<< Back to Driving Force, September 2012
LEGISLATIVE QUICK HITS
Massachusetts Exhaust Systems: A bill to ban the use and sale of any exhaust pipe that increases the sound emission of any vehicle including motorcycles has been assigned for study. The study order authorizes the Joint Transportation Committee to meet during the legislatures recess to make an investigation of the bill and report to the General Court the results and its recommendations, if any, together with a draft of legislation necessary to carry the recommendations into effect. This action essentially kills activity on this bill for the year. An identical bill was introduced in 2009 and was set aside for study without any additional committee consideration. Several other Massachusetts bills were assigned for similar studies, including a bill to provide for the adjustment of registration fees based on vehicle weight and one to exempt new vehicles from motor-vehicle emissions inspections for the two years succeeding their manufacture year.
Massachusetts Gas Guzzlers: In a misguided attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, legislation was approved by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture to establish a progressive purchase surcharge for some new motor vehicles based on state calculations of carbon emissions. Depending on the vehicle purchased, this surcharge could require owners to pay up to 10% of the price of the vehicle and would take effect July 1, 2013. Vehicles purchased by state residents outside the state would be similarly taxed. Funds collected under the program would be used in part to fund rebates for the purchase of such vehicles as hybrids and electric cars. If this effort is successful, the effects on a consumers ability to purchase the vehicle of choice, not to mention vehicle safety, would be dramatic. The bill has now been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means for consideration.
North Carolina Emissions: SAN-supported legislation to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles three years old and newer was signed into law by Governor Bev Perdue. Previous law required the inspection of all 96 and newer vehicles. The new law acknowledges the relatively minimal environmental impact of the newer vehicles targeted for the exemption. The idea behind exempting any class of vehicles is to reduce costs while not losing appreciable emissions reductions. This strategy builds support for emissions-inspection programs, but also directs finite resources to where they will be most valuable in cleaning the air.
Pennsylvania Emissions: SAN-supported legislation to provide a 10-year emissions inspection exemption for newly registered vehicles was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee. Current law only provides a one-year exemption. The bill now moves to the Appropriations Committee for consideration. The bill acknowledges that it is senseless to test newer vehicles, the results of which demonstrate no significant air quality benefits.