We have just been informed that despite receiving thousands of messages in opposition to the bill, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has just signed A.B. 2683 into law. The new law repeals California’s current rolling emissions-test exemption for vehicles 30 years old and older and replaces it with a law requiring the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles.
We remain confident that the facts are on our side: California’s 30-year rolling exemption recognized the minimal impact vintage cars have on air quality, since they constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle population. These older cars are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, and are poor candidates for reducing pollution. They are, in the end, convenient scapegoats for legislators, regulators and stationary source polluters using false data and inflated annual mileage assumptions to make it sound like they are cleaning the air. The old car hobby must stand united against future attacks that will accomplish nothing except require unnecessary testing, waste money and burden car hobbyists.
Special thanks to all of the thousands of vehicle hobbyists and related businesses who contacted the Governor requesting his veto. Special thanks also to the steadfast California lawmakers that supported our valiant cause – State Senators Tom McClintock, Betty Karnette and Chuck Poochigian and Assemblymembers Doug LaMalfa and John Campbell.