Activists Looking To Ban Gas-Powered Car Purchases Over $50,000 In San Diego

Breathe Free America, an environmental group out of San Diego has announced they’re looking to ban purchases of new gasoline-powered vehicles priced over $50,000 in the city. The group says the goal is to “reduce CO2 emissions by 18,000 metric tons in the first year alone.”

They’ll need at least 76,500 verified petition signatures if they want to get the motion on the ballot for a vote in November and will start collecting in March.

If you’re thinking, “I’ll just buy my car elsewhere and bring it back” you might want to think again. If the motion passes, people who bring a vehicle purchased outside the city would be required to pay a new 2.5 percent use tax for the privilege.

If you’re a resident of San Diego, don’t get all worked up just yet. As of now, The Clean Vehicle Initiative is just a proposal that’s essentially notice of intent to circulate a petition to make these rule changes happen. The group is saying San Diego “could become the first city to start banning gas cars and start a nationwide movement”.

The Initiative would ban the “sale, leasing, or transfer of any personal-use vehicles valued at over $50,000 pre-tax” while exempting fully electric and fuel-cell vehicles. If a vehicle is primarily used for commercial purposes, a government vehicle or special use vehicles, it would also be excluded from the ban.

The ban would apply to vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2021. The group says that by enforcing the new 2.5 percent use tax, it would raise up to $30 million for the city.

The deadline for the city to receive all of the verified signatures is 88 days before the election, or August 7.