CA Smog Rules

[bayarea408]

Originally Posted by kmarshall2121

have NEVER seen a 'roving smog unit'... ever.

California has literally a portable unit they setup on the side of the ****ing road. A weak ass cop that isnt mentally equipped for beat duty usually randomly selects traffic and guides them into this "portable roving smog machine on the side of the road". The acting cop will act as if you MUST participate but this is completely optional. Cop has walked out into the road and directed me over physically to the side of the road for smog. I immediately deny participation and merge right back into traffic.

ITS FREAKING CRAZY, but you do NOT have to do it, it is NOT mandatory, but they will enact as if it is. know your rights. Google your rights regarding that. because a cop will force you as if its law. This place is beyond overruling. CLEARLY say no you are not participating and merge back into traffic you are not being arrested or held by law it is merely an overstepping request from an officer.

[SSEssence]

Yup if you know your rights, the mobile smog units are completely optional and you can opt out if you know. They are not mandatory.

[WarDaddy376]

Originally Posted by kmarshall2121

have NEVER seen a 'roving smog unit'... ever.

In the North County Inland area yes twice I have seen it. Had a convo this morning with a young man who got redirected to go through a roving smog unit in Escondido with his 1981 Datsun 210 wagon, the cats were bad so he took them off...mind you this was before COVID shut the county and state down!

It's true it's damn true !!

[kmarshall2121]

Originally Posted by gunchamp

WOW, its crazy how bad it has gotten there. Crazy thing is people are leaving there in large numbers, but they will move to another state and still vote the same clowns in office. Rinse and repeat. SMH

... and others are coming in large numbers too

[kmarshall2121]

Originally Posted by WarDaddy376

In the North County Inland area yes twice I have seen it. Had a convo this morning with a young man who got redirected to go through a roving smog unit in Escondido with his 1981 Datsun 210 wagon, the cats were bad so he took them off...mind you this was before COVID shut the county and state down!

It's true it's damn true !!

wasn't doubting you, just have never seen one - I travel through Esco quite frequently too... weird.. probably jinxed myself, now they'll be all over the place! haha

[67-LS1]

The road side emissions checks are performed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) and as stated are completely voluntary. It is a spot checking effort to see if real world numbers are similar to smog station numbers.
If you do participate, there is no pass or fail because it’s not an official bi-annual check. It’s just a snap shot of the region.
So they say...
They also use automated plate readers to select vehicles so it’s not quite as random as they would have us believe.
Best just to decline to participate and roll on

[SS Blinder]

Originally Posted by kmarshall2121

... and others are coming in large numbers too

legally?

[HyperV117]

Just chiming in since I just went through this. I had a smog guy who would look the other way but he's charging $600-$800 to pass it this time around. Not sure what exactly changed in the last few years but that's the going price it seems. I just went ahead and put the stock parts back in and reflashed ECU.

I'm thinking of selling my LTs and hiflows and just spending that money elsewhere at this point.

[kmarshall2121]

Originally Posted by SS Blinder

legally?

BOTH, THANKS BIDEN!

[Fogey]

I have an Air Raid and swap it out every two years. Pretty easy after you’ve done it once.
I have my third time coming up in September.
I have never found, “the guy”, though I have looked.