Jay Leno visits California Capitol to advocate for ‘Leno’s Law’
Former “Tonight Show” host and classic car enthusiast Jay Leno spent the day at the Capitol Tuesday to advocate for a proposed law that would exempt classic cars from smog checks.Senate Bill 712, known as “Leno’s Law,” would exempt collector cars whose model is 35 years or older from California’s smog check law. The bill would also exempt these cars from the law when ownership transfers. According to existing law, any vehicle that is insured as a collector vehicle and was made in 1975 or earlier was already exempt from portions of the smog test. But post-1976 vehicles are required to meet the requirements if ownership or registration is transferred. Leno told a large group of reporters few smog stations have the proper equipment to check the older models. “I put more miles on it looking for smog stations than I do driving the thing,” Leno said, which was met with laughter from the group of advocates behind him. California state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, is the sponsor of the legislation. Her website says these classic cars are “infrequently driven, carefully maintained, and make up only a fraction of cars on the road. They are typically owned for their historical significance and collector value.”A fact sheet from her office says that maintenance of older emissions systems from 1796-1990 models “has become very costly and labor-intensive.” Grove said the carveout would only apply to about 1% of cars registered in California. With so many issues impacting the state, KCRA 3 asked Leno why he’s using his celebrity influence on the issue that impacts few. “I know I’m an annoying celebrity coming to Sacramento. I’ve watched them on TV and some have no idea what they’re talking about. But this is a subject I’m interested in,” Leno said. “I watched the movie industry get decimated. Everybody moved out of California, they charged so much to film. Everyone went to Texas, Georgia, Atlanta. We have the hotrod culture,” Leno continued, noting several automakers have hotrod design studios all over the state. “To see all these good ideas leave and go to Texas and go other places to do business, I don’t want to see the hot rod business or mechanical business leave the way the film business did.” Lawmakers in the State Senate’s transportation committee approved the measure. Environmental groups oppose the measure they say gives cars a carveout from an important piece of the state’s clean air rules. At the hearing, Sen. Catherine Blakespear raised concerns that the bill could be abused by people who just wanted to hold on to their “older, junkier cars,” which could negatively impact the state’s air quality. The bill still has several more steps in California’s legislative process. Its next hearing will be in the Senate Appropriations Committee. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Former “Tonight Show” host and classic car enthusiast Jay Leno spent the day at the Capitol Tuesday to advocate for a proposed law that would exempt classic cars from smog checks.
Senate Bill 712, known as “Leno’s Law,” would exempt collector cars whose model is 35 years or older from California’s smog check law. The bill would also exempt these cars from the law when ownership transfers.
According to existing law, any vehicle that is insured as a collector vehicle and was made in 1975 or earlier was already exempt from portions of the smog test. But post-1976 vehicles are required to meet the requirements if ownership or registration is transferred.
Leno told a large group of reporters few smog stations have the proper equipment to check the older models.
“I put more miles on it looking for smog stations than I do driving the thing,” Leno said, which was met with laughter from the group of advocates behind him.
California state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, is the sponsor of the legislation. Her website says these classic cars are “infrequently driven, carefully maintained, and make up only a fraction of cars on the road. They are typically owned for their historical significance and collector value.”
A fact sheet from her office says that maintenance of older emissions systems from 1796-1990 models “has become very costly and labor-intensive.”
Grove said the carveout would only apply to about 1% of cars registered in California.
With so many issues impacting the state, KCRA 3 asked Leno why he’s using his celebrity influence on the issue that impacts few.
“I know I’m an annoying celebrity coming to Sacramento. I’ve watched them on TV and some have no idea what they’re talking about. But this is a subject I’m interested in,” Leno said.
“I watched the movie industry get decimated. Everybody moved out of California, they charged so much to film. Everyone went to Texas, Georgia, Atlanta. We have the hotrod culture,” Leno continued, noting several automakers have hotrod design studios all over the state. “To see all these good ideas leave and go to Texas and go other places to do business, I don’t want to see the hot rod business or mechanical business leave the way the film business did.”
Lawmakers in the State Senate’s transportation committee approved the measure. Environmental groups oppose the measure they say gives cars a carveout from an important piece of the state’s clean air rules.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
At the hearing, Sen. Catherine Blakespear raised concerns that the bill could be abused by people who just wanted to hold on to their “older, junkier cars,” which could negatively impact the state’s air quality.
The bill still has several more steps in California’s legislative process. Its next hearing will be in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
link
