Senator Clayborne responds!!

[big-n-italian]

does everyone remember this bill that was being passed in IL?

A bill (H.B. 2221) to ban vehicles equipped with a “muffler or exhaust system that clearly has been modified to amplify or increase the noise of the vehicle” was quickly passed last night by the Illinois House on a 61-55 vote and is gaining momentum in the Senate. Under the bill, vehicles determined to have been modified by virtue of a “visual observation” will fail emissions inspection. The Legislature will adjourn for the year on Tuesday, May 31st leaving a short time to complete action in the Senate. The bill is being sponsored in the Senate by James Clayborne, Jr. ([email protected])

Well, i dropped him an email - and here is the response I got back from my internet provider.

<< Your message

To: SenList - Clayborne
Subject: my opinion about HB 2221
Sent: Sun, 29 May 2005 22:50:17 -0500

was deleted without being read on Mon, 6 Jun 2005 12:51:36 -0500 >>


thank you for your support as****e. So much for working FOR US.



Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr.
(Phone) 217/782-5399
(Fax) 217/782-5340
[email protected]

 

[Steve-Indy]

Suggest that you send it again, then CALL!!

 

[Andy 98 RT/10]

so, if i read this right, would it mean just having a corsa system would be illegal in illinois?

 

[big-n-italian]

I just found this update:

<< Good News......

URGENT LEGISLATIVE ALERT (FINAL UPDATE)
Illinois Bill to Ban Aftermarket Exhaust Systems Dies for the Year as Legislative Session Adjourns
The SEMA Action Network stalled final action on Illinois legislation (H.B. 2221) that threatened to ban vehicles equipped with a “muffler or exhaust system that clearly has been modified to amplify or increase the noise of the vehicle.” The bill had been quickly passed by the House in the final days of the legislative session, before being stopped by the SAN in the Senate. Under the measure, vehicles determined to have been modified by virtue of a “visual observation” would have failed emissions inspection. How emissions inspectors would have determined that an exhaust system increases noise by virtue of a “visual inspection” was not explained in the bill.

H.B. 2221 ignored the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.


H.B. 2221 did not supply emissions inspectors with a clear standard to enforce (e.g. decibel limit under a sound test procedure), allowing them to make subjective judgments based on “visual observations” on whether or not a modified exhaust system increases noise.


H.B. 2221 failed to recognize that aftermarket exhaust systems offer increased performance, which can make a vehicle safer by improving its ability to merge, pass, travel uphill, etc.


H.B. 2221 would have made it impossible for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.

On behalf of the SAN, thank you for responding to our call to action and contacting Illinois lawmakers to request opposition to this bill.

http://www.semasan.com/main/main.aspx?id=61938 >>


It still scares me though, that the "thought" is still out there ON THIS RIDICULOUS "PROBLEM". THANK YOU SAN/SEMA!

 

[01sapphireGTS]

Bullet dodged (no pun intended) The manufactures are always going to fight legislation like that. Although I'm sure it was aimed at the coffee-can crowd with the chop-stick sway bars.

 

[Bill Pemberton Woodhouse]

Good deal that Senator Foghorn-Cleghorn had his piece of legislature bypassed. Sounds like the voters of Illinois need to get this Rooster out of the Senate Henhouse, since I am sure there are plenty of more pressing issues that are affecting the good folks of the Fightin Illini State.

 

[big-n-italian]

<< I am sure there are plenty of more pressing issues that are affecting the good folks of the Fightin Illini State. >>

It is always nice to see firsthand, our tax dollars being spent wisely, isnt it?

 

[Johann]

If Illinois is like many other states, the bill will rise again.

All it takes is one monomaniac with a vision to keep reintroducing a modified version of the same bill each session until the legislators get so sick of it that they pass it just to be rid of it.

This is how my state got it's helmet law.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I got a response from Jeb about the FL street racing bill.

He said..."Thank you for your comments."

Then he signed the ******* bill.

 

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

I guess the Harley is next, and it sounds much louder than any Viper known to man.

 

[big-n-italian]

<< I got a response from Jeb about the FL street racing bill. He said..."Thank you for your comments." >>

Who knows if they REALLY CARE or not about our comments, but at least Jeb had the decentcy to "pretend" like he cared, by reading and then taking the time to respond to your email, unlike our so-called "REPRESENATIVE".

 

[FikseGTS]

short as it was.... I've heard Jeb does personally respond.....

 

[TOOOFST]

It's a law to also have a front plate.Govn't has to come up with revenue producing BS idea's,totally expected.Our cars keep getting faster and better looking anyway!

 

[luke_1201]

SEMA isn't just for manufacturers. They fight for our rights as enthusiasts and quite frankly are the only ones doing so. I would encourage everyone here to join. At least when there is a problem, they will react and not just delete an email....or have their secretary reply with a canned response.

You guys have no idea how screwed we would have been, years ago, if it weren't for this organization. Lets face it, most politicians aren't 'car guys' and they don't know the difference between muffler bearings and blinker fluid. So when a group of tree huggers (and we all know they are represented) decides that K&N air filters are killing our planet (or any number of equally ignorant ideas, there is no shortage of ignorance), the politicians almost always sign off because they don't know any better.

Think of it as enjoyment insurance. Support SEMA. You can join as a 'supporting member'. The larger thier numbers of members, the better for all of us.

 

[Vintage Racer]

I've had the pleasure (?) of working with many legislators at both the national and state level in my career. It would be very unusual for a state legislator or state governor to read any correspondence from a constituent (much less a US Congressman or Senator). Those staffs they have exist for many reasons and one of the principal ones is referred to as "constituent issues", read that as emails, letters, postcards.... from us guys. The SOP is for the staff to issue you a response that takes the form of "..thank you for sharing your views on H.R. XXXX. I appreciate your concerns. Signed XXXXXX". This is a form response however, it's made to appear that it comes from the legislator/Congressman/Senator himself.

The staff compiles a daily tally of inputs received on pending legislation in summary form for the Big Guy to review. It breaks inputs down into categories (for/against/you're an idiot) and may include copies of a couple emails or letters if they are particularly interesting. The majority of our input goes unseen otherwise.

Politicians, like most people, respond best to individuals or organizations with whom thye have long standing relationships-read that lobbyists. They are in the best positon to frame issues in terms that politicians understand and will react too. So in the case of the issue in IL, SEMA has 1. the understanding of the legislative process and how to subvert it. 2. the relationships with key legislators. 3, the ability to frame the issue in meaningful terms (jobs, votes, perceptions....). And 4, the knowledge how to lay out alternatives so that if legislation is going to move ahead it can be structured to inflict as little pain as possible on car enthusiasts.

The letters and emails certainly don't hurt, but you are always better off putting your weight behind a lobbying organization who is in a much better position to get the results you want. And most importantly, believe nothing you hear from a politician and trust him even less. They didn't get where they are by being honorable people.

I agree with the comments that this issue has a good probability of *********** into other states. As writen in IL, it probably would not have withstood a court challenge, but that doesn't mean some other state legislators might not do a better job when they craft their own version in the future.

 

[JUCD VPR]

SWEET! phew I'm glad that fell through ! YESSSSSSS