In a misguided attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, legislation (A.B. 3474) has been reintroduced in New York to establish a progressive purchase or lease surcharge for some new motor vehicles based on state calculations of carbon emissions. Depending on the vehicle purchased, this surcharge could require owners to pay up to $2,500 more for the vehicle.
Separate legislation (A.B. 2800) proposes to create a task force that would recommend higher toll and registration fees for heavier vehicles, based on vehicle weight, emissions and fuel-efficiency ratings. If these efforts are successful, the effects on your ability to purchase the vehicle of your choice, not to mention vehicle safety, will be dramatic.
We Urge You to Contact the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee Immediately To Request Their Opposition to A.B. 3474 and A.B. 2800.
- A.B 3474 and A.B. 2800 will limit consumer choice in purchasing vehicles by making popular performance and luxury cars, as well as SUVs, light trucks and minivans, substantially more expensive to own.
- A.B. 3474 and A.B. 2800 will potentially lead to more deaths on New York’s highways as higher taxes on larger, safer vehicles force consumers into smaller cars with higher accident fatality rates.
- A.B. 3474 and A.B. 2800 will not conserve energy. Greenhouse gas emissions depends on a host of other factors such as total miles traveled.
- A.B. 3474 and A.B. 2800 will do little to improve air quality. Air quality has more to do with overall basic vehicle maintenance than it does with owning and operating any particular class of vehicle.