2009 Smog Check Program
A report from Bob Sterns

ACCC Director Vic Repstad and I attended the IMRC (Inspection Maintenance Review Committee) meeting at the Cal EPA headquarters in downtown Sacramento. They approved a draft report of the 2009 Smog Check Program and it was a video conference meeting with IMRC board members at South Coast Air Quality District in Diamond Bar, Ca. The issue that is of great concern for the car hobbyist in California is the second paragraph on page 9. It states as follows: The IMRC has recently completed a study using data from a remote sensing project that was conducted in southern California by South Coast Air Quality Management District. Over 3 million records were collected which included the photo of the vehicle's license plate. Two conclusions were reached based on the study.

1. Many pre-1976 model year vehicles were observed on the road with extremely high tailpipe emissions which would place them in the gross polluter category: and,
2. Many of these vehicles are driven daily, including during rush hour and are used for business.

On this evidence, argument espoused by some of the older model year vehicles are rarely driven is flawed. It was stated that many of the early 1970 vehicles should be brought back into the smog check program.

Conclusions and Recommendations from the IMRC are as follows:
1. Implement annual smog check inspections for older model year vehicles
2. Implement OBD-only testing for newer model-year vehicles
3. Require vehicles from model-year 1967 through 1975 for which a commercial registration applies to be subject to smog check inspections.
4. Repeal sections 44050-44053 of the Health and Safety code
5. Add a new section to the Health and Safety code that authorizes BAR to develop a fine structure through the regulatory process that would authorize fines up to $5000 per violation in accordance with section 125.9 of the Business and Professions Code.

Attendees that were present were:
Bob Stearns - ACCC, Vic Repstad - ACCC & Roamin Angels Car Club, Charlie Peters - CAPP, Montana Senator John Bruggerman - SEMA

My testimony included questions to the board about the remote sensing study in Southern California. Since Rocky Carlisle, Executive Officer and Jeffrey Williams, Acting Chair stated they observed the tapes of the study, I asked if they observed all 3 million records. Answer NO. I stated the study was flawed and requested real data from the study be provided to me. I also reminded the board in 2004 when they took away the 30 year rolling exemption that Vic Weiser (Chairman) had CARB and BAR stand up and state the they would not try to place the pre-1975 vehicles back into the smog check program. I reminded them that this was recorded and documented.

The answer from the current board was CARB and BAR don't have the authority and it will be the legislature that determines the action taken. I acknowledged that the IMRC can only make recommendations to the legislature and that the battle will be with the legislature if they find a legislator that will follow their recommendations. Bruce Hotchkiss stated that many of the older cars would fail tailpipe emissions if they were tested. I asked him to meet me in Reno at Hot August Nights and have him bring along a portable tailpipe emissions tester. I also reminded the board that our Òolder carsÓ donate over 30 million dollars to charity organizations each year. These include charities that the state does not support and many of these organizations need those donations to stay afloat.

Vic R. and Charlie Peters also testified. Vic talked about the 15 vehicles that he registers each year and the impact that bringing the pre-1975 vehicles will have on the car hobby. Charlie Peters basically told the IMRC that they are not doing their job.

After the meeting I met with the Deputy Chief of BAR and requested that BAR lend us one of their portable tailpipe emission testers and that the ACCC recommended at our May Legislative Conference that we do random tailpipe testing at some of our car shows. He stated that they only have two and both are in Southern Ca. I stated that our association would do the testing. I asked if they were bought with tax payers monies and if so, then the taxpayers should be allowed access. He took my card and said he will get back to me.

After the IMRC meeting, Vic and I also visited the offices of 5 Legislators. They were as follows: Assemblyman Mike Duvall - I requested that he speak at our ACCC meeting at the SEMA show in November and his staff noted that on his calendar. Mike called me about a month ago and suggested that I have lunch with him sometime and I asked his staff to set up a time for Mike, Vic and John Bruggerman meet for lunch. Mike's staff, Gino Folchi and Carolyn are great people and very helpful.

Assemblyman Kevn Jeffries - Staff members Laurie Ellis and Andrew are also great people. I asked her to encourage Kevin to stay in politics as we need legislators like him.

Assemblyman Mike Villines , Senator Sam Aanestad, Assemblyman Dan Logue

Air Fest '09 • Big Springs Gardens • Fortuna Trip • Sac Raceway
'09 Smog Check • 2 Stage Paint-Part 2 • Pontiac Progress
Movies on the Terrace • Calendar