Governor wants junk cars off the road

AP ^ | 3/17/5 | Tom Chorneau

[SmithL]

RANCHO CORDOVA - With opposition growing among Democrats statewide, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger moved Wednesday to shore up his environmental credentials by touting the reinstatement of a program to take older, polluting autos off the road.

With a Sacramento-area auto yard as the backdrop, Schwarzenegger announced that the state is again offering $1,000 to car owners who voluntarily retire older vehicles that cannot meet the state's smog control standards.

The goal is to take as many as 15,000 high-polluting vehicles off the road annually during the next 10 years.

"This will pay big dividends for California," the governor said at a news conference.

"Clean air makes our state a more desirable place to live, visit or locate a business."

The buyback program was suspended two years ago for budget reasons, but was re-established in September after the passage of a bill by then-Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara.

Although her bill provided $4.5 million this year for incentive payments, Schwarzenegger said he wants to increase the program's funding in 2005-06 to $16.3 million.

But the governor also noted in his press materials Wednesday that his support of the auto buyback program is just one area in which he's worked to protect the environment.

He's also called for the creation of a network of hydrogen fuel stations along major California highways.

He signed bills last year that would allow hybrid vehicles to use freeway car pool lanes; replace old diesel engines in school buses with new cleaner-burning engines; require cars built after 1975 to have smog checks every two years; and require that trucks coming into California from Mexico meet U.S. clean air standards.

Ironically, each of the bills he touted were authored by Democrats and passed despite substantial opposition from Schwarzenegger's Republican colleagues.

The governor's news conference came as labor groups and education activists protested at a Schwarzenegger fund-raiser Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Hundreds of nurses, firefighters and teachers spilled into the street outside a Century City hotel, where Schwarzenegger held a lavish fund-raiser to promote his agenda.

The opposition has been sparked by several of the governor's proposals -- including ballot measures that would privatize much of the state's public pension program and potentially cut funding for schools when tax income does not meet budget needs.

Given the growing protest from the state's majority party, some Democrats said they are not surprised Schwarzenegger wants to remind voters of his environmental record.

"If the Democrats in the Legislature are so bad, why is he taking our bills and making them part of his platform?" asked Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles.

"It's because his poll numbers are caving among Democrats and independents -- people who also support environmental issues."

[Fester Chugabrew]

[mpreston]

This is actually not a terrible idea. The vast majority of auto emissions today come from a relative handful of vehicles.

Late to the party but here's some data that debunks this BS. Here's a web site that provides some data based on mileage http://www.aircarecolorado.com/repair/acnews/apr99.htm

<5K miles 3g/mi

<50K miles 4.6g/mi

<70K miles 6.7g/mi

<80K miles 13g/mi

Looks like on average vehicles under 80K emit 5g/mi while vehicles over 80K emit 13g/mi. As a vehicles accumulates miles it's emissions go up. Not rocket science. There are roughly 30-40 million vehicles in California. Lets assume each drives 15K miles per year. That's probably conservative. The older vehicles probably accumulate significantly less mileage per year.

35 million vehicles x 15Kmiles/year x 5g/mi = 2.625x10^9 kilograms

15K vehicles x 15Kmiles/year x 13g/mi = 2.925x10^6 kilograms

The 15K "old" vehicles represent a 1% or less problem. The Governor wants to spend $150 MILLON on a 1% change in emissions. Most likely some of the vehicles turned in for the $1K aren't even on the road and are really parts cars for collectors. I bet a detailed study would come up with numbers <0.5%. No wonder California has a spending problem.

[taz2582taz]

I have a toyota motor for $150 if you want it call me at
1-231-535-2682 ask for the tazman

[Always Right]

I need to buy a fleet of sub-$500 cars with emmission problems and move to California.

[taz2582taz]

I have a toyota motor for sale if you need it and want it please call 1-231-535-2682 and ask for the TAZMAN all i want for it is $150.00 so if you want it call me.

[SmithL]

See Post 45

[Smokin' Joe]

The camel's nose.

It will only be a matter of time before you will have to retire your vehicle based on age. Not performance, not how cleanly it burns, but just when it was made.

That way you can have one with all the black boxes and other totalitaran-friendly widgets which track your position and allow the right folks to listen to what is being said in your vehicle.

For now, I'll keep driving my fossils.