Letter to CA DMV

[cobrap51d]

Chon Gutierrez is the new director of the CA DMV. He is also the shares the lead of the California Performance Review(CPR). www.cpr.ca.gov.


Mr. Gutierrez,

I published this on the CPR site yesterday (Business Climate in California) in hope of discussing this with somebody at DMV. I have an interview with ABC news on 5/7 to talk to them about the issues in California related to lost revenue (Approximately $300,000,000.00 a year). I’d love to be able to mention DMV as taking a look into this issue. That has not been my experience to date.



Allen D. Lung



SB-100 of 1999 allows the licensing of 500 specially constructed vehicles a year. This is not enough. Attorney General Lockyer recently convicted a man in a massive vehicle registration fraud case. http://www.ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/2004/04-042.htm , This is how people licensed cars in the past since there was no mechanism to license a replica with modern parts, including a modern engine. The difficulty is associated with the smog requirements. This smog issues may or may not be real. These cars are driven 2000-3000 miles a year. Some of these vehicles cost $80,000.00, that generates a lot of business in California., including the tax and the recurring revenue for the License. (DMV?).



If Lockyer was to offer the current load of illegally licensed vehicles immunity (to get current with license and tax), this would generate approximately $300 Million. The next step beyond this is to look at what's happening. I believe that DMV is about to cripple the Hot Rod industry in California. There are currently 70,000 vehicles licensed illegally in California, there are more 1932 Fords on the Highways in California than Ford ever built.



WE need to look at this issue with some clarity. California will be loosing a Multi Billion Dollar Hot Rod industry if we continue down this destructive path.



I’m looking for support on this issue. The Sacramento Bee has already interviewed me and the article was published. I have an interview with A.B.C coming up within the next two weeks. I’d like to communicate that DMV is working on the issue. For now all I can say is DMV has ignored all my requests to escalate this issue.



Allen D. Lung

916-505-7784

[PatBuckley]

Thanks Allen!

Did you include your by-line about happiness being a belt fed weapon?

[cobrap51d]

I knew I forgot something.

[Ron61]

Allen,

You stated it very well and if there is anything that I or any of the few up here can do to help you let us know. That 500 number is a joke and as you stated, the state loses millions per year because of some political crap. The few miles these cars are driven per year can not and does not contribute a noticible amount to the pollution problems. If they would let the many cars that were illegally registered years ago have immunity and register them under a SB-100 type registrattion they would pick up all that money. Also do away with that low number per year and make it easier to get them registered.
The politicians have already driven most of the good computer type jobs out of Silicone Valley and if the DMV continues they will drive out all hot rod related businesses as they won't be leagal to sell or own in this state. Why can't these people work with us instead of against everything.

Ron

[jrussell]

Alan,
I truly hope someone in your state actually listens, reads and understands what you have proposed. California was the state that started the Hot Rod industry over 50 years ago and I would truly hate it if they became known as the state that killed it! What is going on truly seems counterproductive to me!
Did you cc anyone above Mr. Gutierrez in the State political system, up to and including the Governor??
Just curious.
John Russell

[RedBarchetta]

You should give SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) a call. They represent all the big manufacturers, i.e. Edelbrock, etc. and have HUGE lobbying efforts. It would be interesting to hear what they are doing with this.

-Deano

[mr bruce]

Why don't you California guys go to one of your local streetrod shops that builds turnkeys and see how they do it. After all ,there are such shops on every corner out there in Cal.

[cobrap51d]

I called Adocation Inc. (lobby for SEMA) Mr. McDonald sent me to Chuck Cole (916-447-8229) in Sacramento. We talked on Monday and I was expecting a call back from him on Tuesdeay. I've left messages at his office but I'm not getting any calls back.

I haven't sent any letters to the Governor. Chon / CPR should respond to me.

I have one research specialist that works for a Senator here in town looking into this.

Since sb-100 I don't think the Rod Shops in Caliofornia have a legal way to build and sell cars. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong?

[NROTOXIN]

Mr. Bruce,
That's how it all started.

[HowardV]

Mr. Bruce, yes, I have tried seeing how shops are doing it. The answer is, they are also doing it illegaly. The attorney general has issued arrest warants for the owners of House of Cobras and Hillbank Motors.

House of Cobras is closing down. The DMV and the attorney general are getting awfully nasty. Yes, we can try our best to lie and cheat - and then get screwed by our insurnace companies when we get in an accident because we lied and cheated on our registrations. It's a double edged sword.

Howard

[mr bruce]

Can only rich guys get away with murder? Ever see the Blastoleen Special, that big AL, tank engined car Leno's got? How did he get it registered. How 'bout Boyd, or Briz up in Frisco.? Them cats pump out cars for all the celebs. Money talks? You guys got to start fightin' dirty, shame them streetrod companys into putin' the pressure on the govt.

[Randy Rosenberg]

Originally posted by mr bruce


Can only rich guys get away with murder? Ever see the Blastoleen Special, that big AL, tank engined car Leno's got? How did he get it registered. How 'bout Boyd, or Briz up in Frisco.? Them cats pump out cars for all the celebs. Money talks? You guys got to start fightin' dirty, shame them streetrod companys into putin' the pressure on the govt.

Agreed. Then add Arlene Ness and Jesse James - those custom bikes can't be sold in the state, yet the SoCal celebs drive'em... WTF?

[FIA Mike]

Allen,

Well stated. California's lame vehicle code laws make criminals out of otherwise law abiding citizens. Hopefully someone who can make a difference will be willing to help us out.

FIA Mike

[Excaliber]

I don't know about other states but the law we DID have here was:

1949 and back vehicles were pretty easy to license. EVEN IF they were a "kit". The inspectors went by the year the vehicle represents.

The NEW LAW the local Cobra Club has been working on for months will be in effect within weeks.

IT raises the year model to include 1968 and back and limits licensing to 100 vehicles per year.

[Tongue Pirate]

Options? They have made it impossible to register these cars per year of motor. many hot rod enthusiats would much rather go this route being that there is a supply of presmog blocks out there. The fact that SB100 has been put into effect made it easy for many of us to avoid the hassles of smog but a number of us, myself included, would prefer to register our vehicles per year of our powerplant. Allowing us to do this again could relieve some of the pressure.

Just a thought

[petek]

How the rich folk might bypass the laws and regs:

If you don't title a car (or bike) then there is no need to register the car (or bike). Of course you shouldn't drive the car or ride the bike on public roads, but I don't think there is any law against having an object d'art sitting in your garage. And just how much of a ticket would Jay Leno get for driving his Blastolene Special anyway?

[STG]

The crap won't hit the fan until one of those Discovery or Learning Channel stars gets busted.

All the Highway Patrol and/or the DMV would have to do is follow the camera crew as Boyd or Jesse take their latest creations out for an intial unlicensed, unregistered run.

But, just because they build them, it doesn't mean that they sell them as vehicles for use on California public roadways. I'll bet every customer of Jesse or Boyd or Chip signs a contract stating that the completed vehicle can't be used on the street.

Of course, that doesn't mean that dealer plates won't magically appear on it the very next day.

[STG]

Hey, just HOW do you register a motorcycle with a Rolls Royce turbine engine in California?

And if you can't, do you just pull the Historic Plates off of your Stanley Steamer??

[STG]

Question for Tongue Pirate:

Last time I checked, it was still possible to register a specially constructed vehicle the old way in California. (A new car gets smogged to the year of the chassis or motor.) It's your choice. The old way, or SB100.

Nothing in SB100 deleted the previous rules.

DID I MISS SOMETHING?

[Tongue Pirate]

I haven't actually gone to do my registration yet. Everything I've been told, & I hope I'm wrong, is that I cannot register my specially constructed vehicle under anything other than SB-100. Please!!!!! Tell me I'm wrong!!! I would love to register my car as a 1964 ERA FIA.