register/license and use your antique vehicle) and can also help members contact their elected officials and respond in a proper manner to legislation - either in support of, or opposition to. The AACA has an appointed Vice president of legislation - last year that was me, this year it is John Myer who monitors this forum and can be contacted through the directors contact procedure via the AACA website. When we made the state specific links available it took a lot of the guess work out of the process and interested members don't need to rely on anyone else in particular to keep an eye on legislation. Anyone with a PC can just click on their state legislative site and see what's going on. AACA also has division reps who help form a communications network and stand ready to assist with problems that might be particular to a certain locality. The Eastern Division rep is Stella-Pyrtek-Blond who has been actively involved in dealing with hobby related legislation for many years. Her regular column in Hemmings Motor news is always informative. Feel free to contact Stella at stellacapp@earthlink.net and you should also check the back section of the May 03 issue of Hemmings for contact information for different organizations involved in monitoring legislation. There is a ton of information out there, and it is so easy to contact your elected officials and help them. We just can't leave this to "the other guy" so I encourage you to get involved if it's only to write your representatives a letter or send an email expressing your opposition or support on a particular issue. Its easy and it's very satisfying to be part of the process.
Terry

Joe,

I should have also mentioned during my rant, although were I have done that it would not have been a proper rant, that companies like Hagerty and Grundy insurance have links on their website to cover issues like this. http://www.hagerty.com/Advocacy/advocacy_avenue.asp [color:"orange"] [/color] To use this, however, you have to have a policy and login. I don't know specifically about Grundy or other insurers but I would assume the same. Of course, you know what assuming can make of us.

Hope that helps...better late than never. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />