Washington State Democrat Bill Could Jail Americans for Violating Ban on Gas Leaf Blowers

Washington State Democrat Bill Could Jail Americans for Violating Ban on Gas Leaf Blowers

Washington state Democrats are currently pushing for a new piece of legislation that could potentially impose hard prison time on users of gas-powered lawn equipment.

The bill, pre-filed by Representative Amy Walen, a Democrat from Kirkland, is designed to ban the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment, including the commonly used gas leaf blowers as a part of the state’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint and tackle the issue of climate change.

The proposed ban comes in the form of an amendment to the state’s Clean Air Act. The new draft of the bill is clear in its mission to eliminate the use of gasoline-powered and diesel-powered landscaping and other outdoor power equipment. The rationale behind this is the claim that such gas-powered tools are not only significant contributors to climate change but are also the cause of a range of health problems, including asthma, hearing loss, and other such issues.

The proposed plan is for the Washington state Department of Ecology to have until January 1, 2026, to adopt new rules. These new orders would prohibit engine exhaust and evaporative emissions from all new outdoor power equipment.

The bill, however, does have a set of specific, albeit limited, exemptions. It would allow the use of gas-powered equipment by government agencies and for commercial or residential use, but only in the absence of a suitable zero-emissions power equipment technology.

Violating this ban would be a major offense. The draft of the bill states that any such action would be a gross misdemeanor under the state’s penal code. This would mean that the person in violation could face a heavy penalty. The law would allow for a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment of up to 364 days for each violation.

To help with the process of phasing out gas-powered equipment, the draft of the bill also includes a plan to provide some tax relief. The state would temporarily lift the state’s current tax on the sale and purchase of new, zero-emissions landscaping equipment. This would include battery-powered or plug-in lawn equipment, as well as lawn mowers that are powered solely by human effort.

The ban on gas-powered lawn equipment is a new shift in the long-term quest to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. It is a new part of the long line of other such steps taken by the U.S. state of California, which has also been a leader in the fight against carbon emissions. In 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a ban on the sale of gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers, starting in 2024. The California Air Resources Board also decided that all new vehicles in the state will run on electric batteries by 2035.

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