Whats going on guys? I have orders to Camp Pendleton and should be there by mid July. Just wanted to say hey and hope to see some of you guys out there!

 

welcome to cali haha..maybe u could make it down to some meets..
Mikey

 

Lucky you. The only good thing is a lot of the barracks are on the beach.

 

Im down here in Miramar. Maybe we could do an all Marine third gen club lol.

 

I'm up for anything really..I am looking for a tuner for my car though. I wont have to worry about smog testing bc I am leaving both of my cars registered in VA....i love being in the military and not abiding by the state laws

 

Unless something changed, they're still going to require you to get the vehicle smog tested Its not to the extent of the hurdles we get to jump through though (ours is transmitted to the state via computer), they just want a piece of paper showing PASS.

 

that is if i am going to be driving the car on base the camaro will be a play toy, not a DD
i looked under VA DMV and according to them when a military member is stationed in another state that is NOT their home state, they do not have to have the state inspection sticker (or smog) nor do they abide by the DMV of the state they are stationed out of, of course unless the vehicle is registered in that state.

 

not here in Cali.. you will have to get emission testing ...

dmv.ca.gov...

 

Is there a nonresident military exemption from the smog inspection?
No, [COLOR=darkorange]if the vehicle is to be registered in California[COLOR], a smog inspection certification is required.



http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...yvr.htm#weight

 

Maybe you guys are not understanding the fact that I will not be registering my car in California...I am keeping my virginia tags.

 

Nonresident military personnel, and both military or civilian members of NATO who are not citizens of the United States are permitted to operate a vehicle in this state with valid license plates from either:

• the individual's home state or country or

source: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...yvr.htm#weight

 

what I am saying is "EMISSION TESTING" will be required, NOT YOUR REGISTRATION.... you can keep your state's tags, you will however need to smog your car here...

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm#BM2542

Now I don't know about the policy on base, but I would imagine they're party poopers as well... ... as cleanly as I could say that...

 

Correct.
I guess if you are not going to drive it on base, no worries!

 

So how will California know of my car if it isnt registered with the state??

 

Thank you!!! somebody finally sees what I am trying to say!!

 

I just assumed you were going to, eventually it seems everyone does. I dunno when they changed the rule, had to have been 6 or so years ago. I think its silly myself, if they're allowing the military to keep the plates for their state why do they have to pass our emissions test? Dumb rule if you ask me. But, thats Cali!

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/smogfaq.htm#BM2542
That link only applies to people registering their vehicle here.

 

I just assumed you were going to, eventually it seems everyone does. I dunno when they changed the rule, had to have been 6 or so years ago. I think its silly myself, if they're allowing the military to keep the plates for their state why do they have to pass our emissions test? Dumb rule if you ask me. But, thats Cali!


No brother...thats the government for ya!! lol


Yeah that is pretty silly IMO but hey I'm just a Marine...oorah

 

either way, let us know what happens... ...

 

Smog

Is there a nonresident military exemption from the smog inspection?

No, if the vehicle is to be "registered in California", a smog inspection certification is required.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...yvr.htm#weight

Sounds to me like as long as you keep it registered in your home state and not in California, no need to pass CA smog.

 

smog sucks..lol

 

No stupid people suck, welcome to the "Self Centered State of Stupidity"

 

No, thats why I brought it up. Camp Pendleton and it seems Miramar and likely the rest of the bases in this state require the vehicle to be tested if its driven on base (probably happens when you want a base sticker for the car), even if you keep your out of state plates. Its not a CA requirement, its a military base requirement. But if you dont drive it on base, then you can do whatever you want with your out of state car. I dont follow the base rules to see if they change them or not but they started this 6 or so years ago and it seems like they're still doing it today.

 

MadMax you are correct in that statement. In order to get a base sticker, the base requires you to get a smog test for your car. However, my DD will be a Honda Hybrid. And according to the CA DMV I will not need a smog test on a Hybrid. So no smog test for me!

 

yes, to get a base sticker you need to show a sheet of paper saying you passed smog. There are two smog tests you can get, one of them puts you into the California system, costs more money, and is required if you want to register the car in CA (which is a really bad idea) If you want to just get a base sticker you can get the other test which I believe is just a federal IM240 test? Anyway, that test is much cheaper and does not go into any computer system. It is still the same test though. You just get a sheet of paper that you take over to JRC and the (used to be MP) behind the counter glances at it and says "ok". Now they have civilians in there but I'm sure its still the same.

With the above information, hopefully you can figure out how to get a base sticker.
Without a sticker you will get harassed at the gate. The funny thing about it is that if you just show a civilian ID (Like I do since I am now a contractor) they don't care as much.

Even though you have out of state plates and are legally allowed to do so, I suggest avoiding police at all costs. Their ignorance of the law around here is alarming and you will be harassed about your registration, license, and will attempt to coerce you into consenting to a warrant-less search of your car for "illegal modifications".


What is your MOS?
I work on the Camp Pendleton Air station and have been here for about 8 years. Let me know if you have any questions about the place

 

so with the newly shared info... drive your car in California, you will require full blown treadmill emissions testing... drive your car only on base, you'll require federal emission testing, much more lenient... keep your car garaged and trailered from point A to Point B and don't worry about emissions...

Did anyone mention California has the toughest emissions laws in the country and possibly the world...

 

Wrong.
If you want a base sticker you need the emissions test. That is all. If you don't need or want the sticker you don't get the emissions test. Military members are allowed to keep their registration, license, voter registration, tax status, etc in their "home state of residence". Thanks to the 2009 military spouse relief act, now spouses can do the same. Very simple concept. Legally speaking it is slightly more complicated than that and there is a small grey area, but from my experience, in court, the above is all that matters.
I've been here 8 years and never registered a car in this state. I've even been ticketed for out of state registration and license by a moron with a badge and have had it dismissed along with every other ticket I have gotten here. It pays to know the law.

Edit: I should also elaborate that the "federal" test I spoke of above is the same test as the California test. The only difference is that you pay way less, and it doesn't go into the California computer system. I know this because I have had it done.

 

dude... why is he going to want a sticker if he's gonna keep his car garaged? ... so then you're saying he can drive his car solely on base without a sticker and without getting emissions testing, but not off the base for the risk of getting cited, right??

 

lovely, civilians at the gate counter and Oceanside cops that ACT like they don't know the law.
I guess cops just have to harass anyone they can.

 

Some cops will pull you over and then take their sweet *** time looking over their vehicle enforcement code book, trying to look for something to bust you on...

 

Dude, your reading comprehension is TERRIBLE. That's NOT what I said at all. Have a grown up read and explain my posts to you.

 

Correct me if i am wrong, but they cannot search your car without your consent correct?
For instance, if I am just cruising around or crusing to the dragstrip (NOT speeding), and a cop pulls me over, and he asks to pop my hood I can tell him no?

 

Correct! Depending on your luck will determine which kind of "oinker" you get.. If a pig is harassing you on that or anything really when your not in the wrong. Ask for a field supervisor (usually a Sargent) to come to the scene. Normally this will chase that officer away... to his pig pen


Adrian

 

Lets hope it never comes to that