Report: California to amend 'Cool Cars' legislation over... criminal activity?
Is CARB backing down on its so-called "cool cars" regulation? On May 7, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will have to turn in its final draft of the controversial regulations, which calls for automakers to build cars and trucks with windows that prevent 45% of the sun's energy from entering a vehicle by 2014 and 60% by 2016. Vehicle manufacturers have argued that it will be expensive to meet the requirements, and other groups are complaining for their own reasons. Heck, there was initially concern that off-roaders might lose their beloved Jeep Wrangler altogether. Thank goodness they came to their senses.
While several different groups have significant concerns about the proposal, it looks like CARB might finally be listening to one group in particular – law enforcement. It seems that California's sheriffs, police chiefs and crime victim groups are calling for the plan to be amended... and CARB is actually listening.
According to The Detroit News, The California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association, Crime Victims United of California and other groups are concerned that the required window glazing needed to meet the new regulations will seriously degrade cell phone signals, as well as those from ankle monitoring bracelets. We wouldn't want to lose track of felons now, would we? The other big concern is that 911 calls might not get through if the window treatment prohibits a strong signal.
That seems to be sending CARB back to the drawing board, with suggestions coming that the plan will be revised before the May 7 deadline. As a refresher, the idea behind the "cool cars" regulation is to save gas and reduce emissions. Cooler cars reduce their air con use, and with California's overflowing freeways, that could mean a significant drop. In fact, CARB is predicting that the regulations will save 700,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2020 – the equivalent of parking 140,000 cars a year.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
pmalloy4391 6:33PM (3/09/2010)
other than the fact that man made global warming is pure BS
if they really want to accomplish this the simple solution is to revoke the stupid ass window tint laws and allow us to properly tint our windows
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turbo-quattro 6:37PM (3/09/2010)
"if they really want to accomplish this the simple solution is to revoke the stupid ass window tint laws and allow us to properly tint our windows"
^^^THIS
ngiotta 6:45PM (3/09/2010)
I agree with the window tinting statement.
Also, while I'm not a believer in the the man-made global warming theory, I am a believer in not breathing crappy air. The air quality (especially in California's valleys) is amongst the worst in the nation and I am for anything that can aid in alleviating that. I live 10 minutes from the mountains and I can only see their faint outline most of the time through all of the smog....
James Sonne 6:49PM (3/09/2010)
Actually, most window tinting is a thin black film on the inside of the window, which actually absorbs the sun's rays inside the vehicle increasing the temperature inside the car.
OEM films are typically built into the glass itself and reflect only UV spectrum.
pmalloy4391 6:52PM (3/09/2010)
interesting because my car has a 5% on it all around and my car seems considerably cooler i dont have anything to back it, im sure you are right but still
airchompers 7:02PM (3/09/2010)
@ James Sonne
Most tints reflect the infrared light out of the car, though they do absorb some measure of radiation. I think that most tint reflects about 34-70% of the heat.
So yes, they do still cause a car to heat up, but not as much as an untreated car.
Ed 7:04PM (3/09/2010)
@James Sonne
Sorry, but your wrong mate. I've had two cars, same make & model (2 year diff). I tinted one, and not the other. I would leave both cars in the SoCal sun with about a 1/2" window opening all around. Result: I could get INTO the tinted car, sit down, and touch the steering wheel with out leaving any burnt skin. The none tinted car, open the door, get my eyebrows burnt off and die of a heat stroke.
Nick 7:26PM (3/09/2010)
I don't give a damn about whether Global Warming is real or not, what I care about is not having to breathe in filthy air and having my health ruined because of it.
I'm all for this law, it gets extremely hot in my car in the Summetime out here, it's uncomfortable, degrades the interiors plastics and upholstery and forces me to crank up the AC.
BoxerFanatic 3:09AM (3/10/2010)
pmalloy....
A-friggin'-men.
The duplicity is insane... some states banning window tint, others trying to mandate it...
How about just leave the law open, and let people be free to do as they please, on the merits of the issue.
Jei 9:42AM (3/10/2010)
Window tinting should be highly recommended for all states in the Sun belt. Even during the Spring, Summer, Autumn months in the northern states, minor tinting is very much appreciated (partially b/c it reduces glare from the Sun's lower position in the sky).
It would be nice if the company that make Transitions (for eye glasses) got involved and developed something for automotive applications. I've have eyeglasses with Transitions for 5 years now and it has been a great experience.
Rich 10:27AM (3/10/2010)
Well I'd sure love to wish away man-made climate change as if it were a monster under the bed, but it's still there, right on our children's backs. All the "debunkers" have done is drag up less than a handful of minor errors, equate them with "faking", and conflate the lot into a "conspiracy". Google is your friend.
A better way to keep car interiors cool would be to build sun shelters and plant trees. It'll be cheaper in the long run, and doesn't shift the financial burden directly onto the individual.
Michael Walsh 2:04PM (3/11/2010)
I agree that we should be allowed to tint as we please. Any concerns law enforcement may have about traffic stops could easily be assuaged by writing legislation which requires drivers to roll down their windows when stopped.
I can also confirm from personal experience that even a sllightly tinted car will be considerably cooler when entered than a car with either no tint or a factory green tint.
airchompers 6:37PM (3/09/2010)
Here's an idea, why not subsidize convertibles/open top cars? Not like a here's money for driving them, but like a reduced road useage tax/vehicle registration fee. That'd be the easiest way to have cool cars.
Furthermore, why not just up the tax on gasoline? Or let people put a lot of tint on their cars?
And lastly, I think the biggest waste of gas is idiling at lights and stuff. Why not make intelligent traffic lights? And why not mandate idler stop/starts on automatic transmissions if you're going to mandate anything?
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Jeff Johnson 6:46PM (3/09/2010)
All great ideas - but in a state that's pretty much out of money, who's going to pay for it all? It always seems when CA gets an idea into its head the rest of the country has to pay for it as well. I'd actually love intelligent stoplights, not because I give a hoot about saving gas, but because my time is more valuable to me and it's incredibly annoying sitting at a totally empty intersection waiting for your green.
Mega tint is a great idea until cops start getting popped late at night on a regular basis when they come up to a gang bangers window.
The sad thing is all the BS that comes out of this government concerning the environment, global warming is happening but its not the main fault of humans. The earth has gone thru warming and cooling cycles for hundreds of eons. I'd love to see how things would be if we just happened to live during a period of an approaching ice age, how people would be begging for cars that get 9mpg thinking they could stave off something beyond the control of humans.
Mazdamia 10:35PM (3/09/2010)
I would be more for the ventilated car seats. I read a study (here maybe) that showed significant reduction in AC use my simply putting vents and an electric fan in the seats of a car to cool the torso.
Honestly, isn't this the part that is always too hot?
Jeff Johnson 6:39PM (3/09/2010)
I would figure instead of saving precious tons of CO2 from going into the air, the might want to start saving their freaking MONEY. It's no secret they are a broken and bankrupt state. It's not surprising that they think MORE legislation and red tape is the answer.
They could tax their people into oblivion and it still would not do anything to solve the problem that there are millions of people there illegally crowding and and overflowing the social services system.
I'd love to know how much could be put back every year into the states coffers if CARB was disbanded and scrapped. All I can say is I'm thankful I don't live there.
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pmalik 9:35PM (3/09/2010)
Epic rant. Wholeheartedly agree on all points.
Just need to add that about 80% of their problems stem from the fact that their state has subverted representative democracy via the proposition process. This allows morans (no typo there) and libnuts with zero public policy background turn idiotic ideas into states laws.
The other 20% of the problem is 1/2 majority pass for spending, 2/3 super majority for tax hikes. Does not compute.
richmurp.nospam 9:15AM (3/10/2010)
@ Jeff Johnson
Beautiful. I wish you could get more than 3 stars.
Dave 7:34PM (3/09/2010)
So the problem is that cell phones won't work well? Good God we love to whine when something affects us unless it costs $20. Remember people climate and weather aren't the same thing. Maybe they will reevaluate after the rest of California burns in brush fires and it finishes the transition to becoming a desert. But hey, the cell phones will work and we'll have everyone in an ankle bracelet!
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neptronix 6:45PM (3/09/2010)
California is friggin' insane. What a mess.
So glad i moved.
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