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 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.