Here's the Fed's logic behind this Bill. Sounds like we're hosed.
Let's hope we can get the additional exemptions mentioned at the bottom approved.
1)Background: According to the author, California's smog check
program was created in 1982 to comply with federal Clean Air
Act quality standards. The program calls for vehicles more
than six years old to undergo a biennial inspection to measure
vehicle emissions. Vehicles must also be inspected upon a
change in registration. When a vehicle produces higher
emissions than permitted, it must be repaired before it can be
re-registered.
On average, vehicles 15 years and older fail smog check
inspection 27% of the time, more than three times the average
fail rate of newer vehicles. Research conducted by ARB and
BAR found that about 50% of the 1976-1995 model year vehicles
that failed a smog check inspection and were subsequently
repaired, failed a future roadside inspection within six
months.
In its November 2006 report, IMRC, which was created by the
Legislature to evaluate the effectiveness of the smog check
program and recommend improvements, recommended that
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California institute annual inspections for older vehicles,
arguing that failure rates increase significantly as vehicles
age, with some 1980s models failing at a 40% rate.
ARB projects statewide emissions reductions of 20.6 tons per
day of hydrocarbons and NOx by 2014. It should also be noted
that 14 other states, including Texas and New York, have some
form of annual smog check.
2)To allay concerns over the cost impact upon low-income drivers
of the older vehicles, especially with the understanding that
they cannot afford to purchase newer cars, this bill modifies
the qualifications and amounts of repairs assistance for those
income-eligible car owners in need of repairs.
3)Opposition: Writing numerous letters in opposition,
individuals are concerned that their classic vehicles (1975
model year and older) that currently are exempted from the
every-other-year smog check requirements, would now be
required to be smogged every year. This bill retains the
current exception and was also amended to specifically clarify
that those vehicles currently exempted from the biennial smog
inspections will be exempted from the annual inspections as
well. This bill, however, has invoked opposition from owners
of vehicles currently within the 1993 to 1976 era, with cars
that are "restored, highly maintained, and driven very
little." They believe that they will be unfairly burdened by
the costs imposed by the annual inspections and that the
rolling year exemption for 30 year old cars should be
restored. They also believe exceptions should be made for
vehicles driven limited miles annually.
