While hobbyists and related businesses have worked diligently to defeat proposals in Washington, DC to create a national cash for clunkers program, a bill (H.B. 1207) has been introduced in the North Carolina State Legislature that would implement a state vehicle scrappage program for passenger vehicles that are at least 14-years old. Participants would receive around $1,000-$1,500 to scrap their car and purchase a current year vehicle under 10,000 pounds, or one from the previous three model years. The participant's family income must be less than 300% of the current federal poverty level. ALL trade-in vehicles could be destroyed, regardless of their historical value or collector interest. If this effort is successful, hobbyists could be denied the availability of vintage cars and parts for restoration projects.
We Urge You to Contact Members of the North Carolina House Environment and Natural Resources Committee (List Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 1207
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that, given the low value of the voucher, a lower-income consumer who owns just one qualifying scrappage car is not in a financial position to buy a new or late model vehicle.
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that the program favors a consumer who owns three or four cars, including a vehicle older than 14 years which sits in the driveway, rarely driven, if at all. Destroying this car will not clean the air as is claimed by the bill.
* H.B. 1207 is unfair to vehicle owners, many of whom depend on the low-cost transportation that older cars provide and on parts available from older cars in order to maintain their own vehicles.
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that all scrappage programs hold the potential for enthusiasts to lose a valuable source of rare parts for vehicle restoration projects.
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that most environmental organizations reject scrappage programs because they do more environmental harm than good by artificially accelerating the car life cycle (producing, dismantling, recycling, etc.).
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that older cars are rarely driven, generally well-maintained and not a good or cost-effective source of emissions reductions.
* H.B. 1207 ignores the fact that scrappage programs are difficult to police and subject to fraud.
Please contact members of the North Carolina House Environment and Natural Resources Committee by phone or e-mail to urge their opposition to H.B. 1207.
Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.
North Carolina House Environment and Natural Resources Committee(Click here to e-mail all Committee members)
Representative Lucy Allen - Chair
Phone: 919/733-5860
Email: Lucy.Allen@ncleg.net
Representative Mitch Gillespie
Phone: 919/733-5862
Email: Mitchg@ncleg.net
Representative Pricey Harrison
Phone: 919/733-5771
Email: Pricey.Harrison@ncleg.net
Representative Carolyn Justice
Phone: 919/715-9664
Email: Carolyn.Justice@ncleg.net
Representative Cullie Tarleton
Phone: 919/733-7727
Email: Cullie.Tarleton@ncleg.net
Representative Alice Underhill
Phone: 919/733-5853
Email: Alice.Underhill@ncleg.net
Representative Kelly Alexander
Phone: 919/733-5778
Email: Kelly.Alexander@ncleg.net
Representative Curtis Blackwood
Phone: 919/733-2406
Email: Curtis.Blackwood@ncleg.net
Representative Elmer Floyd
Phone: 919/733-5959
Email: Elmer.Floyd@ncleg.net
Representative Pryor Gibson
Phone: 919/715-3007
Email: Pryor.Gibson@ncleg.net
Representative R. Phillip Haire
Phone: 919/715-3005
Email: Phillip.Haire@ncleg.net
Representative Verla Insko
Phone: 919/733-7208
Email: Verla.Insko@ncleg.net
Representative Ric Killian
Phone: 919/733-5886
Email: Ric.Killian@ncleg.net
Representative Paul Luebke
Phone: 919/733-7663
Email: Paul.Luebke@ncleg.net
Representative Grier Martin
Phone: 919/733-5758
Email: Grier.Martin@ncleg.net
Representative Daniel McComas
Phone: 919/733-5786
Email: Danny.McComas@ncleg.net
Representative Pat McElraft
Phone: 919/733-6275
Email: Pat.McElraft@ncleg.net
Representative Bill Owens
Phone: 919/733-0010
Email: Bill.Owens@ncleg.net
Representative Ruth Samuelson
Phone: 919/715-3009
Email: Ruth.Samuelson@ncleg.net
Representative Bonner Stiller
Phone: 919/301-1450
Email: Bonner.Stiller@ncleg.net
Representative Russell Tucker
Phone: 919/715-3021
Email: Russell.Tucker@ncleg.net
Representative Roger West
Phone: 919/733-5859
Email: Roger.West@ncleg.net
Representative Larry Womble
Phone: 919/733-5777
Email: Larry.Womble@ncleg.net