DAVIS SIGNALS PLAN TO SIGN SUV LEGISLATION

THE RUSH LIMBAUGH SHOW | M. Garrett

[MattGarrett]

Rush Limbaugh read a story today which states that Gray Davis plans to sign the SUV Tax Bill. AB 1493 (formerly known as AB 1058) will give California Air Resources Board the go ahead to work on ways to reduce "greenhouse gases." In one report CARB authored, they suggested the per mile tax, gas tax increase and SUV tax. Proponents of the bill are quick to argue that this bill does not raise taxes and CARB does not have the authority to enact any of their suggestions.

The bill will affix a tax of 2 cents for every mile driven in an SUV, MiniVan or truck, 50 extra cents per gallon of gasoline, and $3500 on all SUV, Minivan, or truck purchases.

Politicians pulled a dirty trick and changed the bill number, reinstating AB 1058 as AB 1493 late on a Friday night. They ran it through the legislature and passed it a Monday afternoon - with no comment from the public.

Stating that the bill creates the perfect balance between driver choice and responsible environmental policy, Davis indicated his intention to sign the bill.

[mhking]

I have had people flip me the bird because I had the audacity to be in their way while they were speeding down the road at faster than 75mph (remember, the speed limit is 45mph and the only reason that I was in their way was because I had just turned onto the road and even though I manage to get my vehicle to 45 and faster fairly quickly, their car wasn't even remotely visible, as they were rather far off and shouldn't have been going so damn fast).

On the local freeways, where the posted speed limit is 55mph, I tend to drive at abou65mph or sometimes 70. In areas where the posted limit is 65 I will drive at 75-80mph. I only get into the leftmost lane to pass other vehicles, but impatient tailgaters always make me tap my brake lights just enough to make them very nervous.

That's fair - you're a much better driver than many folks around here. I've seen plenty of folks try to get out in the left lane on the Perimeter (I-285 circles Atlanta and has two speed limits: when the weather is good, it's at least 90 MPH, especially in the left lane; when it rains, you're lucky to do 10 MPH). They're the ones that'll end up getting folks killed.

[Let's Roll]

"They will just collect the tax when you register the vehicle."

Definitely, they've been doing that on plain old sales tax for decades. Buy your car out of state to avoid the sales tax and you'd better be able to register it out of state too, otherwise your home state will get you.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

How are they going to tax mileage? Random odometer checks with bills handed out on the spot?

They have to go in for emissions checks in CA.

[reg45]

Actually, what they will do is collect the tax when the car is sold.

What will they do about cars sold out of state? Looks like a BIG loophole to me.

[reg45]

"Why are all those phones ringing?"

Salesmen calling the Governor with opportunities to buy a unit in a RETIREMENT community.

[Kobyashi1942]

Here is what Dan Walters, Political Correspondent for the Sacramento Bee says about the bill:

When the legislation first surfaced, the auto industry and its allies unleashed a thunderous campaign against it. It would, the opponents said, lead to higher gasoline taxes, perhaps extra taxes on cars deemed to be gas guzzlers and/or the banning of certain low-mileage cars such as sports-utility vehicles.

The campaign stalled the bill in the Assembly, and eventually its author, Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, and its sponsors inserted a bunch of language purporting to guard against the dire consequences the opponents predicted, thereby providing enough political cover to gain the required votes.

Those insertions, however, raise this question: If the Air Resources Board could not tax cars or gasoline, ban certain vehicles and so forth, how could it significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions? The new law's backers -- including Davis, one assumes -- must therefore make two contradictory, perhaps mutually exclusive, arguments at the same time: that it will have a serious impact on greenhouse gases and that it won't disrupt Californians' lifestyles.

We won't know anything concrete anytime soon, because the board is given until 2005 to develop the rules, which could not take effect until the 2009 auto model year. By the way, California produces something less than 1 percent of the globe's greenhouse-gas output, so even a complete cessation of such emissions in the state would have no material impact on global warming, even if one accepts it as a scientific fact.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well now, won't it be fun for your neighbor, when the lights go on, so to speak...and she ends up paying MORE for the usage of her Land Rover.

Not my President. Dork. What's her address? I'll deal with her. Girl to girl.

[Grampa Dave]

You would have to get in line with a couple of female neighbors who call her worse than a dork.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

It might be quite profitable to open a new truck/SUV dealership in Quartzite or Ehrenburg, AZ.

[farmfriend]

Thanks for the info. I was going to post it if someone hadn't already. I never take the word of whatever article is posted here. Always read the bill. I don't like this bill but the truth needs to be put forth not a bunch of false advertising.

[Centurion2000]

It might be quite profitable to open a new truck/SUV dealership in Quartzite or Ehrenburg, AZ.

Actually just outside of Needles,Ca .... about 1 mile on the other side of the border and you could make a killing.

[ladyinred]

I hope your post was sarcasm!
We have the right in this country to drive the vehicles of our choice, not be dictated to by a bunch of greenies who have their own sicko agenda!
The problem is, the demoRATS have such a handle on FRAUD at the polling place that getting rid of them is next to impossible!

[MistrX]

Good. More ammo for Simon.

[tortoise]

But it's a free country and I am content to leave them be if they do the same to me.

Exactly so. Their antics irritate me occasionally, but I vehemently oppose any restrictions on a person's ability to own the damn things.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Yeah, Ehrenburg is close too---it's on the "west coast" of Arizona a few hundred feet from Blight, CA on the other side of the Colorado.

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Plus it's on I-10, the road out of Palm Springs. Then there's Yuma, AZ, too.

[hinckley buzzard]

Shoot. Sell your SUV in Nevada next time! I can see SUV dealers lining the borders of the State...and a lively trade in establishing quick out-of-state residences (sort of like Las Vegas marriages...and divorces) to qualify for out-of-state plates.


But surely this won't fly...not in the Land of the White Bronco.

[hinckley buzzard]

I believe you are right about safety.The generic SUV is basically a tricked up cab on a pickup truck. It doesn't handle like a car because it isn't one. But the inexperienced driver doesn't know that --cruising along high and dry, misjudging speed, no idea where the vehicle's corners are, I've seen more than one defensive driver have to take evasive action...and done so myself.

i think something does happen to certain drivers, when they
climb up into a SUV...get all Mr. Macho and think people driving normal autos are "pantywaists."

[100%FEDUP]

A while back the NC legislature toyed with the idea of taxing mileage. The best that me and a few friends could come up with was through your inspection. Since your inspection is every 12 months whoever inspects your car would report your mileage to the DMV who in turn would figure how much mileage over the average you drove and then send you the bill.

[GabMan]

Some SUV drivers get more aggressive because of the bulk they are riding in. Are they more dangerous than any other drivers? I dunno. What I do know is that they don't like it much when they are tailgating me at rush hour and I downshift suddenly, causing them to slam on their brakes (and, inevitably to almost lose control because they have never learned the simple laws of physics re center of gravity and mass). Poor babies.

:-)