NOISE POLLUTION
*THE COMPLAINT
Some advocates of noise pollution control such as NoiseOFF.org argue that the exhaust systems on muscle cars, specfically the Flowmaster 40 series exhaust negatively affects people who are exposed to it. NoiseOFF.org claims that “people exposed to this type of noise on a daily basis suffer from hearing loss, sleep deprivation, chronic fatigue, anxiety, hostility, depression, and hypertension.” Also, they claim people that “for people who have a vibroacoustic disease (an acute sense to vibrational noise), it causes breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeats and nausea.”
*WHAT CAR ENTHUSIASTS ARE DOING
The companies that are members of the Specialty Equipment Market Association, also known as SEMA, have lobbied against proposed noise pollution ordinances in communites all around the U.S. with a fair amount of success.
Sources:
NoiseOFF.org
GAS GUZZlER TAX
Washington State senator Ed Murray is establishing a legislative motion to tax vehicles based on the EPA’s fuel economy ratings.
Legislative S.B. 6923, if established, this tax could require a $240 annual fee to own and drive a vehicle in Washington State that gets 10 mpg or less.
EMISSIONS FEES
Washington State legislation S.B. 6900 is slated to attempt to reduce vehicle emissions by establishing two fees.
1) Fee based on engine size (8.0 Liters or above are charged $600.00 each year)
2) Fee based on calculations of carbon emissions (additional $600.00 each year)
