Pop your hood

[97F1504RAD]

The officer in the above scenario acted in a reasonable manner and made a good decision. To me The point to the smog equipment laws was for the owner of the vehicle to be responsible. Not someone who maybe due to unknown circumstance be driving it at the time.

Please guys All these scenarios are hypothetical. Originally I intended the cutting the hinge pin lock comment as a joke, Really lighten up a little. But never say never to ANY situation.

I can think of an easy solution to replacing hinge pin locks.

Flex cuffs. They would allow the legal operation of the vehicle.

As for your recourse. Well if you knew the vehicle was legally equipped and still refused to open the locks, I would say it is on your dime.

But you would have the option to file a claim with the department.

The point of the Smog Laws is not for a car owner to be responsible they are a load of crud to be perfectly honest and they do nothing to help curb pollution. It is simply more bureaucratic BS, that is making a friend of some political official money. There are only two companies that even make and sell smog equipment. The entire smog program is a joke and should be abolished and we should go by the feds guidelines.

I know of cars that have the smog equipment removed or modified and the cars run cleaner than they did with the factory stuff. That is how stupid the smog check program is. You can install a high flow aftermarket cat converter and still have the exact same reading yet it flows more and it can be illegal. Simply ridiculous.

This whole things put police officers in a spot they should not even be in to begin with. You should be doing other thing with your time while working like focusing on violent criminals not if some 45 year old guy has modified his car to have it sounds and run better than it does in factory trim.

And I am not saying that you should not crack down on street racing because I fully support that. I do not condone or would I ever condone street racing.

[Scratch705]

No vehicles are smog exempt, they must all retain the emissions equipment and original configuration that they rolled off the assembly line with, no exceptions. Just because the pre '75 cars are exempt from inspections it does not mean you have free rein to stuff what ever you want under the hood. Just like back in the day when they made 8500 GVW vehicles exempt, i.e. motorhomes, everybody ripped off the smog crap and stuffed performance cams and manifolds in their R.V.s. Well, that boomeranged and bit them in the butt fast, they changed the law a few years later and made them all subject to emissions testing and and all of these fools got caught flat footed with modified engines. Anybody know what the cost limit is for missing, modified, or disconnected emissions equipment? I'm sure you can guess that there is no limit. Just because you are not subject to smog inspections does not mean that you can modify your car.

tell that to my neighbor then, he has a 71 toyota pickup running straight pipes. no cats, and the DMV still sends him his registration every year w/ no requirement to show smog testing papers.

[Ron-Solo]

The point of the Smog Laws is not for a car owner to be responsible they are a load of crud to be perfectly honest and they do nothing to help curb pollution. It is simply more bureaucratic BS, that is making a friend of some political official money. There are only two companies that even make and sell smog equipment. The entire smog program is a joke and should be abolished and we should go by the feds guidelines.

While I agree that the smog laws are a royal pain in the rear, I have to disagree with you that they do nothing to help polution. Having lived in the greater LA area all my life, I believe it is better that it was 25 years ago, when we had 'smog alerts' on a daily basis in the summer time.

[97F1504RAD]

While I agree that the smog laws are a royal pain in the rear, I have to disagree with you that they do nothing to help polution. Having lived in the greater LA area all my life, I believe it is better that it was 25 years ago, when we had 'smog alerts' on a daily basis in the summer time.

Yeah but the cars nowadays run so clean that you really would have a hard time killing yourself in the garage with the car running. The problem is not the cars, it is the Factories and various other things. The cars really are a very small percentage of the problem.

[Fantasma]

That is why you drive sleepers, no need to advertise how fast your car is.

[colddeadhands]

register your vehicle in trinity county. There is no smog.

A good friend of mine back in Livermore drag races legally at drag strips, but a couple of his cars are registered on the street. I've been in one of his cars with him a couple of times when he was asked to pop the hood, usually the cops are just looking for nitrous. his cars are heavily modified, roll cages, tubs, fuel cell, etc. He has his fare share of speed tickets but has never been citied for modifications. His cars are all 64-67 GM.

[Fire in the Hole]

register your vehicle in trinity county. There is no smog.

A good friend of mine back in Livermore drag races legally at drag strips, but a couple of his cars are registered on the street. I've been in one of his cars with him a couple of times when he was asked to pop the hood, usually the cops are just looking for nitrous. his cars are heavily modified, roll cages, tubs, fuel cell, etc. He has his fare share of speed tickets but has never been citied for modifications. His cars are all 64-67 GM.

FROM CA BAR:
Counties that require smog tests:

Alameda
Butte
Colusa
Contra Costa
Fresno
Glenn
Kern
Kings
Los Angeles
Madera
Marin
Merced
Monterey
Napa
Nevada
Orange
Sacramento
San Benito
San Francisco
San Joaquin
San Luis Obispo
San Mateo
Santa Barbara
Santa Clara
Santa Cruz
Shasta
Solano
Stanislaus
Sutter
Tehama
Tulare
Ventura
Yolo
Yuba
Note: Six counties not mentioned above require smog certifications only within certain Zip codes. These include: El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

CARS SIX YEARS AND NEWER

If your vehicle is six years old or newer, you will be charged an annual smog abatement fee when you register your vehicle, rather than being required to provide smog certification.

Exceptions:
The six-year-or-newer rule doesn't apply to nonresident and custom-built cars made since 1976. Those vehicles require smog certification. If you have a custom or specially constructed car, however, you might need a different type of smog certification.

Title Transfer and Smog Requirements:

When you sell a vehicle that is four or fewer model years old, a smog certificate will not be required in order to transfer the title. The buyer will pay a smog transfer fee of $8. If the vehicle sold is more than four model years old, the seller must provide evidence of a current smog certification except in any of the following situations:

The vehicle transfer occurs between a spouse, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.The vehicle was registered and biennial smog certification was submitted to the DMV within 90 days before the date the title transfer took place. A vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification.
Required Smog Inspections
The California DMV will mail you a registration renewal notice telling you whether you are required to get your vehicle smogged; it will also tell you if your vehicle requires a smog check at a test-only station. Exceptions include:

Vehicles made in 1975 or priorDiesel-powered vehiclesElectric vehiclesNatural gas powered vehicles weighing more than 14,000 poundsHybridsMotorcyclesTrailersAlso, if your vehicle is six or less model years old, you are not required to obtain smog certification as long as you pay the annual $24 smog abatement fee.

If your vehicle DOES NOT fall under one of the above categories AND you live in one of the following counties, you must take the vehicle for a smog inspection every other renewal period:


FROM THE DMV WEBSITE:

Currently, smog inspections are required for all vehicles except diesel powered vehicles, electric, natural gas powered vehicles over 14,000 lbs, hybrids, motorcycles, trailers, or vehicles 1975 and older.

Vehicles registered in areas subject to the biennial smog certification program are required to submit evidence of a smog certification every other renewal period. Owners of vehicles six or less model years old will pay an annual smog abatement fee for the first six registration years instead of being required to provide a biennial smog certification. The registration renewal notice mailed to you by the department will indicate if a smog certification is required. If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late fees. However, you will not receive your new registration or year sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV.

NOTE: Upon initial registration, nonresident and specially constructed vehicles 1976 and newer require smog certification. The six or less model years old rule does not apply to these vehicles.

When you transfer a vehicle that is four or less model years old a smog certification is not required. (Determine the oldest-qualifying year model by subtracting three from the current year.) A smog transfer fee will be collected from the new owner. When a vehicle is more than four model years old, a seller must provide evidence of a current smog certification except when one of the following occurs:

The transfer occurs between a spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild.

A biennial smog certification was submitted to DMV within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification).
Smog certifications are good for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Q: Does my vehicle qualify for a smog exemption?
A: Smog inspections are required unless your vehicle is:

Hybrid
1975 year model or older
Diesel powered
Electric
Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more.
Motorcycle
Trailer

Q: When a car is sold, who is responsible for the inspection?
A: The seller is required to provide the buyer with a valid smog inspection certification at the time of the sale or transfer. Smog certifications are good for 90 days from the date of issuance. The inspection is not required on a transfer if a biennial smog certification was submitted to DMV within 90 days prior to the vehicle transfer date (a vehicle inspection report may be required for proof of certification).

Note: Smog certifications are not required for transfers that occur for any motor vehicle that is four or less model years old. (Determine the oldest-qualifying year model by subtracting three from the current year.) A smog transfer fee will be collected from the new owner.

Q: What if my car fails the inspection?
A: DMV cannot provide technical information or advice in this area. We recommend that you call the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) toll free number at 800-952-5210. You may be eligible to participate in the Voluntary Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program (also known as the old vehicle buy back program).

Q: Which counties require a smog inspection for the registration renewal?
A: Counties that Require a Smog Inspection for Vehicle Registration Renewal: Alameda, Butte, Colusa, Contra Costa, Fresno, Glenn, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter Tehama, Tulare, Ventura, Yolo, and Yuba.

There are six counties that require smog certifications within certain Zip Codes only. These counties are:

El Dorado, Placer, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sonoma.

Q: My car is new. Am I still required to get the biennial smog inspection?
A: Vehicles registered in areas subject to the biennial smog certification program are required to submit evidence of a smog certification every other renewal period. Starting January 1, 2005, owners of vehicles six or less model years old will pay an annual smog abatement fee for the first six registration years instead of being required to provide a biennial smog certification. The registration renewal notice mailed to you by the department will indicate if a smog certification is required. If a smog certification is required and you have not had a smog inspection, you may still pay your registration fees to avoid any late fees. However, you will not receive your new registration or year sticker until the smog information has been received by DMV.

NOTE: Upon initial registration, nonresident and specially constructed vehicles 1976 and newer require smog certification. The six or less model years old rule does not apply to these vehicles

Counties that require biennial smog inspections are listed above.

Q: A family member gave me a car. Is a smog inspection required?
A: If you acquire a vehicle that is currently registered in California from a spouse, domestic partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, or grandchild, you are entitled to an exemption from the smog inspection. Other family members or relations are not exempt and are required to obtain a smog inspection certification.

For more information read "Transfer a Vehicle Between Family Members."

[97F1504RAD]

register your vehicle in trinity county. There is no smog.

A good friend of mine back in Livermore drag races legally at drag strips, but a couple of his cars are registered on the street. I've been in one of his cars with him a couple of times when he was asked to pop the hood, usually the cops are just looking for nitrous. his cars are heavily modified, roll cages, tubs, fuel cell, etc. He has his fare share of speed tickets but has never been citied for modifications. His cars are all 64-67 GM.

Just because you are not required to smog your vehicle in that county does not mean you are still allowed to modify the smog equipment and you can still be asked to pop your hood for an inspection.

[retired]

Fire in the Hole, is there is a place on the DMV website or elsewhere to determine which zip codes in Riverside County are exempt. I know I'm dreaming, but it would be nice to know if mine is.

[Fire in the Hole]

Fire in the Hole, is there is a place on the DMV website or elsewhere to determine which zip codes in Riverside County are exempt. I know I'm dreaming, but it would be nice to know if mine is.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/Applications/Ziparea/ZipLookup.aspx

[retired]

Darn. I'm in a "Partially Enhanced" area, which means I don't have to go to a "Test Only" location; I can go to a regular garage that does smog testing and not pay as much at least.

[97F1504RAD]

Darn. I'm in a "Partially Enhanced" area, which means I don't have to go to a "Test Only" location; I can go to a regular garage that does smog testing and not pay as much at least.

You could still be required to go to a Test Only. If your make and model of car has a High Emission Profile then you most likley will get tagged as a test only. Doubtful but possible

Question: Why am I being sent to a Test-Only or Gold Shield station? My car has never failed Smog Check.

Answer: Your car was most likely selected by the High Emitter Profile. This means that even though it may never have failed before, it has been identified through a computer-based selection process as a vehicle which is more likely than others to be emitting unhealthy levels of harmful pollutants. Another possibility is that it was selected via a 2 % random selection for program evaluation purposes. In either case, your vehicle has been designated as a Directed Vehicle.

http://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/80_BARResources/02_SmogCheck/TestOnly_Directed_Vehicles.html

[retired]

Oops, I guess I should have gone to the next page. I actually saw that page, but didn't read it and returned to the one that explained what a partially enhanced area was.

Thanks for the update and knowing my luck, I'll be expecting to get one of those. Probably this year as a matter of fact since I'm due for a smog.

[97F1504RAD]

Oops, I guess I should have gone to the next page. I actually saw that page, but didn't read it and returned to the one that explained what a partially enhanced area was.

Thanks for the update and knowing my luck, I'll be expecting to get one of those. Probably this year as a matter of fact since I'm due for a smog.

What kind of car do you have? Year make model?

[retired]

I have a 2006 Honda Pilot and Toyota Tundra Limited. The registrations are within a month of each other, so this year it will be a lot of $$$ for us due to the jump in fees and probably smog.