Contact Director Rex Roden with questions about membership or for more information at 530-622-6608 or send e-mail to rexroden@zetabb.com .

The Association of California Car Clubs consists of thousands of automobile hobbyists throughout the state who are interested in California laws and policies regarding collector automobiles. The ACCC was formed March 16, 1972.

The ACCC is a volunteer organization with regional representatives who represent the interests of individual members and member clubs across the state. Hobby clubs and individuals joining the ACCC contribute to the protection of the hobby and are kept informed of the issues. These representatives form the Board of Directors, serve without pay and are elected from the pool of active auto enthusiasts in `this state.

WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE ACCC?

We form the bridge between the automotive enthusiast and our elected officials (who have stated that about 85 percent of their votes are cast on unfamiliar subjects). We are united to serve by informing and educating our members, and by using appropriate channels of communication at all levels of government, as necessary, to protect and preserve the collectible automobile hobby.

Article 8.3, Section 5050. of the California Vehicle Code, authored by the ACCC, states:

"The legislature finds and declares that constructive leisure pursuits by California citizens is most important. This article is intended to encourage responsible participation in the hobby of collecting, preserving, restoring, and maintaining motor vehicles of historical and special interest, which hobby contributes to the enjoyment of the citizens and the preservation of California automotive memorabilia."

OUR HISTORY - WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU?

A few of our accomplishments include:

Historical Vehicle License Act
Sponsored a bill to create the "Historical Vehicle" license plate for vehicles 25 or more years old.

Eliminated Weight Fees
Sponsored a bill to allow pre-1936 commercial vehicles to have passenger vehicle license plates.

Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Law
Changed to allow cars and parts of cars to be sold by hobbyists.

Equipment Safety Compliance
Defeated a bill that would have required collector cars to meet modern safety glass, lamps, windshield wiper and brake laws.

Junked Car Bill
Defeated a bill that would have prevented the sale of any vehicle an insurance company deemed "beyond repair" to anyone other than a licensed dismantler or auto dealer, even if you owned it before the accident.

Year of Manufacture License Plates
Authorizes use of California auto, truck, and trailer license plates with the date corresponding to the model year of the vehicle.

Armored Vehicles
ACCC obtained executive order permitting the licensing of armored vehicles by private parties.

Off-Highway Vehicles
Obtained exemption for some of these vehicles as historical vehicles.

Swap Meets
Drafted a bill to clarify the exemption of the regulation of car clubs. Changed California law regarding tax exempt status of non-profit clubs to match the federal law. Working to reduce the impact of sales tax laws on swappers.

Emission Controls
Successful in presenting data to the Air Resources Board that aided in elimination of exhaust retrofit devices on 1955-1965 vehicles. Exempted passenger vehicles 1965 or older from bi-annual emission inspection program except on change of ownership. Successful in defeating the requirement for an emission inspection yearly on all vehicles. Exempts most vehicles 1975 and older.

Bumper Bill
This removed the requirement that made it illegal to operate an automobile not equipped with both front and rear bumpers regardless of whether or not the vehicle was that way when new.

Passed SB1784
Defines collector motor vehicle signed in to law July 5, 2004

Certificate of non-operation 
Exempted cars 25 years old and older and other collectable vehicles from the planned non operation requirement of AB2912.

Become A Politically Active And

Effective Vehicle Enthusiast Community

Without question, vehicle clubs and individual enthusiasts need to become more active politically to protect our ownership and use of collector vehicles and to preserve it for the future. There are a number of ways to become more politically active and savvy. For our purposes here, we have split the suggestions into both specific political and general political involvement. Consider some of the following options:

Specific Political Involvement

Support auto-friendly candidates. Consider working on the campaigns of friendly candidates. Donations of time, money and publicity are extremely important to politicians because it takes all of this to run for, win, and hold office. Once the candidate is elected, there will be a built-in relationship between you (or your club) and the legislator that could pay dividends when any anti or pro-hobby legislation is introduced in the legislature.

Maintain relationships with local legislators. Work hard at cultivating relationships with local politicians. Invite them to parades, rod runs, car shows, rallies etc. Give them a place of prominence; perhaps make them a celebratory judge at a show. Give them the opportunity to see that your club or association is large, influential and an important part of their constituency. In addition, send club representatives to town meetings, etc. to demonstrate club interest and strength and to hold them publicly accountable on pro-hobbyist issues. Finally, schedule periodic office visits to local legislators to keep them on their toes.

Be smart about who you deal with. Deal with legislator friends where you can find them. A friend is someone who supports the auto enthusiast cause no matter whether he or she is Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. Don’t waste valuable time and effort trying to sway legislators who are publicly opposed to your viewpoint. Put your energy and time into developing relationships with those who support you and those who may be on the fence.

Maintain mutual respect with officials. Some people have nothing but contempt for elected officials. If you or any members of your club or organization are such a person, re-read this document with an eye toward understanding the value of becoming politically involved in a positive manner. Otherwise, keep a distance from the process. A counterproductive, uncooperative or abusive attitude will communicate itself to a legislator and will ruin your efforts at developing a positive and useful working relationship.

General Political Involvement

Build an automotive coalition. Some of the most positive and politically effective pro-hobbyist organizations in the country are statewide or regional auto club coalitions. Creating a coalition recognizes that there is strength in numbers and that the rights of ALL vehicle enthusiasts, from street rodders to antiquers to off-roaders to late model hobbyists, should be represented. Simply put, a united pro-hobbyist front can be a very influential political force.

Get involved in the community. Clubs should consider joining local business, service and community organizations to increase their positive exposure in the community. In particular, clubs should consider developing relationships with charitable organizations. Holding charity runs and fundraisers can provide a great opportunity to show local residents and politicians that auto clubs are a positive community force rather than car-obsessed only people.

Cultivate a relationship with the local media. Never underestimate the value of having friends in the media. Contact local newspapers and radio/TV stations to publicize car shows, charity events, etc. Pitch stories about the club, or something that the club is involved or supporting to local reporters. Write editorials and letters to the editor expressing the viewpoint of the club and car hobbyists in general on legislative issues. If a club is successful in presenting a positive image to the media, they will most likely reciprocate. The community, as well as politicians, notice good publicity. Present a positive, professional image.

Vote! Remember who your friends are. Elect them and keep them in office.

          Send Email Inquires to Rex Roden... Hope to see you soon...Drive On!

 

Copyright 2004-2008 Capital City Cruisers Inc.
Send Email Inquires to info@capitolcitycruisers.org