CA Registration Thoughts

[bdeutsch]

I am wondering whether there has ever been any effort via some type of class action lawsuit against the State of California regarding their failure to provide a clear, consistent and equally applied process towards registering a SPCN vehicle. Does anybody have any knowledge of something like this being attempted in the past?

It appears that even SEMA has all but given up on understanding the path to a consistent and legal criteria for registering these cars in our great state. It seems to me that if all of the SPCN builders in the State combined resources with not only folks constructing Cobras but all of the other assorted Hot Rods, etc., that fall into essentially the same category, we might be able to amass the legal funds necessary to institute something like this. My sense is that there would be a number of legal firms out there who would relish the publicity this might afford them.

Understand that I am not particularly crazy about this idea or one who thinks that lawsuits are the way to solve everything, but it seems to me that the State should be able to provide some consistent guidance in this process across the many agencies involved.

All thoughts welcome.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by bdeutsch

...the State should be able to provide some consistent guidance in this process across the many agencies involved.

There lies the problem. Too many chefs in the kitchen, too many special interests attempting to put their stamp on the matter, and not enough KNOWLEDGE going around to really understand the fundamental problem and how the state could make MORE MONEY if they just made it simpler. Enthusiasts will pay for the privilege (to own and drive, on a limited basis, a classic car or hot rod)...Sacramento just hasn't figured that out yet. Typical government at work...if SEMA can't make it better it just won't happen.

-Dean

[jdog]

You get what you pay for!

Rather than a lawsuit, with questionable results, why not beat them at their own game?

If those groups you've mentioned got together and pooled resources, they could assemble a "Political Action Committee".

The PAC could hire......er, lobby a politican to sponser the right legslation to 'correct' this mess. Beat them at their own game. That's where SB100 came from.

PAC's have been at it for years, & they really work!

jdog
P.S. Long live SB100!

[drj]

Jdog has a good point. A PAC on this could help. However, the realities of commerce in this state seem to make that a pretty remote likelihood. I probably shouldn't admit it but I've been a "policy wonk" (both teaching and consulting) for over 30 years -- 19 in California. When I began the Cobra quest a little over a year ago, I wasn't amused at all the BS for registration I was facing. So, I did a little inquiring of a number of the local companies in SoCal who cater to the replicar/hot rod crowd. Virtually no interest in actually spending money to change anything. Even SEMA seemed less than enthusiastic. Why, you ask? Seems like most of them are making a comfortable income with the way things are and they don't see a huge increase in business were the law changed. I thought that a little strange until I finished the whole process (SB100, CHP, BAR) last January. It is amazing how fast the whole desire to take on the state disappears once the car is registered. The driving force here seems to be enlightened self-interest or what is sometimes called "private-regarding" behavior. We all rant and rave until we have what we need and then the desire to continue the fight pretty much goes away. Since I have yet to come across anyone who was serious about getting SB 100 and didn't, it kind of makes sense. What would it take to get the real motivation for a PAC on this? Don't know but I'd be really interested in seeing it happen.

[Excaliber]

In Hawaii when the local Cobra owners sponsored a 'bill' to get our cars legally registered we were surprised to find the 'opposition' included the local 'Hot Rod/Street Rod' community.

They HAD a way to legally register THEIR cars all ready, why take a chance on upsetting the apple cart by supporting a few Cobra owners? A group we thought would join us, actually fought us!