Smog exemption GONE! Lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer

VW8AVTEC · Post by **VW8AVTEC** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:37 pm

I posted this on Cal-look.com, and I though I would post it here as well. I figure this post would be better received in the Euro-look Forum, but this forum feels more at home. Some one could always link it in that forum if they wanted too?

Here is a copy/paste of what I just read on my Compact Toyota Sports Cars Forums:

"Governor Signs Smog Check Exemption Repeal Bill Into Law

We have just been informed that despite receiving thousands of messages in opposition to the bill, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has just signed A.B. 2683 into law. The new law repeals California's current rolling emissions-test exemption for vehicles 30 years old and older and replaces it with a law requiring the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles.

We remain confident that the facts are on our side: California's 30-year rolling exemption recognized the minimal impact vintage cars have on air quality, since they constitute a minuscule portion of the overall vehicle population. These older cars are overwhelmingly well maintained and infrequently driven, and are poor candidates for reducing pollution. They are, in the end, convenient scapegoats for legislators, regulators and stationary source polluters using false data and inflated annual mileage assumptions to make it sound like they are cleaning the air. The old car hobby must stand united against future attacks that will accomplish nothing except require unnecessary testing, waste money and burden car hobbyists.

Special thanks to all of the thousands of vehicle hobbyists and related businesses who contacted the Governor requesting his veto. Special thanks also to the steadfast California lawmakers that supported our valiant cause - State Senators Tom McClintock, Betty Karnette and Chuck Poochigian and Assemblymembers Doug LaMalfa and John Campbell.

We will live to fight another day!

Steve McDonald
SEMA VP, Government Affairs"

And here is a copy/paste from the LA Times:

"Schwarzenegger apparently ignored the pleas of his friend Jay Leno, host of television's "Tonight Show," and signed a bill that will require smog checks for vehicles built since 1976.

Current law exempts 30-year-old and older cars from smog checks. A classic-car buff, Leno had called the Assembly office of author Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View) to complain. The governor included no message in his signing of the bill, AB 2683"

This is not good news for all forms of car enthusiast! As I was reading this post, I realized that I would now forever have to worry about having side draft Webers on my 1986 Corolla GTS. That also means stroking the motor, cams, or hell any aftermarket modification short of a DOT approved K&N filter! Then it hit me? even though my Bug is a ?62, not all guys drive an early model Bug. Cal-look might be safe (for now), but now our poor German-look friends do not have it so easy.

Hanknmorgan · Post by **Hanknmorgan** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 11:56 pm

wow. That really sucks. Why 76? I have a 75 so I'm glad they chose that instead of 76. But honestly I am surprised they didnt go 75 and up since 75 was the first year a lot of cars came with smog friendly emmsions equipment. Or so I thought. Maybe I'm wrong. As long as they dont go lower than 76 I'm ok I guess, but whatever. I understadn thier logic, but I dont really see why it matters. Dumb crap like that is going to lower CA's emmisions problems because people are going to get sick of that kind of crap and move. I understand protecting the environment, but sometimes I think their are better alternatives out there and like stated these old cars make up such a small percentage anyway. How about a ban on all SUV's. That might help.

bedlamite · Post by **bedlamite** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 4:19 am

Hearing this makes me realise how nice it is to live in a place that doesn't require any emissions testing at all.

Hank, your suggestion on banning SUV's strikes a nerve, and I cannot disagree more. This is how we will lose in the end. Ever heard of divide and conquor? The enviro-nazis have, and they are using it to their advantage very nicely.

In Germany, they first came for the communists, and I didn't speak up
because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the
Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for
the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a Catholic. Then they came for me - and by
that time there was nobody left to speak up."

Rev. Martin Niemoller, 1945

No more bans. Not the SUV's. Not the ricers. Not the old cars. None.

VGM · Post by **VGM** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:52 am

SUV's should be banned by conscience of the consumer not by law.Vote with your feet and your spending.

Hanknmorgan · Post by **Hanknmorgan** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:17 am

Certainly not trying to upset anyone. I just think it's funny that the few old cars out there cant catch a break, but our american market pushes the biggest and badest gas guzzling vehicles possible. It's fine by me, I used to drive one. I now can go twice the distance on the same amount of the gas. Suv's safety is great though, as long as your driving one. Those things will tear up a compact car in a wreck. I agree, dont ban everything, but if you are going to I was just making a point that they should ban some of the vehicles that are less efficient and greater in popularity. As stated before, 30yr old + cars make up a very small percentage that is decreasing daily. SUVs are still gaining popularity. Just some thoughts for fun, no harm meant

Post by **Tom Notch** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:38 am

This has like NO effect on the peoples's Bugs on this site., ALL WITH FAST '76 AND NEWER Bugs that live in Cali speak up. Fuelie supers aren't really this site's focus.

btw, My sis's '78 Cab breezes thru smog in Or. Just some slight non stock items in it

btljuce · Post by **btljuce** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 10:56 am

bedlamite wrote:Hearing this makes me realise how nice it is to live in a place that doesn't require any emissions testing at all.

amen !!!!

Bruce2 · Post by **Bruce2** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:08 am

Hanknmorgan wrote: Suv's safety is great though, as long as your driving one.

Au contrare. Did you know that 50% of all deaths due to roll-overs happen in SUVs and Pickups? I bet those vehicles don't make up 50% of the total vehicles on the road.

VW8AVTEC · Post by **VW8AVTEC** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 12:06 pm

This has like NO effect on the peoples's Bugs on this site., ALL WITH FAST '76 AND NEWER Bugs that live in Cali speak up. Fuelie supers aren't really this site's focus.

I know, and I am sorry. I thought you guys might have wanted to know. We have to be careful. My grandfather has been telling me that this law would one day pass and I never paid attention, now look. What is going to stop them from changing the law to ?1966 and later vehicles?, as that was the 1st year that regulation started to take place. Then where will we be? If this topic has ZERO worth in this forum it can be move or deleted, I do not mind.

Au contrare. Did you know that 50% of all deaths due to roll-overs happen in SUVs and Pickups? I bet those vehicles don't make up 50% of the total vehicles on the road.

I know this is getting more off topic but... Where I work, I see all kinds of crashes. Most are 35 mph or less though. While on my way to work last week, a SUV took a green light turning left into the parking lot. A little Ford Ranger ran the red light and T-Boned it as it made the turn. The Ranger almost stopped before hitting the SUV, but when it did hit it the SUV the tires popped and the damn thing almost went over. The SUV tottered all they way up on 2 wheels, hesitating for a second before coming back down on the Ranger's hood. I could not believe my eyes!

I believe our system is weird. How can our system not allow a car like the WRX here for years, and still not allow the Skyline, but yet we can get a SUV like the H2 that only gets 8-12 miles to the gallon. I have also noticed that the rules that cars have to follow, SUV do not, just because they are based on a trucks chassis. Why are the rules for emission more relaxed on trucks? I have never see so many huge, multi passenger, all-terrain vehicles with only one person on one terrain: Freeway! But, I guess that is the american way: Bigger is better. The boats of the 50's, 60's, and early 70's and been replaced by the SUV!

If this new rule is to stay in effect they need to get rid of the visual inspection. Who cares what you have in you car if it can still run an emissions number. I for one have never mind the idea behind smog, I like clean air, but I also like cars. I would believe it is the broken down $500 stock beaters will run worse on emissions than a car that is taken care of and well modded. Why not just eliminate the visual inspection so we can have the best of both worlds?

69bug · Post by **69bug** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:01 pm

btljuce wrote:
bedlamite wrote:Hearing this makes me realise how nice it is to live in a place that doesn't require any emissions testing at all.
amen !!!!

not to jinx anything...but...places that do NOT have smog checks are contributing to the increasing smog problem nationwide...

the air directly above your state and/or county does not stay there...it travels...and affects everywhere

MattKab · Post by **MattKab** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:36 pm

Just out of interest, what does California's smog test involve? Is it a CO limit? Or smoke density?

69bug · Post by **69bug** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 1:45 pm

limit on the following according to model and type of vehicle:

CO
HC
NOX

Stripped66 · Post by **Stripped66** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 2:42 pm

FWIW, this is not the end of the world. I had to smog my 1978 Fiat 131 in Nevada; just a sniffer test for CO2 and HC's...

...this is a non-California car, so no catalytic converter. Air pump and EGR removed (it was an Oregon car, but in Nevada, no smog equipment inspection on vehicles made before 1980). 1756cc engine with 300-deg duration camshafts, lumpy lumpy idle...

...it passed. I don't think California smog law would agree with my lack of smog equipment (though I don't know if they have an exemption); however, in the time it takes to swap a VW engine, it should not be a large concern to have a spare engine conforming to smog-regulations in the garage if you're one of the few driving a 1976 or newer, modified VW.

VWGirl · Post by **VWGirl** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 3:08 pm

69bug wrote:
btljuce wrote:
bedlamite wrote:Hearing this makes me realise how nice it is to live in a place that doesn't require any emissions testing at all.
amen !!!!

not to jinx anything...but...places that do NOT have smog checks are contributing to the increasing smog problem nationwide...

the air directly above your state and/or county does not stay there...it travels...and affects everywhere

Maybe this is why FL is getting hit by its 4th hurricane this year? cause we have no smog checks? although i think miami has smog checks, but they keep getting hit down there...

FL had smog and safety inspections 20+ years ago... but it didnt make much change (only a small fraction of 1%) so they dropped it because it was a waste of time and money for both the vehicle owner and the state.

FL is 23 years inspection free

Deathbug74 · Post by **Deathbug74** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 3:43 pm

MattKab wrote:Just out of interest, what does California's smog test involve? Is it a CO limit? Or smoke density?

also a visual inspection to make sure all necessary smog equipment is in place