AzMotorNews.com
Emissions Exemption Bill
HB2357
Would Be A Boon To Arizona.
===========================
The Arizona Republic
Emissions Bill Would Be
Boon To State
By State Rep. Colette Rosati R-8
The Arizona Republic, 2-7-05
Northeast Valley Opinions Page
It's such a joy to drive around Scottsdale and see a wide
variety of historic and collectible cars on the streets.
And, hopefully, this important Arizona tradition will get a boost from the
Legislature this year.
House Bill 2357, sponsored by Representative Ray
Barnes, R-7 Phoenix, would exempt collectible vehicles and motorcycles from
emissions testing.
So far, the legislation has met with unanimous
approval in the Az House of Representatives from two committees, including the
House Environment Committee.
I am, and will remain, an ardent supporter throughout its progress.
This bill manages to lower costs for classic-car owners without affecting
Arizona's efforts to reduce emissions. If this bill becomes law, it would be a
huge victory for both car collectors and the Arizona economy.
The economic benefits would be twofold:
First, exempting car
collectors from emissions testing would save them the cost of the testing
fees.
Second, this law would
make Arizona even more appealing to car collectors seeking a haven from
emissions testing in other states.
This is particularly important considering the success of the recent
Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction. The popular event that draws thousands of
tourists and buyers from all over the world and brought in more than $60
million in sales, a record.
Most of these cars would fall under the provisions of the bill.
The economic benefits of HB 2357 wouldn't just end there.
An increase in the number of collector vehicles in Arizona would translate
directly into higher sales in associated industries, such as after-market
parts.
According to some statistics, this alone is a $30 billion-a-year industry.
An increase in the number of collector cars and motorcycles in Arizona
would greatly boost our state and local economies.
The bill wouldn't change any other aspect of the state's current emissions
testing practices. And the state remains dedicated to reducing particulates in
the air.
The exempted vehicles in this bill make up a very small portion of Arizona
vehicles and have a relatively minimal environmental impact.
Collectible vehicles are defined in HB 2357 as
those 15 years old or older that are maintained primarily for car club
activities, exhibitions and parades. Owners of such vehicles also must possess
appropriate insurance coverage, which usually limits the use of such cars.
Passage of HB 2357, first in the Az House of Representatives and then in
the Az Senate, would be a tremendous coup for the state.
As a Motor City native who grew up watching autos head out across America,
it's great to see those good-looking old cars driving around Scottsdale and
Fountain Hills.
We have a wonderful opportunity to improve the
quality of our state in multiple ways by getting in gear and passing this bill.
* Written
by State Rep. Colette Rosati R-8 for the "Northeast Valley Opinions" section
of the Arizona Republic on
2-7-05. That day HB2357 unanimously passed out of the House of
Representatives with a 58-2 vote. HB2357 now heads over to the Az Senate for
approval.
**
Az State Representative Colette Rosati is a two-term Scottsdale
Republican from Legislative District 8, which includes most of Scottsdale,
Fountain Hills and Rio Verde. She is also Vice-Chairwoman of the Az House
Environment Committee.
*** Link to the original article at:
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