Help a foreigner understand California emission laws.

[Webeevdrivers]

Hi all. We are Canadian. We own property in the Palm Springs area and live in the US about 4 months of the year. We always hear about the tight standards for vehicle emissions in California and we see the various "smog check" signs on various garages etc. We are confused on whether these are just old signs or whether any of these rules are still in place. Maybe left over from a previous government etc? On a daily basis we see old cars and trucks belching smoke, running on three cylinders, diesels that are obviously chipped to the max, older Mercedes cars that smell horrible, city vehicles belching smoke. Is it just a compliance problem or are these type of vehicles just not covered under any existing laws. We haven't seen any coal rollers but we got choked out by a gardeners truck today.

Not complaining, we are guests in your country, just trying to figure out the California situation.

 

[Haxster]

In general, gas-powered vehicles must be smog checked every two years until they are 30 years old. 20 years for diesel. It's my understanding that government vehicles are not exempt...but could belch smoke for up to two years before getting snagged.

Unless a cop pulls over an obvious "gross polluter", there's no way to stop a chipper from removing the chip when they go in for a smog test.

If a vehicle fails the test, they are not destroyed and the owner is not sent to prison. But from your observations, perhaps this should be changed.

 

[Sharkbait]

IMHO, the smog check is just one more big money grab by State. You're right about cars that don't appear to be in compliance. They were probably taken to a certified smog check station that really doesn't check the vehicle properly but they're quick to grab $45 for the test. They take their portion of the $45 and send a piece to the state capital. Essentially, a car under six years old is exempt from smog check. After six years, it requires a smog check every other year. This article is old but still relevant:

'Widespread fraud' in California's smog test program

Once your car requires smogging (every two years), you will need the certificate along with DMV fees to register the vehicle. If you don't have the certificate, you can't register the car.

 

[Sharkbait]

Technically, the cops should stop a car or truck that's belching smoke and issue a fix-it ticket. You have a certain number of days to fix the issue. If you don't fix the car and have it inspected, you can incur fines, loss of license and the wrath of God otherwise known as the DMV.

 

[iwannam3]

IMHO, the smog check is just one more big money grab by State. You're right about cars that don't appear to be in compliance. They were probably taken to a certified smog check station that really doesn't check the vehicle properly but they're quick to grab $45 for the test. They take their portion of the $45 and send a piece to the state capital. Essentially, a car under six years old is exempt from smog check. After six years, it requires a smog check every other year. This article is old but still relevant:

'Widespread fraud' in California's smog test program

In Oregon, the state does the testing and there is no fraud. When you privatize and have enforcement and compliance by the private sector you are inviting fraud.

 

[RandyS]

You can always reporting a polluting or smoking car to the Air Resources Board....

https://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/complaints/smoke.htm

 

[EinSV]

Hi all. We are Canadian. We own property in the Palm Springs area and live in the US about 4 months of the year. We always hear about the tight standards for vehicle emissions in California and we see the various "smog check" signs on various garages etc. We are confused on whether these are just old signs or whether any of these rules are still in place. Maybe left over from a previous government etc? On a daily basis we see old cars and trucks belching smoke, running on three cylinders, diesels that are obviously chipped to the max, older Mercedes cars that smell horrible, city vehicles belching smoke. Is it just a compliance problem or are these type of vehicles just not covered under any existing laws. We haven't seen any coal rollers but we got choked out by a gardeners truck today.

Not complaining, we are guests in your country, just trying to figure out the California situation.

Not to worry, you have come to the right place.

If you drive a Tesla, you can simply wave your hand as you pass by those pesky California Smog stations. Consider them the equivalent of:

 

[EV-lutioin]

Well, some folks think the amount of smoke your rig puts out is a statement about your manhood. California plays Wack-a-Mole with these guys, but humans being humans, they find a way to break the law and get away with it. Fortunately, in a Tesla, it is easy to get in front of gross polluters so you don't have to smell their exhaust.

 

[miimura]

Also, cars are only expected to meet the emissions performance for the year of their manufacture. So, cars from the 60's and 70's will always pollute more than newer cars. Also trucks over 8,000 lbs GVWR have very relaxed emissions requirements.