It looks as SEMA is going something about the California exhaust
noise laws. Again, it's a bit sketchy -- no mention of measurement
distance, nor how many exhaust systems were tested.
Vitaly
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: SEMA Action Network Legislative Alert - CA Bill to Prevent Unfair
Exhaust Noise Citations Goes to Senate Transportation Committee on May 1st
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 14:19:31 -0400
From: "Brian Caudill" <brianc@sema.org>
Reply-To: <brianc@sema.org>
To: <brianc@sema.org>
A few weeks back, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
contacted CA enthusiasts to see if anyone who had received a modified
exhaust ticket wanted to participate in a test to see if their exhaust was
actually technically legal according to CA law.
Well, we did the test and it was extremely successful. Of all the cars
tested, only one(!) failed to come in under the legal limit of 95 decibels -
and this car only failed by .5 decibels!
Armed with this knowledge and the facts on our side, SEMA approached a
vehicle-friendly California Senator, K. Maurice Johannessen, and got
legislation introduced to try and solve this problem once and for all.
Please read the legislative alert below and get involved on behalf of
yourself, your clubs and teams and the import-performance scene in
California.
Brian Caudill
SEMA Action Network
___________________________________________________________
URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Legislation to Protect Hobbyists From Unfair Exhaust Noise Citations To be
Heard in California Senate
SEMA-sponsored legislation to require law enforcement authorities to
objectively demonstrate that a modified exhaust system does not comply
with Californias noise level test standard before issuing a citation will
be considered in the California Senate Transportation Committee on May 1,
2001 at 1:30 pm in Room 3191 of the State Capitol. This information can be
confirmed by calling the Committee at (916) 445-3182 or by visiting the
Senate Daily File at http://www.sen.ca.gov/~newsen/schedules/files.htp
SEMA urges concerned CA hobbyists to attend the hearing on S.B. 1081. In
addition, we encourage you to contact members of the Senate Transportation
Committee (list attached), as well as your own CA state senators to express
your support for S.B. 1081.
7 S.B. 1081 would remove conflicting provisions in the law and regulations
and force compliance with an objectively measured standard. Under the
standard, exhaust noise could not exceed a sound reading of 95-decibels in a
fair and predictable test.
7 S.B. 1081 would benefit consumers, the aftermarket industry and police
officers who are charged with enforcing the law.
7 S.B. 1081 would protect motorists who drive vehicles legally equipped
with modified exhaust systems from being erroneously cited for exceeding
noise limits. Overwhelming evidence shows that many of these citations are
being written in absence of any violation of the code.
7 S.B. 1081 would remedy the enforcement policy currently used by police
officers in which nearly all exhaust system modifications are considered
illegal, even where noise levels are not excessive or unusual. This policy
leaves enthusiasts, exhaust system manufacturers and dealers without
recourse, despite having the law on their side.
Contact the Senate Transportation Committee and your own state
legislators
immediately to support S.B. 1081. Better still, plan on attending the
hearing. To find out who your state legislators are, contact the California
Senate general information line at 916/445-4311. This information can also
be accessed via the Internet at www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html or by
calling the SEMA Washington, DC office at 202-783-6007.
Please email, fax (202-783-6024) or mail a copy of your letters to us in
SEMA's Government Affairs Office.
SEMA Washington Office
1317 F St., NW, Ste. 500
Washington, D.C. 20004
Attn: Steve McDonald/Brian Caudill
CA Senate Bill 1081 Contact Information -
Bill Sponsor:
Sen. Maurice Johannessen (R-4)
State Capitol, Room 5061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-3353
Fax: 916/445-7750
http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/4/feed.asp
Senate Transportation Committee Members:
Sen. Kevin Murray (D-26)
Chair, Transportation Committee
State Capitol, Room 4082
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-8800
Fax: 916/445-8899
Senator.Murray@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Tom McClintock (R-19)
Vice-Chair, Transportation Committee
State Capitol, Room 3070
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-8873
Fax: 916/324-7544
senator.mcclintock@sen.ca.gov
Sen. James Brulte (R-31)
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-3688
senator.brulte@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Jim Costa (D-16)
State Capitol, Room 5100
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-4641
Fax: 916/327-5989
Senator.Costa@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Joseph Dunn (D-34)
State Capitol, Room 2080
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-5831
Fax: 916/323-2323
Senator.Dunn@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Liz Figueroa (D-10)
State Capitol, Room 2057
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-6671
Fax: 916/327-2433
Senator.Figueroa@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Betty Karnette (D-27)
State Capitol, Room 5066
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-6447
Fax: 916/327-9113
Senator.Karnette@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Dick Monteith (R-12)
State Capitol, Room 4090
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 915/445-1392
senator.monteith@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Bill Morrow (R-38)
State Capitol, Room 4048
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-3731
Fax: 916/446-7382
Senator.Morrow@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Don Perata (D-9)
State Capitol, Room 4061
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-6577
Fax: 916/327-1997
Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Gloria Romero (D-24)
State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-1418
Fax: 916/445-0485
http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/romero/
Sen. Jack Scott (D-21)
State Capitol, Room 5064
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-5976
Fax: 916/324-7543
http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/scott/
Sen. Nell Soto (D-32)
State Capitol, Room 4074
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-6868
Senator.Soto@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Jackie Speier (D-8)
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-0503
Fax: 916/327-2186
Senator.Speier@sen.ca.gov
Sen. Tom Torlakson (D-7)
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916/445-6083
Fax: 916/445-2527
http://democrats.sen.ca.gov/senator/torlakson/
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