State will pay people to turn in gas guzzlers

Samantha Young, Associated Press

Saturday, June 27, 2009

06-27) 04:00 PDT Sacramento --

California regulators expanded a state car-scrapping program Friday to provide incentives of as much as $4,000 to motorists who surrender high-polluting vehicles and replace them with cleaner cars.

California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols said the program would help get some of the oldest, dirtiest cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles off state roads.

Unlike the federal "cash for clunkers" program signed into law Wednesday by President Barack Obama, California's effort is not primarily designed to replace gas guzzlers with more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Instead, the state wants those cars with the worst smog-forming tailpipe emissions - pollutants that give areas of California some of the country's dirtiest air.

Some 300,000 California drivers who own cars older than model year 1976 will be solicited by local air districts.

Beginning April 1, drivers could get $1,000 if they turn their car in to a licensed dismantler. Low-income Californians would be eligible for $1,500.

The regulation also provides a voucher between $2,000 and $2,500 to drivers in two of the state's most polluted regions - Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

The vouchers could be redeemed at new and used dealerships for a fuel-efficient car that's four years old or newer. Low-income Californians could buy a fuel-efficient car up to eight years old.

California has a car scrap program, but it is limited to cars newer than model year 1976 that fail the state's smog check.

The Legislature in 2007 directed the board to expand the program to get more polluting cars off roads. About 22,000 cars are scrapped under the program each year.

This article appeared on page B - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle