Exhaust pipe laws threaten to end motorcycling.

OFF THE WIRE
Jeff,

I live near you, in Wake County, and am the director of B.O.L.T. of North Carolina. I understand you might have some clients in the aftermarket motorcycle exhaust pipe industry. I am writing to you about an issue of importance which threatens motorcycling.

In Boston and NYC, motorcycles that do not have a readily visible EPA stamp on the exhaust pipes are ticketed with fines up to $300, even if the motorcycle is parked. If there is such a stamp, they are usually not readily visible. Now, California legislators are trying to get a similar law happening across the entire state. The legislation is SB435. You can find it for yourself and check on its' status at http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/bilinfo.html . It is scheduled to be heard in the California transportation committee tomorrow. History shows us that what happens in one state or one city often spreads across the country.

A survey of 76 brand new motorcycles in NYC showed that 0 of them complied fully with the EPA label standard which NYC uses as enforcement.

Motorcyclists do not appreciate being unfairly targeted as criminals by the state, particularly when it is for compliance with a federal manufacturers standard, beyond our control. We cannot allow any portion of SB 435 to be enacted. NO COMPROMISE. Since the EPA has been totally inept at forcing manufacturers to comply, that is no reason for state and local law enforcement to target motorcyclists for direct enforcement.

Bub is a manufacturer of exhaust pipes which is listed as supporting SB 435. They claim to sell EPA compliant pipes. Within the legislation, they admit they know the issue is compliance with EPA regulations by the manufacturers. Why would anyone knowingly want to criminalize the motorcyclists when the motorcycles being sold right off the showroom floors are not in compliance? If you have any dealings with Bub or any rebranding distributors of Bub exhaust pipes, their support for the California legislation is a slap in the face for motorcyclists and threatens motorcycling in general.

Since the bill is to be heard in the transportation committee tomorrow, each member of the committee will have a message of opposition from me when they check their voicemail tomorrow morning. I expect it will only take me ten minutes. Please join me in doing what you can to make sure they don't penalize innocent motorcyclists. This bill might be a windfall for one particular supplier but it is bad for motorcycling, so I will also be letting Bub know what I think of their support.

jan


AssemblymemberFaxPhone
Bonnie Lowenthal (Chair) (916) 319-2054 (916) 319-2193
Kevin Jeffries (R–Murrieta) (916) 319-2166 (916) 319-2066
Bill Berryhill (R–Stockton) (916) 319-2126 (916) 319-2026
Bob Blumenfield (D–Van Nuys) (916) 319-2140 (916) 319-2040
Joan Buchanan (D–San Ramon) (916) 319-2115 (916) 319-2015
Mike Eng (D–El Monte)* (916) 319-2149 (916) 319-2049
Warren Furutani (D-Long Beach) (916) 319-2155 (916) 319-2055
Cathleen Galgiani (D–Stockton)* (916) 319-2117 (916) 319-2017
Mary Hyashi (D-Hayward) (916) 319-2118 (916) 319-2018
Jeff Miller (R–Corona) (916) 319-2171 (916) 319-2071
Roger Niello (R–Sacramento)* (916) 319-2105 (916) 319-2005
Chris Norby (R–Brea)* (916) 319-2172 (916) 319-2072
Anthony Portantino (D–Pasadena)* (916) 319-2144 (916) 319-2044
Jose Solorio (D–Anaheim)* (916) 319-2146 (916) 319-2046