California modified exhaust anf excessive noise laws

[nokones]

I'm sure by now that everyone has heard or have read about the "New" California Exhaust Law(s) that took effect on January 1, 2019. There are three Vehicle Code statutes that applies to vehicles with excessive noise and/or modified exhaust on vehicles that are registered in California. To be clear on what is real deal here, the statutes (27150, 27150.2, and 27151 CVC) on excessive noise and modified exhaust are not new. These statutes have not been amended since 2003. What has changed is what enforcement document is going to be issued by a law enforcement officer. As of this year, the enforcement document no longer can be a "Fix-It Ticket" where you can have any law enforcement Officer sign it off and you mail it back into the issuing agency. Now, you will be issued a "Notice To Appear" (regular ol' citation) that you must correct and have the correction certified by a license smog station and be issued a certificate of compliance, and no doubt, there will be a fine for that citation when you go to court. How much, I don't know, that will depend on the court where the Notice To Appear is cited to.

Now, you know if a smog station is going to issue a certificate of compliance, they no doubt will probably check not only the noise, they more than likely will at least do a visual inspection of the entire exhaust and emission systems for compliance of all components. I wonder what are they going to do with cars that have engine swaps. In the past, they always required the systems that either was how the car came equipped from the factory or what the engine came equipped with from the factory if the engine year is later than the car's model year.

That might mean any engine emission systems that consisted of a, Electronics (ECM), Cat, Vapor, and/or Air Pump, will have to be equipped with that engine regardless if the car, regardless the car's model year, is exempt from a biennial smog inspection. So, will the LS swaps in older cars without all the original emissions systems for that engine cause a problem in getting a certificate of compliance. Hmmm, I bet it will.



Thoughts and Opinions are welcome.

[andrewb70]

Move out of California.

Andrew

[chevelletiger]

Move out of California.

Andrew

The weather is too nice to leave.
Bonzohasen,the link clears up the confusion.
Thank you.

[Dayton]

The weather is too nice to leave.

Only reason I'm still here. 1 hour ago I was walking my dog in a t shirt.

[nokones]

Actually, I am moving out of California. The cost of living outside of California will give me more money to spend on go-fast parts.

Move out of California.

Andrew

[Zachalanche]

Just another law that's overly ambitious but difficult to enforce. Unfortunately when laws are created that the vast majority of the population will break, the law becomes discriminatory whether intentional or not.

Just like the speed limit. every one is breaking it, so its up to the officer to pick who he likes the least. So, try to stay under the radar if your exhaust is capable of being loud. .......even if its stock.

[NCC-1701]

Actually, I am moving out of California. The cost of living outside of California will give me more money to spend on go-fast parts.

Move out of California.

Andrew

That's what we just did. My wife and I kept the same jobs, make the same money, pay way less taxes and our kids will get a better education. We had a 3/3 with 1700 sq ft on 0.3 acre in CA with a one car garage. For the exact same price in VA we have 7000 sq ft on 0.5 acre and a 3 car garage. Now I don't have to deal with stupid car or gun laws and I have more money than ever to spend on toys. I understand a lot of people are afraid to make the jump but I will tell you from personal experience, the faster you get out the happier you will be.

[c4racer2]

1975 and older cars are smog exempt in CA - this doesn't change. there is no smog check required regardless of what engine is in the car.

But not sure how this may impact engine swaps in 1975+ cars.

And move out of CA does seem like a pretty solid suggestion the way things are going here!
Problem is a lot of other states seem to follow what CA does as far as smog rules and such.

[Rolling_Thunder]

1975 and older cars are smog exempt in CA - this doesn't change. there is no smog check required regardless of what engine is in the car.

But not sure how this may impact engine swaps in 1975+ cars.

And move out of CA does seem like a pretty solid suggestion the way things are going here!
Problem is a lot of other states seem to follow what CA does as far as smog rules and such.

Yeah - but you can live a lot better pretty much anywhere else. Housing here is out of touch and ready to collapse, too many restrictions on cars, guns, gender pronouns, etc etc - and OMG the taxes! It seems like we get taxed for everything... gas is $3.30 at my local station - in MD where im stationed it's $2.07 -- Taxes for plastic bags at the grocery store, taxes for breathing, car registration being based on mileage --- screw all that - I am planning on leaving very soon myself.

[nokones]

Yeah - but you can live a lot better pretty much anywhere else. Housing here is out of touch and ready to collapse, too many restrictions on cars, guns, gender pronouns, etc etc - and OMG the taxes! It seems like we get taxed for everything... gas is $3.30 at my local station - in MD where im stationed it's $2.07 -- Taxes for plastic bags at the grocery store, taxes for breathing, car registration being based on mileage --- screw all that - I am planning on leaving very soon myself.

Also, don't forget about the new tax coming our way, 25 cents on a drinking cup.

I'm so glad that I am buying and moving to Arizona.

[TheJDMan]

The way I understand it 75 and older cars being exempt is only applicable if the engine is also older than 75. What Kenny said above is that the emissions test is based on the latest year be it the car or the engine year. So take a first gen Camaro with an LS swap for example, it would appear that such a car would fall into the engine year category emissions requirements. This is how confusion gets started on the internet. Does anyone have an actual state statute that can be posted here for reference?

[ULTM8Z]

I've never had to smog my '71 Camaro since about the mid-90s when that pre-75 exemption went into effect.

though these days with the way California is going (to hell in a jandbasket), i wonder how much longer until these cars are just outlawed altogether.

[BonzoHansen]

https://www.semasan.com/legislative-...TRgHtRxJfBu0Gs

[Jaymzz]

My wife and I almost moved to California last year from a really good job offer I had. I was really worried about the car laws and so glad we didn't move there after this new law.
I feel bad for car enthusiasts that live in California.

[David Pozzi]

The first citation should be free of fines, since there is no way to have your car pre-tested. You have to be cited first, only then you are allowed to make an appointment with the referee.

[65 drop top]

The first citation should be free of fines, since there is no way to have your car pre-tested. You have to be cited first, only then you are allowed to make an appointment with the referee.

This logic would require CA to have some common sense. Unfortunately, the politicians here have none.

[c4racer2]

With a pre 75 car with a later model motor - how would the DMV ever know that the car has a newer engine ? They never need to see or test the car because it is exempt.

[nokones]

DMV will never know. But, if you get cited under the new law change for excessive noise and/or modified exhaust, you will have to get a certificate of compliance from a smog station regardless what year your car is or exempt from the biennial inspection. Do you think when you take your car to the smog inspection station for that certification of compliance on the noise violation they are not going to have a blind eye on the emissions devices and systems?

With a pre 75 car with a later model motor - how would the DMV ever know that the car has a newer engine ? They never need to see or test the car because it is exempt.

[ULTM8Z]

DMV will never know. But, if you get cited under the new law change for excessive noise and/or modified exhaust, you will have to get a certificate of compliance from a smog station regardless what year your car is or exempt from the biennial inspection. Do you think when you take your car to the smog inspection station for that certification of compliance on the noise violation they are not going to have a blind eye on the emissions devices and systems?

i can just picture it...

"I'm sorry sir... you need to remove that engine that's producing 1/10th the emissions of the original engine, and then put the original engine back in".

the ironic thing is they should be applauding us for updating the engines in these old cars. Even my Miniramed Gen1 SBC is getting 28-29 mpg on the highway now.

[Zachalanche]

i can just picture it...

"I'm sorry sir... you need to remove that engine that's producing 1/10th the emissions of the original engine, and then put the original engine back in".

the ironic thing is they should be applauding us for updating the engines in these old cars. Even my Miniramed Gen1 SBC is getting 28-29 mpg on the highway now.

I'm thinking common sense is not part of the equation. What a world it would be if it was.