With the new administration on the way into the White House next week, we’re thinking that cars and the car hobby are going to be under closer scrutiny than they have been in some time. The reason we think that? Stuff is getting weird before the switch has even been made.
The incoming leader of the EPA, one Lisa Jackson, has stated that the EPA will “immediately revisit” states’ ability to set their own regulations about auto emissions.
We’re thinking that 50 states coming up with 50 sets of rules as to what “acceptable” emissions from new cars are will be disaster for an already duct-taped-together auto industry.
We also think that this is frightening because it will probably encourage states to look at us hot rodders and antique car people with a focused eye, and frankly that’s never a good thing.
The auto companies are arguing (logically) that strong federal rules governing the whole country are the way to go so that vehicles can be sold all across the land, instead of models needing to be outfitted with different equipment from state to state. I mean hey, they would make some semblance of sense right?
We could go on, but since we’ve barfed on our keyboard, it’s getting kind of gross. You get the idea. It’s a steaming pile of bad.
