The article in Boston.com News is a bit inaccurate as it reads:

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill requiring that cars 30 years
and older be tested under California's strict smog regulations, closing a
loophole over the protests of classic car collectors, including "Tonight
Show" host Jay Leno."

Actually, what was signed into law was this:

Vehicles from the 1976 model year forward to present day are and will always
be subjected to an emissions test on an every two-year basis (at the time of
re-registration) (except for certain rural counties where it will be
required only when the vehicle is sold).  Vehicles manufactured thru the
1975 model year are not subject to any emissions test either during
re-registration or when the vehicle is sold.

There is a catch to this - if ANY YEAR vehicle is found to be a Gross
Polluter (as set forth in the Bureau of Automotive (BAR) and/or California
Air Resources Board (CARB) standards), it is subject to be cited, repaired
and tested before the vehicle is allowed to be used on the street.  How can
they determine that a pre-76 vehicle is a Gross Polluter?  California has
special portable sensors set up in not so obvious locations to take sample
emissions from vehicles traveling by and they are capable of having taken a
picture of the license plate of the suspect vehicle.  If they think your
vehicle is polluting more than what their sensor is set up for, they contact
you to have your vehicle tested, regardless of the year.  So, if your 69
"Belchfire" is blowing smoke at the time you pass one of these sensors, you
have to have it tested, inspected to make sure that all of the smog
components originally installed at the factory are still present on that
vehicle and these components still have to be functional as well.  A "sniff"
test by itself won't clear the vehicle, everything else has to be there and
working as well or the vehicle will not be allowed on the street.

Some people ask how can you test a pre-76 vehicle (such as a 69 or whatever)
if you don't have testing standards?  Well, up until the previous law was
effective in the early 90s, vehicles back to 67 were subject to a sniff and
visual test and the BAR still has those testing standards in their records
to utilize.  66 and earlier vehicles may present some problem, but I'm sure
the wicked wizards in Sacramento will devise some sort of testing standards.

The previous law allowed a "rolling" year cut-off for requirements of having
the vehicle tested or not, 1975 being the latest year just before this new
law was signed.

In some respects, the law is not as bad as some make it out to be.  At least
the 73 Ghia I have won't be subject to smog tests and a greater portion of
"classic hot rods" are before the 1976 model year.  OTOH, those portable
sensors I mentioned previously can present a problem if you don't keep your
"classic" in tune.

Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@earthlink.net
jim@karmannghia.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Rule" <manikmike@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2004 7:04 AM
Subject: new CA emissions standards

> Hi All,
>
> I'm wondering if any WestCoasters know more about this new CA emissions
> bill or have a ore descriptive link...?
>
> As an owner of a 66 Cutlass and 2 84 VW's, I'm always interested in
> what legislation may be heading East in the future... we can't hide
> forever without emissions inspections in FL.
>
>
http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2004/09/28/classic_car_lovers_dismay
ed_by_new_law/
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
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