RPM Act Hearing

Don Sofranko · 09-08-2022, 08:43 PM

Well I did a quick search and found the SEMA site pretty informing.
In making sense of this, the small guy will probably never get chased down by the EPA, even if the act doesn't get passed. No custom built drag car is going to be fined, no custom off road racing engines are going to be targeted, and the off road stuff is unlikely to get banned.

On the street it could be different.
There are some pretty obnoxious diesel guys on the street, that could get some quick attention.
Common sense would tell me the EPA can't enforce local cases of a cheat device installation on a subtle tuned car here and there. I have yet to see an EPA car with red lights stopping anyone, maybe they are out there?
Can the police possibly be trained nationwide to nab a single car? Doesn't sound possible to me.

But if Larry Larson pulls out of the drag week gate with a big turbo Pro-Line engine, in a new Caddy, while acting like its really a street car, with a VIN and title, well he would be pretty game. Still they are not going to be able to police single cases, and prefer to stop the selling of defeat devices, mostly for diesels.

The SEMA argument
https://www.sema.org/epa-news

The clean air act has been around since 1963. In 2015 the EPA took the position that converted vehicles must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are no longer driven on public streets or highways. Although the EPA abandoned efforts to make the policy a formal regulation, the agency still maintains the practice of modifying the emission system of a motor vehicle for the purpose of converting it for racing is illegal. Manufacturing, selling, and installing race parts for the converted vehicle would also be a violation.

===========

The other side of the argument, this site says the bill has come up, every year, the last 4-5 years.
Its a very good read, and has good info on the tug of war.
Its complicated so read before blaming one party or person (below are exerts - not my words):

https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-cooke/t...-ruin-our-air/

EPA enforcement under the Clean Air Act has found that about 1 in every 10 diesel trucks has had their emissions controls tampered with.
and
Why the RPM Act keeps coming back
As with most tiny, obscure bills like this, the reason why the RPM Act keeps on being introduced year after year is money. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is the trade association for aftermarket equipment manufacturers, including the companies manufacturing defeat devices, and they have been fighting with EPA for the exemption for at least 5 years.

On the left (SCCA corvette) is what SEMA wants you to think the RPM Act is about. However, less than 5 percent of EPA tampering actions have been for anything related to cars, and there is no evidence of EPA targeting the amateur racing industry. On the right (obnoxious diesel) is what SEMA is actually protecting with the RPM Act by shifting the burden of enforcement from the product to the use of that product.

09-08-2022, 08:43 PM	#19
Don Sofranko Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 121 Likes: 0 Liked 128 Times in 32 Posts	Re: RPM Act Hearing Well I did a quick search and found the SEMA site pretty informing. In making sense of this, the small guy will probably never get chased down by the EPA, even if the act doesn't get passed. No custom built drag car is going to be fined, no custom off road racing engines are going to be targeted, and the off road stuff is unlikely to get banned. On the street it could be different. There are some pretty obnoxious diesel guys on the street, that could get some quick attention. Common sense would tell me the EPA can't enforce local cases of a cheat device installation on a subtle tuned car here and there. I have yet to see an EPA car with red lights stopping anyone, maybe they are out there? Can the police possibly be trained nationwide to nab a single car? Doesn't sound possible to me. But if Larry Larson pulls out of the drag week gate with a big turbo Pro-Line engine, in a new Caddy, while acting like its really a street car, with a VIN and title, well he would be pretty game. Still they are not going to be able to police single cases, and prefer to stop the selling of defeat devices, mostly for diesels. The SEMA argument https://www.sema.org/epa-news The clean air act has been around since 1963. In 2015 the EPA took the position that converted vehicles must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are no longer driven on public streets or highways. Although the EPA abandoned efforts to make the policy a formal regulation, the agency still maintains the practice of modifying the emission system of a motor vehicle for the purpose of converting it for racing is illegal. Manufacturing, selling, and installing race parts for the converted vehicle would also be a violation. =========== The other side of the argument, this site says the bill has come up, every year, the last 4-5 years. Its a very good read, and has good info on the tug of war. Its complicated so read before blaming one party or person (below are exerts - not my words): https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-cooke/t...-ruin-our-air/ EPA enforcement under the Clean Air Act has found that about 1 in every 10 diesel trucks has had their emissions controls tampered with. and Why the RPM Act keeps coming back As with most tiny, obscure bills like this, the reason why the RPM Act keeps on being introduced year after year is money. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is the trade association for aftermarket equipment manufacturers, including the companies manufacturing defeat devices, and they have been fighting with EPA for the exemption for at least 5 years. On the left (SCCA corvette) is what SEMA wants you to think the RPM Act is about. However, less than 5 percent of EPA tampering actions have been for anything related to cars, and there is no evidence of EPA targeting the amateur racing industry. On the right (obnoxious diesel) is what SEMA is actually protecting with the RPM Act by shifting the burden of enforcement from the product to the use of that product. Last edited by Don Sofranko; 09-08-2022 at 09:00 PM.