Breaking: SUVs banned on many California roads

[KamaAina]

Obviously Ahh-nuld had nothing to do with this (turns out Hummers are banned, too!) Seems that vehicles over 6,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight have always been banned on residential streets in many California (and other) cities -- and a lot of the really large "Family Assault Vehicles" are over the limit!

http://slate.msn.com/id/2104755/

It's no accident the automakers churn out so many SUVs that break the 6K barrier. By doing so, these "trucks" (and that's how they're classified by the U.S. Department of Transportation) qualify for a huge federal tax break. If you claim you use a 3-ton truck exclusively for work, you can write it off immediately. All of it. Up to $100,000 (in fact, Congress raised the limit from $25,000 just last year). Heavy SUVs qualify for similar state tax breaks in California (up to $25,000) and elsewhere. These vehicles are also exempt from the federal "gas guzzler tax" because they're trucks. (And you probably know that many SUVs are exempt from the tougher gas mileage and safety standards of cars because they're classified as trucks, but that's another story.)....

Here's what few people seem to realize: By weighing in at more than 6,000 pounds, big SUVs are prohibited on thousands of miles of road in California. Cities across the state—including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Santa Monica—use the 3-ton cutoff for many or nearly all of their residential streets. State law gives them the ability to do this for very straightforward reasons: The heavier the vehicle, the more it chews up the roads, endangers pedestrians and smaller vehicles, and makes noise....

But local officials either don't realize they've banned big SUVs, or they're hoping no one will make a stink. For example, San Francisco and Los Angeles ban 6K vehicles on numerous streets (including one of San Francisco's main tourist draws, the famously twisty Lombard Street). One L.A. city council member, Janice Hahn (the sister of L.A. Mayor James Hahn), recently proposed that fines for breaking this law be hiked from $50 for a first offense and $100 for a second to $250 and $1,000, respectively. Hahn told me her district, near L.A.'s huge port complex, is plagued by trucks cutting through residential streets.

Remember, friends don't let friends drive SUVs!

[catzies]

1. From FreewayBlogger's archives (one of my favorite signs)

[Fleshdancer]

3. I LOVE that sign

we need those here in Texas.

[Hamlette]

12. my favorite button: "Draft the SUV Drivers First" n/t

[ClintonTyree]

2. Do you honestly think...............

that this will be enforced? Not on your ever living life. Gigantic SUVs are SOOOOOOOOOO much a part of the California lifestyle (in certain areas anyway) that law enforcement would be committing suicide should they ever try to ticket the morons in these urban assault vehicles.

That just isn't the way things are done in "Bush America" and "Arnie California".

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. I saw a monster RV hauling a full-sized Hummer behind it last week

it was from Texas.

Hubby thought it must have taken an awful lot of $$ and gas to outfit themselves and drive up here to Maine like that. But I told him it's probably safe to assume these folks own some oil fields.

[lanparty]

6. Hummer drivers are such PUSSIES!!!!!

I was traveling down the road in my little Nissan Altima and came across a hummer carefully slowing down to traverse a little bit of gravel that I normally fly over. I've seen the same thing at rail crossings.

This people buy these giant brute vehicles made to take immense punishment and then treat them like an antique Model-T. Don't count on them ever driving off-road because most of these people couldn't fathom even parking a vehicle on the primmed lawn.

There are some things seriously wrong with American culture. Too much of our upper middle class has taken up the lifestyle and attitudes of 18th century English Aristocracy. All sense of practical values seem to be going by the wayside. The old protestant ethics of "waste not, want not" seem to be all but forgotten.

[MindPilot]

8. yep. when the weather's crappy...

...which around here means a little drizzle and some damp roads (Last year we had a storm so severe I actually turned my windshield wipers up to minimum interval!!) the SUV drivers are the ones crawling along like they are going to disintegrate if they exceed 30mph.

The closest thing to off-roading most of those vehicles will see is the speed bumps in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

[lanparty]

14. Speed bumps????

The closest thing to off-roading most of those vehicles will see is the speed bumps in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

You mean the children and old-ladies they run over becasue they can't see under the the hummers massive hood.

[Eurobabe]

13. That guy sure makes the rounds!

I saw him/her here in Virginia too ;)

Just wastin' gas!

[MindPilot]

7. My commute is about 30 minutes each way--all freeway

and I have never ever seen an SUV pulled over. It's generally tricked out rice burners I see, followed by ratty old cars whose drivers are probably guilty of DWB. Never any Merceedes or Beemers either, and they are the classic aggressive drivers manuvering as if they'd like nothing more than to attract the CHP's attention.

[leesa]

9. They don't even ticket these creatures when they are driving 90MPH

They, like people in expensive cars, are immune from speeding and reckless driving charge.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. ..

[napi21]

I don't know about LA, butmost of the campaign v's are SUV's.

I don't know if you've noticed this or not, but both shrub & Kerry campaigns vehicles have SUV's buzzing around. I suspect it is the Secret Service folks. I guess this is OK because I doubt either candidate is going to be visiting downtown Ca. cities.

I hate the damn things, but it's not a good idea to campaign on. There are lots of people out there who love their SUV, for a lot of different reasons (most of the reasons are stupid.)
It's never a good idea to put down a man's (ladies) car!

[lapfog_1]

15. three reasons

armor weighs a lot, lots of agents to an SUV, and, with a
professional driver, a good SUV can make it's own road.

I'm not critical of Secret Service using SUV's (though I've
seen enough presidential motorcades, I'm still amazed at just
how many vehicles are involved).

It's the suburbanite driving the Hummer to the grocery store
or commuting to work in one that bugs me.

[napi21]

17. OH, I agree with you! It's a status symbol.

My DIL moaned, cried, and plead until my son finally bought her an SUV. She constantly says "You'll never find me in a van!" I guess there has become some sort of stigma in driving a van now.

My son finally agreed to buy one BECAUSE they dow a trailer for camping, and it was the ideal vehicle to do that.

Too funny though...the Expedition sits parked in the driveway most of the time now because it costs so much to drive it.

[MaineDem]

10. This weight issue concerned motorhome owners I remember

Most large motorhomes were banned from driving on roads in CA. I don't know if anything was ever done to allow them; we've gotten out of the RV travel mode and lost contact with the groups involved.

[rinsd]

11. This only covers a few SUV's

Only the real monsters are over 6000lbs such as the Hummer or the Expedition.

I don't know why the author claimed many of those were produced.

On Edit: I was very wrong on this apparently many SUV's are over 6000 lbs(even the Tourag & X-5 which surprisde me). Here's a helpful link I found.

http://www.selfemployedweb.com/suv-tax-deduction.htm

[KurtNYC]

16. My SUV loves Iraqi Oil ! stickers

I saw that logo on a RW website and wanted to get some stickers like that to sneak on to SUVs back bumpers. They want to be obnoxious, I'll give 'em a little "help."