[Tinker51]

Ok, here is what I sent. It might give others ideas to write one of there own.


There is a bill coming up for vote on March 25th that is of great concern to me. Senate Bill 708 is part of a package of environmental bills proposed by Senator Dean Florez. This bill deals with smog requirements for older cars. Specifically it removes the exemption for pre 1973 autos and it removes the exemptions for specially constructed vehicles (hot rods and kit cars) that are allowed under SB100 passed in 2002. I am vehemently opposed to this bill and I hope you will vote no on SB708.
As an auto enthusiast I own two hobby cars that are effected by this bill. One is a 1966 Ford Mustang that was built in San Jose, sold in Hayward and lived in California all its life. I bought this car from the original owner 20 years ago and have kept it stock like the
day it rolled off the assembly line. This car has the correct required smog equipment for the year it was built but with SB708 I will either be forced to spend and unknown but potentially incredible amount of money to bring it up to 2003 smog standards, if it is even possible, or sell it out of state. My other hobby car is a replica of a 1965 Shelby Cobra that is registered under SB100 as a smog exempt specially constructed vehicle. I have no doubt that should SB708 pass that I would be forced to sell this car out of state too.
California has many hobbyists like myself and we take great pride in taking care of our cars and keeping them in top condition. In an effort to do this we spend a considerable amount of money at California based companies who specialize in collector car parts. Should SB708 pass, these companies would lose a large portion of their business. I have spent more money on my two hobby cars with California companies in the last five years than I have on my nine-year-old every day driver.
I believe the current laws are adequate and do not need to be replaced with such a drastic and sweeping law as SB708.While I applaud Senator Florez for Working to clean up the environment, this law I believe is not necessary. The small percentage of older cars he is going after are mostly owned by hobbyists like myself who keep them in good shape and don’t drive them much and SB100 limits the number of specially constructed cars to 500 per calendar year.
Thank you for your time and voting no on SB708