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      12-10-2012, 11:27 PM   #1
RollingLower42
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Smog check point in CA

So I thought it was a joke a couple days ago when I heard there are "smog check points" in CA.

To my dismay, on my way to work this morning, on the opposite side of the street I noticed what looked like a DUI checkpoint at 8:30 in the A.M. When I drove by, I realized it was a Smog check point. Had all 3 lanes going down to 1 lane with cones and they had a dyno on the right side of the street. I have no clue how they decided to pick the car that was on the dyno, but it looked like they had a ford thunder bird on the dyno (maybe a 98? )

Anyways, let's say you had a exhaust, downpipe, a tune, any engine work. If you drove through one of those checkpoints what would probably happen? Would you be hit with a fine? Would they make you take everything aftermarket off?
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      12-11-2012, 06:12 AM   #2
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Cali has completely lost its mind. damn tree hugging hippies.
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      12-11-2012, 09:17 AM   #3
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This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

If they really want to make a difference in the world, they need to start doing traffic stops for noisy-as-shit Harleys that sound like the devil itself is screaming and start handing out fines.
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      12-11-2012, 10:26 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kuonji View Post
This has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.

If they really want to make a difference in the world, they need to start doing traffic stops for noisy-as-shit Harleys that sound like the devil itself is screaming and start handing out fines.
^^^ Great point! I hate those overly loud Harley guys!
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      12-11-2012, 10:40 AM   #5
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Never heard of this until now...

Had a bit of a google... http://www.smogtips.com/remote_sensing.cfm

In this link it advises that people would be mailed literature and invites to have a 'vehicle repair' which sounds like a rectificatio scheme rather than penalty scheme (all be it I imagine with slightly larger costs than a ticket would be)

Presume that stop checkpoints would be the same approach as these mobile ones?

Also what are the limits etc. Surely a modern car, even with modifications, should be well below limits?
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      12-11-2012, 05:28 PM   #6
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I read on another forum that supposedly these are "voluntary"

But then again, I am not exactly sure if this is true or not. I am guessing if you tried to tell them you didn't want to do it, that they could then search you and your car?

Seems like a can of worms to me.

I would hope a newer model car with mods would still be able to pass, but who knows..
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      12-12-2012, 03:35 PM   #7
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Malcolm Gladwell had an article a few years back about car emissions saying 5% of the cars cause 45% of the pollution and one person was quoted as advocating mobile testing. I wouldn't be surprised if this was related to that idea/research.

Here's a link to the article from his website, the sections are numbered. The one about cars is #4.

http://www.gladwell.com/2006/2006_02_13_a_murray.html
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      12-12-2012, 05:19 PM   #8
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free dyno?
do u get a print out with that --


where in L.A. (street corner please) did u see a mobile smog check point
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      12-12-2012, 06:02 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankiE90 View Post
free dyno?
do u get a print out with that --


where in L.A. (street corner please) did u see a mobile smog check point
Long Beach, CA
Monday Morning 8:15 A.M
Off of the corner of PCH and Atlantic.

If you were going up Atlantic away from the beach and made a right hand turn onto PCH you would of gone right into the trap.
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      12-14-2012, 04:25 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RollingLower420 View Post
I read on another forum that supposedly these are "voluntary"

But then again, I am not exactly sure if this is true or not. I am guessing if you tried to tell them you didn't want to do it, that they could then search you and your car?

Seems like a can of worms to me.

I would hope a newer model car with mods would still be able to pass, but who knows..
If the car has a downpipe installed removing the catalytic converter, it will not pass this test, new or old.

They've been doing the mobile tests for years now. I have even heard of stations that do not stop you, but rather point some sort of gun/sensor at the rear of your car. Some people reported getting letters in the mail saying they needed to have their cars smogged after passing these sorts of stations. Then again, this was all heard on the internet but considering this is California, I don't doubt it.
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