Unless you live in California.
Paul Pearson lives in California.
Mr. Pearson makes a living converting gas and diesel powered vehicles to plug-in electrics.
There is no law regulating said conversions in the state of California. But that did not stop the the state DMV and the City of Santa Monica from arresting him and dragging him into court for, supposedly, illegally “remanufacturing” vehicles.
Last week, Paul Pearson went back to court. It was the fifth time he’s been in front of a judge because of a police sting last December over the electric car conversions he was doing in his garage.
…..
According to Pearson, the prosecutor asked that the charge against Pearson be amended to reflect only “agreement” that Pearson would convert a gas-only Ford Thunderbird to all-electric drive (again, see our original post here). Pearson and his lawyer had the prosecutor talk to Rodney Aoki at the Sacramento DMV, who said there is no law on the books saying converting cars to electric drive is illegal.
The whole case now rests upon whether or not the Pearson’s website uses the word “manufacture”. He says it doesn’t and the City hasn’t been able to prove that it does.
Gunnies aren’t the only ones who have to worry about the “arrest first, figure out the charge later” mentality.
…and from the Governator on down through the Kali.gov hierarchy, they just can’t understand why their voting citizens have no faith in their leadership…
If Kali.gov had an ounce of sense, they would be putting on courses at their Community Colleges on how ordinary folks could do such conversions. Instead, they feel that the whole process of conversion to battery-electric is somehow a threat to their regulatory apparatus, so they are spending scarce taxpayer money to persecute this forward-thinking entrepreneur.
They’re probably just pissed because they haven’t figured some way to tax somebody for it.
Exactly.
You can’t fuel-tax an electric, and you can’t peddle influence with a business if it isn’t regulated.
The DMV nitwits thought they might get a bust and fine on another hot-rod customizer, and are now all butt-hurt that they made themselves look stupid.
I recall seeing something on the news the other night about how businesses are fleeing California in droves. Colorado even has an ad campaign trying to lure them in.
Can’t imagine what could make them flee… (sarcasm off)
Pingback: Paul Pearson Dragged To Court - Is DIY Electric Car Legal? | Build Electric Car | Electric Car Conversion Blog By Electric Car Conversion Enthusiast Will Yap
The City of Santa Monica is actualy a great place to live,we just have a KNUCKELHEAD deputy City Atty…..Paul Pearson