This website is dedicated to timely and accurate disemmination of public domain information without hype or misinformation on Smog Check II and Reformulated Gas and Underground Storage Tanks.

• It does not give legal advice but expresses opinions on proposed legislation affecting the California Car Hobby.
• It seeks the alliance of car people wherever to fight "Anti-Car Legislation".
• Opinions are not for sale and represent a consumer/hobbyist point of view.
• There is no organization to join. Watch the website.
• It does not allow solicitation of funds from the website nor accept money to maintain it.
• It is not responsible for the accuracy of websites it links to.

EMAIL ME -- 4/24/05

EMail me with questions or just tell me what part of California you are in. I am in Oakland.

Email Len

Update August 4, 2009

Yahoo is closing Geocities October 26, 2009. So I must find a different Host Server. At present I believe I will choose Angelfire. When I move this website I will reorganize the content to eliminate all obsolete material. The website name will remain the same and it will provide the same information as you see now. However, as I move it I will update the content. Thanks for your patience. Len Trimlett.

Update May 19, 2009

As of today I have made multiple inquiries and can find no guidance as to what emissions equipment will be required on the Amnesty Vehicle. Without written guidance, these vehicles would likely have a difficult time getting past the visual and functional part of the emissions test. I am contacting the legislator.

Update May 11, 2009

Vehicle Registration Amnesty -- AB619

As of this date the DMV Public Inquiry Line has no direction on the implementation of AB619. They referred me to the Governor's Line. The Governor's Line could not provide me with any information either. They said I would need to write in with an inquiry. If I get any information I will post it here immediately.

This Flyer Is Going To Goodguys

Smog Flyer 2009

The flyer above is in Microsoft Word 2003.

• The flyer adresses three areas:
  • ab619 and the Titles Unlimited Debacle
  • AB859 (Annual Smogcheck) and SB232 (Lifts the 500 number on SB100)
  • Remote Sensing and The Biennial Smog Exemption

Anyone with Titles Unlimited based titles in their chain or an under value reported title needs to read this flyer. It is for a limited time only. Expires 2011.

Regarding new legislation go to Sacramento Legislative Database and key in AB859 and SB232. SEMA has not chosen to publicize SB232 yet. It would solve much of the Titles Unlimited mess. SEMA.......WHY HAVE YOU NOT PUBLICIZED IT WITH THE SEMA ACTION NETWORK. THIS BENEFITS THE HOBBY.

If you like Historic Vehicles you might want to add SB385 - Senator Wright to your list. Look again at the above link.

To understand the background of Remote Sensing comments go to California Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee and select Presentations. The IMRC will be looking at the 66-75 smog exemption and trying to take it away. They may try to drag you back into smog check through Remote Sensing. This is one reason I have been arguing against Remote Sensing.

When at the IMRC site look at the Presentations and read "Scofflaws Found With RSD". This is current. Everything below still applies.

Now look at the South Coast Air Quality Management District on Scappage. This is SCAQMD Scrappage 2010 Initiative design to get you to scrap your car and buy a new car. South Coast Air Quality Management District in their meeting on Scrappage wants to delete the 1966-1975 Biennial Smog Exemption. There goes all the hobby vehicles.

South Coast Air Quality Scrappage 2010

AB619 Vehicle Amnesty Legislation

The AB619 Vehicle Registration Amnesty Program becomes Effective July 2009. The Amnesty Program ends on January 1, 2011. It will be administered by DMV. According to my contact at BAR smog compliance verification will be done by the BAR Referee. The current ASM emission standards (cutpoints) for newer passenger cars and light-duty trucks categorize 2004 and newer model year vehicles together. (see Table 1, Title 16, California Code of Regulations Section 3340.42.) However the vehicle most likely would have to meet a visual inspection of applicable emission systems for the 2010 model year. Any details on the visual inspection are unknown at this time.

California Code Of Regulations

I have not been able to find anything on the DMV website about this yet other than the legislative code. To find information go to California DMV and type in 'Vehicle Registration Amnesty Program'. Do not expect to see a lot of information until July 2009. You can try calling the DMV 800 number 1-800-777-0133 to try and get answers. Some of the questions I have are:

• Supposedly the Attorney General estimates there are 70000 vehicles. What is the composition of the vehicles targetted?....Kit cars, street rods, customs?
• Is VIN number part of the identifying mechanism (11 digit, 17 digit, DMVxxxxxCA,SPCN numbers,etc)?
• What about invoices and receipts? Some people have a lower price because they did much of the work? Are people going to need to make estimates of their labor? Who is going to do the appraisal?
• What smog equipment is going to be required? Supposedly the BAR Referee will do the verification. What is the 2010 smog equipment that would go on a Cobra Kit Car? Can you get it? Will it fit?
• Some people allegedly have Titles that don't match the physical description of the vehicle. How is DMV going to identify those vehicles?
• Some people allegedly understated the value of their vehicle by 1/2 to 2/3 to avoid large vehicle registrations? How will these vehicles be identified?
• What about the vehicles that were actually purchased for a low price but had thousands of dollars in upgrades and paint jobs?
• i.e. "What is the scope of targeted vehicles?"

Update January 2009

• This is an update of where things stand as of Mid January 2009
• Test Only
  • I have filed a complaint with Bureau Of Automotive Repair relative to the Directed Vehicles Program
  • My 1990 Chevy Van and 1994 Toyota Pickup have been directed vehicles(sent to Test-Only or Gold Shield but not allowed to go to Test and Repair)
  • Both vehicles are High Mileage Vehicles yet both pass their smogcheck.
  • My complaint quotes from the Bureau Of Automotive Repairs website.
    • Go to Bureau of Automotive Repair Website
    • Look for your vehicle smogcheck history
    • Look for the description of the High Emitter Profile
    • My complaint pulls my smogcheck history from the BAR website
    • My complaint quotes from the High Emitter Profile Page
    • The High Emitter Profile page says "directed vehicles are those most likely to fail their smogcheck especially at Gross Polluter Levels"
    • I am telling them that the result for my two vehicles contradicts that assumption and asks them to show cause why these vehicles should not be allowed to go to Test and Repair for smogchecks.
    • This complaint went through the Chief of the Bureau of Automotive Repair. Copies were sent to the Speaker of the Assembly, The Senate President Protem and the Governor
    • The Complaint was filed on October 8, 2008. I have not yet received an answer though I have received letters telling me where the complaint is in the process. If I get an answer I will post it here.
• Annual Smog Checks For Vehicles Over 15 Years Old
  • This is AB616 as discussed below. It went down to defeat. But may be revived in some new bill
• Biennial Smog Exemption (SB42)
  • The smogcheck exemption still stands at 66-75 vehicles being exempt. The legislature has until the end of February 2009 for new bills.
  • It is possible that a new bill could attempt to revoke the exemption. The legislative database is being monitored.
  • I will be tracking it at California Leglislative Database
  • Select Legislation and the current session. Key in 44011 and search for bills referencing the Health and Safety Code. The deadline for such a bill to show up is the end of February 2009
• Monitoring the IMRC
  • The California Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee is where many of the changes in smogcheck originate
  • Go to California Inspection and Maintenance Review Committee for more information
  • The Governor is considering moving the IMRC into Bureau of Automotive Repair as part of the cost cutting move for the Budget.However it has not happened yet.
  • Scheduled meetings, agendas are available for download.
  • Presentations and reports are also available for download. There is good information there.
• Scrappage
  • Congress is considering Federal Funding for Scrappage. To read about it go to Sema Action Network. There is a link there to send a response to Nancy Pelosi in the House of Representatives. Thank You SEMA for keeping us aware. Send an email response from that webpage.
  • The Federal Scrappage Bills are S247 and HR520
  • I am told that some part of scrappage funding may be in HR1424(The Bailout Bill) but I haven't found it yet
  • Federal Legislative Database
• SB1549 (The License Plate Bill) as discussed below was vetoed by the Governor. Sorry no Muscle Car Plates.
• Titles Unlimited Amnesty
  • Read the section below on Titles Unlimited
  • There are allegedly 70000 vehicles out there(Street Rods, Kit Cars, and maybe motorcycles) that have either fraudulent titles(car physical description does not match the title or Initial Registration declared a value much lower than actual invoices by up to half)
  • When you apply for registration of a vehicle you do so under penalty of perjury
  • AB619 was a bill to respond to the 70,000 vehicles and provide amnesty to those who either understated the value of their vehicle when applying or provided a less than accurate description of their vehicle(ex. 1965 Ford rather than Cobra Replica).
  • Owners of those vehicles who apply for Amnesty will be required to go through the Smog Program as part of the process. ....... Imagine putting smog equipment on a Cobra Kit Car or Street Rod.
  • If the owners of those vehicles do not apply for Amnesty, the Amnesty goes away January 1, 2011 and there is expection that those vehicle owners will be targeted for prosecution.
  • Go to California Legislative Database and select legislation, 2007-2008 session. Key in AB619 and read the legislative intent of that bill.
  • Exactly what smog equipment will be required on those vehicles is unknown to me at this time. If I receive info I will post it here.

May 24, 2008 -- AB616

AB616 has come back to life. This is annual smog checks for vehicles over 15 years. This would also exempt vehicles from smog check that the Bureau of Automotive determines are likely to pass their smog check. Remember that Test-Only Directed Vehicles are vehicles � most likely to fail their smog check (especially at gross polluter levels) according to the Bureau of Automotive Repair website . How many people have been forced to go to test only yet pass their smog check? What�s wrong?

To find your Assembly and Senate legislator go here (Your Legislator ).

The bill is in Senate Appropriations. Here is the contact information (Senate Appropriations ).

It is important to put a stop to the bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee. If the bill gets through the Senate Appropriations, it goes to the Senate Floor, then Assembly Floor, then the Governor. It must be stopped now.

April 9, 2008

Breaking news -- SB1549 has been amended into an Evaluation of the Special License Plate Program. It is no longer objectionable. Go to the link below and key in SB1549.

California Legislative Database

Special thanks goes to Association Of California Car Clubs and their lobbyist for writing the amendments. Visit Association Of California Car Clubs. The Association has stood up for the hobby. Check them out.

5/20/07

The Remote Sensing Report Is Now Available

Background of Report

• The goal of the project was to collect a million valid Remote Sensing Records. A valid records consists of a license plate plus matching emissions reading
• To do this remote sensing was deployed in 5 major air basins (San Francisco, Sacramento, Central Valley, South Coast(Los Angeles Area) and San Diego where 85% of the California Fleet is registered. Rural air districts were ruled out for low coverage.
• Data Collection began in 2004 and went on in 2005.

Equipment Sight Restrictions

It is currently not feasible to deploy remote sensing systems or collect representative emissions measurements at any of the following:

• Multi-lane ramps
• Single-lane ramps where there is no space available for the safe deployment of remote sensing systems
• Straight off-ramps or curved off-ramps with a down grade(that result in no significant vehicle operation with loads representative of mild acceleration)
• On-ramps that routinely produce acceleration rates in excess of those well-correlated with average emissions in customer service
• On-ramps with a physical configuration (e.g. steep upgrade or short length after a sharp turn) that routinely results in engine load in excess of that which is well correlated with average emissions in customer service.
• Ramps that are routinely slow congested that there is insufficient spacing between vehicles to obtain reliable remote sensing measurements

What Does The Above Mean?

Simply put, think of it as follows. To make a reasonable comparison remote sensing is constrained to operate where the "Vehicle Specific Power" corresponds to a light accelerating load on the engine. Remember the Dynamometer for your smogcheck accelerated to a speed of 15 miles per hour. It is followed by steady state then accelerates to 25 miles per hour.

The problem is that remote sensing only gets "ONE SECOND OF DATA" where the Dynamometer run is 90 seconds.

Between 5% and 20% of the fleet will never be measured because they typically do not travel past sights suitable for remote sensing

What is Remote uncapable of detecting?

Remote sensing cannot detect "evaporative emission defects". This is now part of the biennial enhanced smog check...done along with use of the dynamometer.

Remote sensing cannot OBDII system defects:

• defects related to evaporative system or cold start and warm up
• defects that cause a vehicle to be moderate emitters
• defects in the monitoring system

Fleet Coverage

• Remote Sensing can only see those vehicles that pass by the instrument
• For a very large program Remote Sensing can provide DMV matched remote sensing measurements on only about the fleet.
• To be useable, measurements must be in the 5 to 20 kW/Mg vehicle specific power range corresponding to a light acceleration load. Only 40% of the measurements in the data were useable for the study goals
• Conclusion: 85% of the fleet is in the 5 air basins where RSD was deployed.50% of the measurements correlated to unique DMV matched registrations. 40% of the measurements were in the correct vehicle specific power range. The result is 17% of the fleet was all that was covered.(85%*50%*40% = 17%)

The Remote Sensing 2007 Final Report Is Here. It is fascinating.

EXAMPLE: The License Plate Reader was not usable according to the report. 2 million license plate images had to be examined manually and entered. The System is unusable in fog or rain because water interferes with the emissions readings. The study was run in 5 air basins (San Francisco, Sacramento, San Joaquin Valley, South Coast (Los Angeles) and San Diego. Of the 2 million records, 17% were valid and identified unique vehicles in DMV files. License plate glare was a factor making some license plates unreadable. To read the report go to the link below.

Remote Sensing Report

To read the overview of results of the remote sensing study go Here-Remote Sensing Presentation to IMRC .

1/4/05--Bulletin--Specially Constructed Vehicles

If you are trying to register a newly built specially constructed vehicle or are concerned about the Titles Unlimited Issue, read here.

The link below documents the procedure for first time registration of newly built Specially Constructed Vehicles (custom hotrods without previous registration and kitcars -- ex. Cobra or some streetrods without a paper trail.).

Specially Constructed Vehicle Registration

This is not new but SEMA has worked with DMV and BAR and CARB to document the steps to take some of the confusion out of registration. Read below:

SEMA and Specially Constructed Vehicles

If you have a vehicle with Titles Unlimited in the chain, then read this. If you have out of state titling from Titles Unlimited in your title chain, SB953 is going to require you to re-register as a new vehicle with smog for the year of the engine. The 500 car limit in SB100 HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED for the supposed 70000 cars with Titles Unlimited in their registration chain. This bill extends a period of amnesty. If you do not comply, you are subject to prosecution. even though you bought it that way.

Onsite visual inspections will be required by CHP and BAR......Read SB953 below by clicking on the link below, then selecting legislation, then SB953

California State Senate

A last look at the California State Legislative Database indicated SB953 died.

Remote Sensing Updated 3/20/06

News Flash -- Remote Sensing Begins 8/18/05!!!!

CARB is iimplementing Remote Sensing in Riverside, San Bernardino, LA and Orange Counties at freeway on ramps randomly. They will be measuring tailpipe emissions on any vehicle that goes through the Remote Sensing Sight......Maybe even your 68 Camaro or 67 Mustang or Hotrod or 60s VW. If you are out of spec they can call you in.

Vehicle code 27156 requires all original equipment (including smog equipment) to be on the vehicle. 90% of the collector cars in the 66-75 year range have removed smog equipment.

Cutpoints are made up. They are whatever the bureacrats decide they will be.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Simply put:

• CARB and BAR may measure your tailpipe emissions at freeway on ramps and photograph your license plate.
• They have the authority under the Health and Safety Code to tell you to get a smog check.......
• Is CARB going to try to force 66-75s that get caught in Remote Sensing to put back all their smog equipment? I see no evidence of it at this time. The budget is only $4 Million including scrappage vehicles they buyback.

The principles and failure modes of Remote Sensing are detailed in the link below.

Remote Sensing Discussion

The Hotrod Titling Issue -- 11/9/05

Hotrod Titling issues go something like this:

• When you build a hotrod/streetrod/kit car , either it is a custom restoration of a vehicle found in a wrecking yard or a field or it is a complete refabrication of the vehicle (a replica).
• If it is a custom restoration of an existing vehicle it is not as hard to prove the year of the vehicle.
• If it is a complete refabrication of a vehicle, it is a replica.
• If the vehicle is a replica, you need to establish the year of the vehicle. That's where the catch comes in. You establish year by VIN #, chassis, body and engine. Then you smog to the later of chassis, body and engine.
• If the body is fiberglass it points to a new vehicle.
• If the engine is a crate motor it points to a new vehicle.
• You can buy a chassis in any state of completion you want.
• Then you argue with the state on the year and model of the vehicle and you smog it accordingly. You may also put safety equipment on the vehicle according to the year designation.
• If you are lucky, you get one of the 500 SB100 slots. They generally go the first day of each new year.
• Cobra Kit Cars and custom streetrods fall under "Specially Constructed Vehices" in the California Vehicle Code.
• Robert Morgester (Deputy California Attorney General)who prosecuted the head of Titles Unlimited Alabama says there are currently an estimated 70000 vehicles that fit into this category. He states that he doesn't want to be prosecuting Hotrodders for the rest of his career.
• What is being proposed to Sacramento and the DMV is that legislation be written to provide Amnesty to those 70000 Hotrodders. Then the hotrodders that got their titles from out of state would turn in their titles and reregister those vehicles....possibly smogging them if they are declared to be new vehicles....currently unknown.
• Reregistration may involve SB100,the SEMA streetrod legislation below or it might involve some new (as yet unspecified) procedure. Part of this procedure for Specially Constructed Vehicles would determine by the established year of construction whether smog or safety equipment is required.
• There are multiple issues here for which I do not have all the answers. SEMA is working the issue behind the scenes. I expect legislation sometime this legislative session but do not know content. All I can do is identify the issues below.
• I can tell you that DMV has a flag on ANY vehicles with registration from out of state ( not only Alabama but Florida, New York, Maine, Nevada and a total of about 8 states.)

This Link Describes The Issues

Please read the above link for my best interpretation of the issues and stay tunes for more information as I get it. PLEASE GIVE SEMA ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.

11/9/05 -- SEMA Response To The Hotrod Issue

The following is SEMAs Public Affairs response to the Car Title Issue:

SEMA Response To The CAR Title Issue SEMA Model Legislation SEMA Legislation Already Passed

Email Steve McDonald At SEMA

If you have any questions on the above contact Steve McDonald. He is responsible for the above legislation.

Test Only -- Update In Progress 11/27/05

My explanation of test-only is included on the link below.

My Explanation of Test-Only

Who goes to test only?:

• BAR looks at new cars back to 1976 vehicles as candidates for test-only
• BAR then mandidates 36% of those to go to test-only.
• BAR then sends 36% of that number to test-only.
• BAR then exempts cars up to 6 years old and the first four years of change of ownership vehicles
• Counties with small populations may not have test-only
• Note -- the price of a smog check is also going down because of competition.

I would strongly recommend that people read the California Inspection & Maintenance Committee Review Committee Review of the The Smog Check Program 2004 below.

California Inspection & Maintenance Review Committee Report

For those SMOG TECHS that read this sight(I know you are there.), BAR is cooking up another expense for you. It was demonstrated at the BAR advisory group meeting.

If it gets approved, you will be expected to buy another piece of equipment to do an EVAPORATIVE CANNISTER TEST for leaks in the evap system. It works by crimping off lines and running a test. The cost of that piece of equipment is estimated to be about $2500 (originally $800). If you crimp off an evap line that has become hardened from age, this could have you replacing the entire evap line from breakage!!! You break more cars than you fix. These were some of the comments I heard. If things go according to pattern, this piece of equipment may cost you $5000 + maintenance contracts when delivered. I believe you will need a PC to run it. The system displayed was driven by a laptop.

BTW, this new piece of equipment does not have a smoke test to find the leak. That will be extra. It appears other systems that have been previously demonstrated to work in other states are not good enough for California. BTW I am not sure I would want someone to crimp off the hoses on my car as I saw it done. The test will add 4-6 minutes to each smog check.

The letter below expresses the isssues of Test-Only:

Letter To CARB and IMRC on Test-Only

WORD OF CAUTION: The 800 number (800)952-5210 does not work. It is a victim of the budget. Even if you call that number during business hours it tells you to call back when they are open. It will do that all day if you let it. THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION

Go to the BAR Smogcheck Website and look for the "Station Locator". If you find this section, you enter ZIPCODE and (Test-Only, Test&Repair or Gold Shield) and you will find the type of station you want.

CARB reports that the failure rate at Test-Only Stations is 25% while the failure rate at Test & Repair is 9%. CARB was unable to tell me why there would be such a difference in results. There are two things that observation tell me could be happening. First -- many mechanics will advise a customer to have necessary repairs done (if identifiable) before the smogcheck is done in order that the person does not get caught in the Gross Polluter Trap. That was the reason for legislating Pre-Test. Secondly -- Some Test-Only Stations may not be allowing the car to heat up long enough if the car has been setting idle for any length of time. A Catalytic Converter that is not adequately warmed up may cause the vehicle to fail. These two items alone might explain the difference in failure rate between Test Only and Test & Repair.

10/8/04--AB2683 Has Been Signed Into Law

12/24/04 -- Discussion on AB2683 has moved to the link below. There are no changes to AB2683 discussion at this time.

AB2683 Discussion

9/22/04 -- New AB2683 Flyer

Download and read this flyer. It explains AB2683. There are a minimum of 5000 copies of this flyer in existence. It is now more explanatory than a call to action. The governor's office reported 4000 letters against AB2683. The flyer is in Microsoft Word 2000.

AB2683 Flyer

Web Sites Of General Interest

The following website is a directory of State and Local Government on the Internet. It may be helpful to find your bureaucracy of interest.

State and Local Government On The Internet

An alternate source to find State and Federal issues is the SEMA Action Network. There is a guide there to lobbying your local legislator.

The SEMA Action Network

The SEMA Action Network website can help you find your legislators by zipcode and then compose one letter to all them on the vehicle issue of your choice. The reader is encouraged to look at this site closely.

For those of you that have experienced overheating problems, the following website was written by a computer programmer. It presents a good tutorial on engine overheating.Go to the car section.

Troubleshooting Engine Overheating

My Concerns -- 11/22/05

Some of my concerns are defined in the link below:

My Concerns

Congressional Bill Database -- 2005

Updated 11/22/05

Key in the word "Fuel" in the link below. You will find bills on Fuel Cells, Alternative Fuels(Diesel/Biomass/CNG/Fuel Cells, etc.).

You will even find bills to ban MTBE. Take a look. Try your own favorite keywords.

More after a little research.

Congressional Bill Database

Smog Check II And The California Car

This is a basic tutorial more than anything and will stay, though it is elementary.

Smogcheck II and the California Car

Contact Governor Schwarzenneger

Use the following link to access information about California State, County and City Government,Contact Bureaucracies, find highway information and contact the Governor.

California State Home Page

Email Len

Web Design Real Estate

Free Site Counter