Ca. Smog Law Changes, Another amendment Options

[Allan]

Any politicos here that can interpret this stuff? What happens now that it's been amended or if it dosn't get finalized before the Senate adjourns next month?

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquer...arch_type=email

[lapuwali]

Very, very interesting.

My read on this is that they've provided an out clause for "collectors". There's been a section in the CVC on "collector cars" for quite some time that didn't really apply to anything useful (i.e., it cost more, and limited mileage, but conferred no advantages). This out clause allows cars that meet the collector requirements (which need to be looked up) which are also at least 35 years old, are exempted from the visual and functional portions of the test. You still need to be tested, but as long as you pass the tailpipe test and aren't leaking fuel, you pass.

A 35 year rolling backdoor partial exemption.

Personally, I think this is a huge step forward, and someone's been listening. With this amendment, if you fit modern EFI in place of your carbs on your late 70s car, actually cleaning up the tailpipe emissions, you'd still be legal. Under current law, you'd fail the visual.

I have no idea what the actual nuts-and-bolts processes are, but the status says it's moved to a third reading, so I'd guess that it stays on the Senate floor. If the Senate adjourns before this is voted on, I believe it dies and must be brought up again next session, which means more admendments (starting date is too early).