Ok, so I put this in front of the semasan (sema) guys, summit racing, hillbank, senator able maldanados office , several other contacts etc.
Sample letter;
David, - -- Good Afternoon, -- I need your help – wake the neighbors!!!!
The Car culture in California is an important part of our history, and very much a part of who we are as Californians.
I need your help with contacting all California Senators with regards to bill CA Senate SB 232 , and passing it ! –
SB 232 is a modification of SB100 from 2001, where Californians were finally allowed legally to build a replica of a vintage car –and register it-- from scratch !
Building a replica of a car from 1900 to 1965 is something that caries special meaning for Millions of Californians. There is now an industry built around this hobby, especially in California. Before SB100, building a car from scratch was prone to error , fraud and problems . SB100 fixed some of that , but only by opening up a keyhole, vs. opening up the door.
If you are unfamiliar with SB100, I have attached a press release PDF from 2001 when SB100 was passed that basically explains the core of the original Bill.
Now fast-forward to 2009, where SB232 is in the senate, - SB232 is a plainly worded initiative that modifies the original SB100 by removing the limitation on the number of permits issued per year. By passing SB232, this will help grow and preserve a important Californian hobby , improve safety , create jobs, and raise revenue for the State of CA.
The sense of urgency on SB232 is great as it is in the senate right now. (now-now)
Current Bill status ; as of 3/07/09
CURRENT BILL STATUS
MEASURE : S.B. No. 232
AUTHOR(S) : Benoit.
TOPIC : Vehicles: specially constructed vehicles.
HOUSE LOCATION : SEN
TYPE OF BILL :
Active
Non-Urgency
Non-Appropriations
Majority Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy
LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 02/24/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : From print. May be acted upon on or after March 26.
COMM. LOCATION : SEN TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING
TITLE : An act to amend Section 44017.4 of the Health and Safety
Code, and to amend Section 4750.1 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to vehicles.
The TEXT of SB 232 can be seen here ;
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bil...introduced.pdf
Bottom line , SB232 removes the restriction of 500 units being processed under SB100 each year.
This opens up many avenues of revenue for the state, enhances commerce, improves safety of hobbyist automobiles, generates skilled labor jobs, fosters a family oriented hobby across CA.
The car culture in California is an important part of our history, and very much a part of who we are as Californians.
Right now , only some Californians have the ability to recreate a piece of automotive history and innovate new interpretations of it. SB232 could open that up to many more people.
The concept we are discussing is the ability for a regular person to build a Replica of a famous vintage car, the DMV calls this a “specially constructed vehicle” or “SPCN”. In a state of 36+M people you can see , 500 permits per year is a mighty small number.
Existing SB100 Pitfalls /Solutions:
1. Since there are only 500 SB100 permits per year ;
a. With only 500 permits available , - When DMV opens on Jan 2nd, all SPCN/SB100 permits are gone in about 1 hour. This leaves many hobbyists empty-handed and they wait another year , or cancel the project.
b. Limited Revenue , -- Each SPCN/SB100 application is accompanied with a list of components that make up the vehicle. The “value” of the constructed car is extrapolated from this form for registration, sales tax, etc. Since we only process 500, we have effectively “Put a cap on sales”
i. Example: Attached to my personal SPCN/SB100 application was a check for $3789.00. So in limiting this to 500 units the existing SB100 program is limiting the revenue that could be generated on this program.
Imagine if you could turn $2M revenue to $20M>? wouldn’t that make a dent in the CA - DMV budget>?
c. With a lack of existing permits , this doldrum inclines unscrupulous people to take advantage of ill prepared consumers. I have seen people with re-bodied cars or they have bought a car that should be a SPCN/SB100 , but it has a incorrectly applied “Vintage VIN number” and/or has been a victim of “title-washing”
i. With the approval of SB232, this would create a safe legal way for anyone who wanted to build a replica, to do so under guidance, vs in the shadows of legality.
ii. In my opinion, SB232 would mitigate if not stop most title washing , VIN transferring activities in the SPCN sphere .
2. Sales Tax Revenue :
a. As mentioned in 1b above, when you create a “SPCN” there is a form that you fill out, in this form you list the value of the frame, body, and major parts. With the information from this form your sales tax and registration fees are calculated. My total for fees was $3,789 , almost 4K! imagine if you multiply this by 500 units, and then with a simple change, get 10X or 50X of that number, it might fill a leak or two in the California budget.
b. When you build a car from scratch –many parts and services are not encompassed on the construction forms, as these are purchased from auto parts suppliers usually in CA. ---all of these generate sales tax revenue, and revenue for hobbyist based automotive businesses.
3. Create / Keep CA Jobs:
a. AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS: Specially constructed vehicles are generally constructed by a home based enthusiast , however there are many “Heavy-Lifting” tasks that can best be done by an CA automotive shop that specializes in fabrication, engine building , transmissions, electrical work , painting , etc. this helps those small automotive businesses in CA stay in-business with profitable work.
b. FRAME AND BODY SALES : Many CA firms specialize in providing frames, bodies, or rolling chassis to their customers, the sales of these core components is a growing business and belongs in CA, currently some are based in NV, or other places, -- which is taking away from CA jobs.
c. INSPECTIONS: With each SPCN it needs to have a “Brake & Light” inspection, this is a task for special “Gold Shield” certified shops, this leads to an uptick from 500 visits to say 2500 - 5000 visits per year to B&L certified shops.
d. SHIPPING: with the uptick in SPCN construction , large assemblies purchased from in-state and out of state vendors will require transport by heavy truck, this will show and uptick in trucking business in the transportation of these large and small goods.
4. Consumer Safety:
a. NEW or REBUILT CORE ITEMS : Since the SPCN/SB100 cars are made from either new or rebuilt core mechanical components; Engines , transmissions and brakes are usually all new or rebuilt. This carries with it a certain intrinsic value of the core items have been serviced correctly.
b. INSPECTION : Brake & Light Inspection ; SPCN/SB100 cars are better for California roadways, as when a car is certified as a SPCN it has had at least a brake & light inspection where other enthusiast cars IE: 40+ year old antiques, are not subject to this requirement.
c. NEW MATERIALS: In order to be a SPCN, the frame and body are of NEW construction. In most all cases, by sheer age of the core metal they are probably in better shape than the alternative hobbyist car, the 40+ year old antique chassis. With the increasing popularity of classic cars, many vintage cars are being imported to CA from out of state and are in a questionable condition, many of which I have seen are not road-worthy.
5. Consumer Choice : by lifting the 500 unit SB100/SPCN restriction;
a. Volume ; by allowing the SPCN/SB100 process to register more cars, the chassis vendors will be able to offer more choices and fill needs that are hard to fill now.
b. New Models :, more models will be offered from more suppliers.
c. Core Components : reduction of costs, and better components.
To Read up on SB232:
Bill:
http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bil...introduced.pdf
Disclosure : I have registered my own SB100 car (the green Cobra with foglights in attached photos) in January 2009 under the existing statue. --SB 232 would open the doors so that any hobbyist who can meet the safety and construction crterium can register their vehicle at any time of year.
This would benefit many people, in many areas.
Thank you for your help in this endeavor,
With Best Regards,
Steve
PS:
Bill Originator :
Senator John Benoit
State capital Room 4066
Sacramento, Ca. 95814.
Re SB- 232
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