Moss Motors, Ltd

I'm not sure were to post this so I thought I'd stick it here.

If you are in the UK you  might want to sign this partition.  

Its a partition to stop or at least let the government know, we don't like the proposals to ban or restrict the use of older cars.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Classic-Cars/

 

Take note USA'ers. If it's happening there, it won't be long before it comes here!

Legislators are always looking for new bills on which to put their names, and there are very few "original ideas" in Washington.

I'll sign that, if only symbolically.

davey

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

Thanks Davey - I still have connections in the UK as well as the USA

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I want my MGB

Guys,

It is ALREADY happening here. Google around a little bit and you'll be both scared and pi**ed.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Wasn't there a fear that convertibles would be banned, somewhere in the mists of time?

There seems to be a lot of legislation proposed, bills written etc. that in the end, come to nothing - This is true of the UK, USA and the "EU" as far as I have been able to observe.

Ed

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I want my MGB

Well, lets see...

As I put on my seat belt, shut off my cell phone, and strap the kid in the car seat rather than keep him on my lap the way Dad did, I turned on my illegal radio and heard a story on the news that I can't smoke in my car if junior is in there......

I guess you're right Ed, this proposed bill probably won't pass, just like all the other liberty stealing ideas.... 

Maybe I'll just use the motorcycle more...as soon as I get a helmet!

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

I know, I know.... I heard that story too.

Mind you I can think of some things forced upon us that are for the best. Child car seats are a plain example - I wouldn't be here without them. Enforced seatbelt laws as liberty theft? I'm not so sure, but there is a very different perception of liberty and its fragility here in the USA, in comparison to my native UK.

Cheers,

Ed

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I want my MGB

I guess it's a matter of perspective.

All of those laws that I cited before make good sense, I would just rather have the liberty to choose, and those laws preclude that. I almost NEVER ride my motorcycle without a helmet, but I'd like to be able to make that decision for myself.

For the record, I have no kids, loud rolling boom-box, and there is no helmet law in the state where I live.

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

There is much in what you say. I use a bicycle on a daily basis and always wear a helmet whilst commuting or on other long rides, but occasionally pop out on short errands e.g. to find lunch, without it. This has provoked comments from other cyclists and even motorists. There are threats of mandatory laws for cycle helmet use, which I am unkeen to see brought to book. There has to be some element of human choice left.

The creeping "nanny state" - something my wife would maintain is far more orevalent in Britain, is something of which to be wary. Whilst it can bring us an improved world, it also has the danger of imparting an unthinking, unchallenging received wisdom to us all.

 

Ed

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I want my MGB

Wow, this is pretty deep.  I was in the UK when thousands of gun owners woke up one morning and were now criminals because a law had passed on owning guns.

But I think law makers are demonized to often.  I'm sure no one gets out of bed in the morning thinking "how shall I crush civil liberties today".  Many safety laws are created to protect us; not only our bodies but our wallets.  I'm sure the sum of medical bills paid by the government and then passed on to us in taxes was a significant driving force in a lot safety legislation.  While it is legal to ride a motorcycle with out a helmet, on a military base it, it is forbidden.  And if I, as an Air Force member get in an accident with out a helmet or seatbelt, the Air Force is not obligated to pay my medical bill and I will be guilty of dereliction of duty and destruction of government property.

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Dave Kiernan

www.airforce.com
www.dosomethingamazing.com

DKiernan,

You make a good point about the financial considerations. I'd agree that must be one factor in the equation, but as Ben Franklin once stated, "Anyone whom is willing to trade liberty for safety deserves neither". Philosophically I tend to agree with that, as obviously you do as well, citing your chosen career path.

Liberty is not free, and there is a cost connected to its maintenance. So even though your point is well taken and more than likely true to some degree, the premise itself is flawed. 

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

davey,

Actually, I believe the word was security, not safety. There is quite a difference.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Dr. motorbill66,

I stand corrected in my misquote but believe that the spirit of the quote remains intact.

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On their death bed, nobody ever said, "Gee I wish I'd spent more time at work!"

Sorry, I have taken us off subject.  It seems the opposed legislation would not only punish classic owner but a majority of average drivers in the UK, most of whom cannot afford to replace there cars every 5 or 6 (because most in the demographic don't buy new).  I noticed this while living there; europeans don't swap cars as often as we do on this side of the pond.  Just look at the Fiat 500, they last forever and almost put Fiat out of business.  Cars get replaced when they no longer work and the 500 would not stop working.  My good friend in Newmarket drives an 87 Toyota and his wife drives a 95 Rover.  They have no plans to ditch them until the wheels fall off.  They would be forced to scrap their car for nothing (no trade-in value) further damaging their already stressed bottom line.

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Dave Kiernan

www.airforce.com
www.dosomethingamazing.com

I don't have any supporting data in front of me, but it seems that I remember seeing an editorial in a past Hemmings Motor News addressing the threat of legislation in New Hampshire or Vermont that would ban older cars from the roadways. Also - and Ed might know this - isn't there some legislation in California to get the older cars off the road?

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Happiness is an MGB!