The state of California currently enforces a law in which any vehicle 1976 and later must adhere to a “vehicle inspection and maintenance check (smog check)” every two years. This has prevented auto enthusiasts and aftermarket parts manufacturers from readily modifying later model cars, as the cost of CARB-approved engine swaps or the development of emissions-legal parts can be cost-prohibitive. Recently introduced California Assembly Bill 210 proposes to amend Section 44011 of the Health and Safety Code relating to vehicular air pollution by bumping the smog exemption year to 1983.
Though this bill is only being introduced, if it becomes law, it would open up eight more years of sought-after cars and trucks for enthusiasts to modify. Show your support for this bill by heading over to the SEMA Action Network and contacting lawmakers! To read the bill in its entirety, keep scrolling.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 210
Introduced by Assembly Member Voepel
January 14, 2019
An act to amend Section 44011 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to vehicular air pollution.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
AB 210, as introduced, Voepel. Smog check: exemption.
Existing law establishes a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (smog check) program that is administered by the Department of Consumer Affairs. The smog check program requires inspection of motor vehicles upon initial registration, biennially upon renewal of registration, upon transfer of ownership, and in certain other circumstances. Existing law exempts specified vehicles from being inspected biennially upon renewal of registration, including, among others, all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 model-year and all diesel-powered vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,001 pounds or greater.
This bill instead would exempt from the smog check program all motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1983 model-year and all diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to the 1983 model-year with a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,001 pounds or greater.
DIGEST KEY
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal Committee: yes Local Program: no
BILL TEXT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
Section 44011 of the Health and Safety Code is amended to read:
44011.
(a) All motor vehicles powered by internal combustion engines that are registered within an area designated for program coverage shall be required biennially to obtain a certificate of compliance or noncompliance, except for the following:
(1) All motorcycles until the department, pursuant to Section 44012, implements test procedures applicable to motorcycles.
(2) All motor vehicles that have been issued a certificate of compliance or noncompliance or a repair cost waiver upon a change of ownership or initial registration in this state during the preceding six months.
(3) All motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1976 1983 model-year.
(4) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), all motor vehicles four or less model-years old.
(B) (i) Beginning January 1, 2005, all motor vehicles six or less model-years old, unless the state board finds that providing an exception for these vehicles will prohibit the state from meeting the requirements of Section 176(c) of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.) or the state’s commitments with respect to the state implementation plan required by the federal Clean Air Act.
(ii) Notwithstanding clause (i), beginning January 1, 2019, all motor vehicles eight or less model-years old, unless the state board finds that providing an exception for these vehicles will prohibit the state from meeting the requirements of Section 176(c) of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 7401 et seq.) or the state’s commitments with respect to the state implementation plan required by the federal Clean Air Act.
(iii) Clause (ii) does not apply to a motor vehicle that is seven model-years old in year 2018 for which a certificate of compliance has been obtained.
(C) All motor vehicles excepted by this paragraph shall be subject to testing and to certification requirements as determined by the department, if any of the following apply:
(i) The department determines through remote sensing activities or other means that there is a substantial probability that the vehicle has a tampered emission control system or would fail for other cause a smog check test as specified in Section 44012.
(ii) The vehicle was previously registered outside this state and is undergoing initial registration in this state.
(iii) The vehicle is being registered as a specially constructed vehicle.
(iv) The vehicle has been selected for testing pursuant to Section 44014.7 or any other provision of this chapter authorizing out-of-cycle testing.
(D) This paragraph does not apply to diesel-powered vehicles.
(5) In addition to the vehicles exempted pursuant to paragraph (4), any motor vehicle or class of motor vehicles exempted pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 44024.5. It is the intent of the Legislature that the department, pursuant to the authority granted by this paragraph, exempt at least 15 percent of the lowest emitting motor vehicles from the biennial smog check inspection.
(6) All motor vehicles that the department determines would present prohibitive inspection or repair problems.
(7) Any vehicle registered to the owner of a fleet licensed pursuant to Section 44020 if the vehicle is garaged exclusively outside the area included in program coverage, and is not primarily operated inside the area included in program coverage.
(8) (A) All diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to the 1998 model-year.
(B) All diesel-powered vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,501 to 10,000 pounds, inclusive, until the department, in consultation with the state board, pursuant to Section 44012, implements test procedures applicable to these vehicles.
(C) All diesel-powered vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating from 10,001 pounds to 14,000 pounds, inclusive, until the state board and the Department of Motor Vehicles determine the best method for identifying these vehicles, and until the department, in consultation with the state board, pursuant to Section 44012, implements test procedures applicable to these vehicles.
(D) All diesel-powered vehicles manufactured prior to the 1983 model-year and that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 14,001 pounds or greater.
(b) Vehicles designated for program coverage in enhanced areas shall be required to obtain inspections from appropriate smog check stations operating in enhanced areas.
(c) For purposes of subdivision (a), a collector motor vehicle, as defined in Section 259 of the Vehicle Code, is exempt from those portions of the test required by subdivision (f) of Section 44012 if the collector motor vehicle meets all of the following criteria:
(1) Submission of proof that the motor vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle, as shall be required by regulation of the bureau.
(2) The motor vehicle is at least 35 model-years old.
(3) The motor vehicle complies with the exhaust emissions standards for that motor vehicle’s class and model-year as prescribed by the department, and the motor vehicle passes a functional inspection of the fuel cap and a visual inspection for liquid fuel leaks.
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