Sign this petition! Don't be lazy!
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From: So-Cal Palos Verdes
Sign this petition! Don't be lazy!
Ok so if you have seen this already, hope you signed it. But if you haven't.. sign it!
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petition...years/L50BZzwj
Here's what it is about.
Stop using Homeland Security funds to seize imported vehicles, and change the DOT/EPA exemption to 15 years.
The Department of Homeland Security spends a shockingly disproportionate amount of its budget not on security initiatives, but on customs seizures. In particular, importers of grey-market vehicles have been targeted by monies taxpayers have intended to be used to secure our country against terrorism and terrorist activity. We call upon the Executive Branch to immediately cease this wasteful activity, and furthermore to change the DOT/EPA exemption time on grey-market vehicles from 25 years to 15 years (to match the vehicle regulations of Canada), recognizing that the 25-year rule was enacted due to support from special interests such as Mercedes Benz North America.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petition...years/L50BZzwj
Here's what it is about.
Stop using Homeland Security funds to seize imported vehicles, and change the DOT/EPA exemption to 15 years.
The Department of Homeland Security spends a shockingly disproportionate amount of its budget not on security initiatives, but on customs seizures. In particular, importers of grey-market vehicles have been targeted by monies taxpayers have intended to be used to secure our country against terrorism and terrorist activity. We call upon the Executive Branch to immediately cease this wasteful activity, and furthermore to change the DOT/EPA exemption time on grey-market vehicles from 25 years to 15 years (to match the vehicle regulations of Canada), recognizing that the 25-year rule was enacted due to support from special interests such as Mercedes Benz North America.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,376
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From: Chino Hills, CA
Do you have a version of this that's in English? And also without the excessive politicization - - like neglecting to point out that Customs is part of Homeland Security now, so of course that part of DHS budget allocated to Customs Enforcement is spent on customs enforcement rather than 'security initiatives?'
The problem is protectionist trade policies established by Congress and the Administration, not budgeting within DHS. Focusing on the "wasteful spending" aspect is just emotional demagoguery, not rational argument.
Who are the backers of this petition?
The problem is protectionist trade policies established by Congress and the Administration, not budgeting within DHS. Focusing on the "wasteful spending" aspect is just emotional demagoguery, not rational argument.
Who are the backers of this petition?
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 9
From: So Cal where the OC/LA/SB counties meet
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,497
Likes: 1,487
From: West Coast
I don't wanna be a kook, but these are all from the last 1 week. 2 from today alone. 
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...light=petition
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Petitions like this really make my head hurt. Some of the claims in that petition are pretty stupid. I'm just going to quote someone else regarding this topic because I think they said it better than I ever will be able to.
The Department of Homeland Security spends a shockingly disproportionate amount of its budget not on security initiatives, but on customs seizures.
The Department of Homeland Security is made up of 7 federal agencies and dozens of other non-agency components like advisory councils and task forces and semi-independent offices. DHS has an annual budget of around $100B. Clearly, some of that money is lost through waste, fraud and abuse as DHS is a large and challenging bureaucracy to manage. But much of it gets spent on "security" related initiatives.
One of those DHS agencies is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), whose mission is to regulate and facilitate international trade, collect import duties, and enforce U.S. regulations governing trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the largest federal law enforcement agency and has an annual budget of around $12B. CBP operations (employee salaries, benefits, training, facilities, equipment, etc.) don't cost the tax payers money, CBP makes money! Nearly 2,500 employees in CBP revenue positions collect over $30 billion annually in entry duties and taxes through the enforcement of trade and tariff laws. These collections provide the second largest source of revenue for the U.S. Government.
So how can the petitioner make such unsubstantiated claims that DHS spends more on seizing property than on other security matters? Even if the petitioner's ludicrous statement was true, who is to say that is a bad thing? Items may be seized if they are not in compliance with US law. You might disagree with the law but there are mechanisms in place for those who wish to import foreign goods. Those charged with enforcing the law have limited discretion on how vigorously they may choose to enforce the law. Remember, CBP is an artifact of policy makers, namely Congress and the President.
The Department of Homeland Security spends a shockingly disproportionate amount of its budget not on security initiatives, but on customs seizures.
The Department of Homeland Security is made up of 7 federal agencies and dozens of other non-agency components like advisory councils and task forces and semi-independent offices. DHS has an annual budget of around $100B. Clearly, some of that money is lost through waste, fraud and abuse as DHS is a large and challenging bureaucracy to manage. But much of it gets spent on "security" related initiatives.
One of those DHS agencies is the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), whose mission is to regulate and facilitate international trade, collect import duties, and enforce U.S. regulations governing trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the largest federal law enforcement agency and has an annual budget of around $12B. CBP operations (employee salaries, benefits, training, facilities, equipment, etc.) don't cost the tax payers money, CBP makes money! Nearly 2,500 employees in CBP revenue positions collect over $30 billion annually in entry duties and taxes through the enforcement of trade and tariff laws. These collections provide the second largest source of revenue for the U.S. Government.
So how can the petitioner make such unsubstantiated claims that DHS spends more on seizing property than on other security matters? Even if the petitioner's ludicrous statement was true, who is to say that is a bad thing? Items may be seized if they are not in compliance with US law. You might disagree with the law but there are mechanisms in place for those who wish to import foreign goods. Those charged with enforcing the law have limited discretion on how vigorously they may choose to enforce the law. Remember, CBP is an artifact of policy makers, namely Congress and the President.
putting all the BS aside, i think it's a good to let the government know that they waste too much money but this is just a scheme to throw the stick and hope they are too stupid to see that the main focus is on importing vehicles not designed to be used/driven in the united states.
some vehicles are exempted as right hand drive vehicles but these imported vehicles are deemed unsafe because they are not built to be driven on our backwards roadways. yes they can be driven still but there are issues with merging, line of sight and blind spots with a car that you sit on the wrong side of while driving, some exceptions are made such as mail carriers that save time with in that they do not have to get out of the vehicle to do their job.
but more to the point, this is just an effort to get vehicles imported and somehow legal but you have 2 localities to think about. just because the government deems it legal or illegal does not mean that your state will follow the same thought process. each state is allowed to make and enforce it's own laws because each state has it's own issues.
i do agree that some things shouldn't have so much time and effort wasted on enforcing laws for. if some idiot wants to try and import a RHD and it is illegal to register the car in that state due to safety standards then they should have their car siezed, chopped, sold at auction, parted out, whatever. it was their own risk. not like these are nuclear materials we are talking about but automobiles, hardly something worth alot of effort to keep out of the country.
some vehicles are exempted as right hand drive vehicles but these imported vehicles are deemed unsafe because they are not built to be driven on our backwards roadways. yes they can be driven still but there are issues with merging, line of sight and blind spots with a car that you sit on the wrong side of while driving, some exceptions are made such as mail carriers that save time with in that they do not have to get out of the vehicle to do their job.
but more to the point, this is just an effort to get vehicles imported and somehow legal but you have 2 localities to think about. just because the government deems it legal or illegal does not mean that your state will follow the same thought process. each state is allowed to make and enforce it's own laws because each state has it's own issues.
i do agree that some things shouldn't have so much time and effort wasted on enforcing laws for. if some idiot wants to try and import a RHD and it is illegal to register the car in that state due to safety standards then they should have their car siezed, chopped, sold at auction, parted out, whatever. it was their own risk. not like these are nuclear materials we are talking about but automobiles, hardly something worth alot of effort to keep out of the country.
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