California “Cool Cars” Law Under Fire From Police
California’s “Cool Cars” law has been controversial ever since its adoption by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) last summer… but now things have been kicked up a notch with CARB seemingly sticking to their guns in a shoot out with the police… almost literally.
In a nutshell, the law will require all new cars sold in California starting in 2012 to have a microscopic reflective layer embedded in the windows that will keep the cars from getting so hot in the sun, thereby reducing air conditioner usage and increasing fuel economy while lowering emissions.
The problem: The reflective layer has been shown to interrupt cell phone, GPS, and RFID transmissions, which, in turn, could disrupt the ability of police to track GPS-braceleted criminals, block 911 calls, and stop automated toll booths from tracking toll payers… not to mention screwing up any number of the ever-connected devices that drivers use on a daily basis.
>> Interested in solar power? See if group discounts are available in your city
>> Don’t forget to: Sign up for our electric car interest list.
CARB has fervently beaten back critics by saying that their tests show the reflective layer will have virtually no effect on the use of these technologies and that the reflective layer will be required only in the windshield through model year 2015. After 2015, automakers will be able to select other technology than the reflective material to achieve the same effect, but will have to surround the entire car in that glass, not just the windshield.
In the last few months, all the noise surrounding Cool Cars seemed to have died down substantially, but this week a slew of police, sheriff, 911, safety, and transportation organizations just aren’t buying it and have written numerous letters to CARB in no uncertain terms telling them to slow down and reevaluate. The list of doubters includes, The California Police Chiefs Association, The California Peace Officers Association, The California Narcotics Officers Association, The California State Sheriffs’ Association, The California Chapter of the National Emergency Number Association, Crime Victims United of California, and the Transportation Corridor Agencies.
While all of these organizations agree that the overall goals of the Cool Cars law are good, they have implored CARB to take additional time before implementing the laws and look into different technologies that accomplish the same goals without impacting electronics reception. It seems that even CARB acknowledges there are better materials to accomplish the same goals after 2015, so why not just wait until 2015 and get rid of the reflective material altogether? This fight has just gotten very interesting…
You can read the full letters to CARB from the above organizations on the next page.
You Might Also Like
New EPA Sticker Grades Your Car
Federal-Mogul Piston Rings Claim To Cut Emissions and Increase Efficiency
“Web” of Battery Plants to Bring 62,000 New Green Jobs to Michigan
New Road Material Aids in Cleaning up Exhaust Pollution From the Air
February 27th, 2010 at 11:14 am
What this all sounds like to me, is the police wanting to be able to spy on people and track them. They want to listen to your cellphone convos, track RFID chips?? this is seriously wrong.
February 28th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Hi Nick, My experience as a reporter makes me wonder about the simultaneity of it all. Why, after the issue died down, did it suddenly and simultaneously reemerge? I smell “Flakulence.” I think the lobbies are coordinating opposition. If I were in your shoes, I think I’d look into that a little bit more.
March 1st, 2010 at 9:40 am
Mac,
Certainly it is coordinated. These things usually are, but it doesn’t mean their arguments don’t have some credence. Especially in light of the fact that CA has been putting more and more criminals on GPS monitoring bracelets as a way to cut costs and lower prison enrollment it seems especially important to make sure that this law absolutely won’t disrupt monitoring technology. If I were a California resident that would be my first concern. As much as I care about protecting our environment so that my family, friends, and community can continue to live a happy, well-fed existence, preventing criminals from escaping takes higher precedence.
March 1st, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Seems a bit silly. Look at the bright side– cell phones not working means fewer people using them while driving.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Mac has it right, the special interests are beating the bushes hard. The reality is that CARB and independant testing shows that the signal effects are minor and within the noise level. All the devices like bracelets and cell phones work normally (see the study CARB published in Nov.) The reg does not mandate a specific technology but even if the metallic reflective coatings are used we should not be concerned as they have been used already on over 30 million vehicles in the US over the last 15 years and many more than that in Europe. This technology is very popular on European vehicles and they love their cell phones. Many models of Mercedes, Audi, etc… have had it even in the US for years and people buying these vehicles never seem to complain. They are just more comfortable in their vehicles due to the cooler feeling.