As most of you know, I live in Utah. While Utah's laws aren't quite as nutty as California's, our legislators are working hard to correct that, as the following shows. Even if you don't live in Utah, join the fight against S.B. 106. Once a bill such as this is passed anywhere, lawmakers in other states see it as setting a precedent and try to pass one in their states, too.
Here are the facts from the SEMA ACTION NETWORK:
A substitute bill (S.B. 106) to ban the use of most aftermarket exhaust systems has been introduced in the Utah State Legislature by Senator Patricia Jones (pjones@utahsenate.org) and passed by the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill now moves to the floor of the Senate for a vote by all members. Under the substitute bill, all vehicles must be equipped with an exhaust system that is “installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified; or meets specifications equivalent to the muffler installed by the original manufacturer of the vehicle and is not modified.”
• S.B. 106 ignores the fact that aftermarket exhaust systems are designed to make vehicles run more efficiently without increasing emissions.
• S.B. 106 does not supply law enforcement with a clear standard to enforce, allowing them to make subjective judgments on whether or not a modified exhaust system is in violation.
• S.B. 106 fails 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.
• S.B. 106 would make it difficult for hobbyists to replace factory exhaust systems with more durable, better performing options.
DON’T DELAY! Please contact all Utah Senators immediately by phone or e-mail to request their opposition to S.B. 106.
Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.