Being sent to California smog referee

Palacios289

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Its a cluster-bomb all around. Even cops are getting stupid. They are doing "DOT safety inspections" when they pull over cars. Cops are tagging to ticket with CA Ref inspection sign off required. The worst part it seems the cops are targeting cars without proper due process. The cops can call it safety inspection all they want but they still need reasonable suspicion the car is somehow unsafe before they inspect.
 

wckdvnm

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Correct, EVAP is the only one you can still pass while having issues with.

Sidebar: Anyone ever try the JBA shorties? I have to go back to the stock logs, but hate to go all the way back. :mad:

I’ve been in the same boat as you; found a couple used sets of the JBA shorties for $200 just want to see how gone is changed with them. Some shorties improve sound while others make them sound worse.
 

PowerWheels

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Can someone tell me if these emissions checks even create a net gain on clean air?

I mean the testers have to drive to work, instruments produced to test, buildings warmed and cooled where these people work.

How many vehicles actually dont meet requirements.

I don't know that facts on this but I assume it's a big failure even testing cars.

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cj428mach

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Can someone tell me if these emissions checks even create a net gain on clean air?

I mean the testers have to drive to work, instruments produced to test, buildings warmed and cooled where these people work.

How many vehicles actually dont meet requirements.

I don't know that facts on this but I assume it's a big failure even testing cars.

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It's a joke man and hopefully you guys begin to vote for change. They shouldn't even bother with hooking up to the ecm. Just put it on the sniffer and if it passes it's good. If they truly cared about clean Air that's what they d do.
 

cj428mach

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I’ve been in the same boat as you; found a couple used sets of the JBA shorties for $200 just want to see how gone is changed with them. Some shorties improve sound while others make them sound worse.

Do some research the jba sorties like to crack. They ve tried reinforcing them but they still break.
 

01yellercobra

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It's a joke man and hopefully you guys begin to vote for change. They shouldn't even bother with hooking up to the ecm. Just put it on the sniffer and if it passes it's good. If they truly cared about clean Air that's what they d do.
Its just a scam to make money. 90% of our cars are toys. I can go a couple weeks without driving my Cobra. The issue is the people in charge drive Nissan Leafs and Toyota Priuses and think everyone else should based on principle. Its really a losing fight over here.

That being said, it really is as simple as leaving the emission stuff turned on. All my stuff was/is turned on and I passed. A buddy turned all his stuff off and got sent to referee.
 

rolive

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Its a cluster-bomb all around. Even cops are getting stupid. They are doing "DOT safety inspections" when they pull over cars. Cops are tagging to ticket with CA Ref inspection sign off required. The worst part it seems the cops are targeting cars without proper due process. The cops can call it safety inspection all they want but they still need reasonable suspicion the car is somehow unsafe before they inspect.

Wait. What? Where is this happening and what agencies are involved? Commercial vehicles have always been subjected to safety inspections, but passenger vehicles haven’t.
 
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Palacios289

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Wait. What? Where is this happening and what agencies are involved?

Riverside Sheriff stopped a few fellas I know about 2 months back. Under the cover of "safety inspection" they made them open their hoods. They do it under threat of impound. Once the hood was popped open, they ticketed the vehicles for engine mods and on the back of the ticket were a LEO can normally sign off, it was tagged for STATE REF sign off only.

here is the thing. The Sheriff used "modified exhaust" as PC to make the stop. My feeling is that its a large leap to make a reasonable conclusion the car is unsafe for road use due to exhaust to conduct a "safety inspection" Call it what they want, but its a search.

To make it worse, i spoke to some of my LEO friends. I asked them about this and they said that DOT trained/certified LEOS can make the call for a safety inspection based on loud exhaust. Its complete horsecrap. I spoke to one of my Sgt friends with LAPD that is DOT trained/certified. I asked him if he would pull over a group of ferraris or lambos that have loud exhaust. He said he would not stop them for exhaust only. He also even if he did have some other PC to pull them over, he would NOT do a safety inspection on an exotic based solely on exhaust or some other weak reason. Why? because the exotic guys would make that nonsense go away in a heartbeat.

Its getting really bad in CA. Without getting the politics involved, its clear the state wants the common folk out of cars. Obviously elites will always have their toys.

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Palacios289

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Riverside Sheriff stopped a few fellas I know about 2 months back. Under the cover of "safety inspection" they made them open their hoods. They do it under threat of impound. Once the hood was popped open, they ticketed the vehicles for engine mods and on the back of the ticket were a LEO can normally sign off, it was tagged for STATE REF sign off only.

here is the thing. The Sheriff used "modified exhaust" as PC to make the stop. My feeling is that its a large leap to make a reasonable conclusion the car is unsafe for road use due to exhaust to conduct a "safety inspection" Call it what they want, but its a search.

To make it worse, i spoke to some of my LEO friends. I asked them about this and they said that DOT trained/certified LEOS can make the call for a safety inspection based on loud exhaust. Its complete horsecrap. I spoke to one of my Sgt friends with LAPD that is DOT trained/certified. I asked him if he would pull over a group of ferraris or lambos that have loud exhaust. He said he would not stop them for exhaust only. He also even if he did have some other PC to pull them over, he would NOT do a safety inspection on an exotic based solely on exhaust or some other weak reason. Why? because the exotic guys would make that nonsense go away in a heartbeat.

Its getting really bad in CA. Without getting the politics involved, its clear the state wants the common folk out of cars. Obviously elites will always have their toys.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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Its a cluster-bomb all around. Even cops are getting stupid. They are doing "DOT safety inspections" when they pull over cars. Cops are tagging to ticket with CA Ref inspection sign off required. The worst part it seems the cops are targeting cars without proper due process. The cops can call it safety inspection all they want but they still need reasonable suspicion the car is somehow unsafe before they inspect.

interesting, probably not to DOT standards from the commercial sense but still. Most of those jokers don't know WTF theyre looking at anyway. There was a point in time we had to put a copy of the statute/code for which end of the truck got the license plate with a registration sticker (dual tag CDL trucks only one tag has a sticker in FL) because they kept ****ing it up.

Can someone tell me if these emissions checks even create a net gain on clean air?

I mean the testers have to drive to work, instruments produced to test, buildings warmed and cooled where these people work.

How many vehicles actually dont meet requirements.

I don't know that facts on this but I assume it's a big failure even testing cars.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

We don't have any inspection BS here in FL, from what I read they looked at it as if every car on the road was the same as the worst car they tested and it made no significant difference over like a 50 year period (I believe they factored in things you're mentioning). The downside is we do have some seriously sketchy shit driving around down here.
 

Palacios289

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The thing is that the officer/sheriff must have DOT training to properly inspect vehicles on top of have reasonable cause to "inspect" Yet the LEO are using threat of impound to "inspect" Even cars with clearly maked CARB EO numbers on parts are being ticketed and sent to State Ref. I don't know if its a combo of taking high performance cars off the road and a money grab.

My Cobra is lightly modified and has a magnaflow exhaust that is under 95db. I don't have anything that would scream out "modified". In my case I have decided if I get pulled over and I am threatened with "impound" I will refuse any inspection and sue if need be as the LEO would not be able to articulate what exactly on my Cobra is visually "unsafe" to warrant a "inspection.
 

Stangra

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They are doing "DOT safety inspections" when they pull over cars. Cops are tagging to ticket with CA Ref inspection sign off required. The worst part it seems the cops are targeting cars without proper due process. The cops can call it safety inspection all they want but they still need reasonable suspicion the car is somehow unsafe before they inspect.

Riverside Sheriff stopped a few fellas I know about 2 months back. Under the cover of "safety inspection" they made them open their hoods. They do it under threat of impound. Once the hood was popped open, they ticketed the vehicles for engine mods and on the back of the ticket were a LEO can normally sign off, it was tagged for STATE REF sign off only.

here is the thing. The Sheriff used "modified exhaust" as PC to make the stop. My feeling is that its a large leap to make a reasonable conclusion the car is unsafe for road use due to exhaust to conduct a "safety inspection" Call it what they want, but its a search.

The thing is that the officer/sheriff must have DOT training to properly inspect vehicles on top of have reasonable cause to "inspect" Yet the LEO are using threat of impound to "inspect" Even cars with clearly maked CARB EO numbers on parts are being ticketed and sent to State Ref. I don't know if its a combo of taking high performance cars off the road and a money grab.

My Cobra is lightly modified and has a magnaflow exhaust that is under 95db. I don't have anything that would scream out "modified". In my case I have decided if I get pulled over and I am threatened with "impound" I will refuse any inspection and sue if need be as the LEO would not be able to articulate what exactly on my Cobra is visually "unsafe" to warrant a "inspection.

Unfortunately, under California Assembly Bill 1824 that took effect Jan 1, the cops not only have the authority to cite for exhaust noise levels but now it's no longer just a fix-it ticket it's a trip to the BAR Referee Center to verify compliance. It's not "DOT" or "Safety" or Emissions that gives this authority but noise, and it's subjective on the part of the officer to decide if a Referee is needed. A "Certificate of Compliance" will be required to clear the citation. If he thinks you're too loud you're off to the Referee.

When enacted it was intended as another tool to control illegal Side Shows, but because of it's subjective nature it can be and is being misused. Unfortunately I don't think refusal to inspect will avoid the BAR Referee inspection requirement and a lawsuit isn't likely to get any traction.

California Vehicle Exhaust Noise Laws (2019)
 

Palacios289

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You are correct on the exhaust DB portion. However cops are ticketing based on an unsafe vehicle due to modifications and using the exhaust as their PC to “inspect”. that part will lose in court. I’ve read the MVC and it’s clear the officer must have a reasonable cause to believe the vehicle is unsafe to be operated in the road.

I’ve had friends cited for exhaust and be sent to ref for DB measurement. What I’m talking about above is the “unsafe and modified vehicle” which means the vehicle must be taken off the road. That is clearly a reach for cops to use exhaust as their ticket to inspect.

it’s a reach plain an simple and frankly selective in its enforcement. I have yet to year a single Ferrari and lambo car show/meet targeted by CHP for exhaust violations. If CHP wanted to they could set up shop on rodeo drive after the Father’s Day car show and nail exotics. Clearly we know that will never happen.
 

Stangra

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Quote from the site linked above:
"95 dbA is the legal limit for vehicle exhaust noise in California. Police officers can “exercise their judgment” in determining if your exhaust noise is over the legal limit. Most factory-installed exhaust systems even on powerful sports cars don’t exceed 75 decibels."



Assembly Bill No. 1824
CHAPTER 38


An act to add Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 19400) to Division 19 of the Elections Code, to amend Section 13953 of the Government Code, to add Section 1052 to the Military and Veterans Code, and to amend Section 40610 of the Vehicle Code, relating to state government, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

[ Approved by Governor June 27, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State June 27, 2018. ]




40610.

(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if, after an arrest, accident investigation, or other law enforcement action, it appears that a violation has occurred involving a registration, license, all-terrain vehicle safety certificate, or mechanical requirement of this code, and none of the disqualifying conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist and the investigating officer decides to take enforcement action, the officer shall prepare, in triplicate, and the violator shall sign, a written notice containing the violator’s promise to correct the alleged violation and to deliver proof of correction of the violation to the issuing agency.
(2) If any person is arrested for a violation of Section 4454, and none of the disqualifying conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist, the arresting officer shall prepare, in triplicate, and the violator shall sign, a written notice containing the violator’s promise to correct the alleged violation and to deliver proof of correction of the violation to the issuing agency. In lieu of issuing a notice to correct violation pursuant to this section, the officer may issue a notice to appear, as specified in Section 40522.
(b) Pursuant to subdivision (a), a notice to correct violation shall be issued as provided in this section or a notice to appear shall be issued as provided in Section 40522, unless the officer finds any of the following:
(1) Evidence of fraud or persistent neglect.
(2) The violation presents an immediate safety hazard.
(3) The violator does not agree to, or cannot, promptly correct the violation.
(4) The violation cited is of subdivision (a) of Section 27150 or of subdivision (a) of Section 27151.
(c) If any of the conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist, the procedures specified in this section or Section 40522 are inapplicable, and the officer may take other appropriate enforcement action.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a), the notice to correct violation shall be on a form approved by the Judicial Council and, in addition to the owner’s or operator’s address and identifying information, shall contain an estimate of the reasonable time required for correction and proof of correction of the particular defect, not to exceed 30 days, or 90 days for the all-terrain vehicle safety certificate.

27150.
(a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.
27151.
(a) A person shall not modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.
 

Palacios289

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I’ve read the vehicle numerous times. I’d like to know how any LEO can equate a modified exhaust to a clear an immediate hazard that would require an immediate safety inspection. And yet that’s what cops are doing.

CA Is really becoming a utter and complete socialist shit hole. We are taxed to death and yet we have our dear leader siphoning road and infrastructure funds for pork projects. I really believe all this state ref of cars is to get as many cars off the road as possible.
 

wckdvnm

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Quote from the site linked above:
"95 dbA is the legal limit for vehicle exhaust noise in California. Police officers can “exercise their judgment” in determining if your exhaust noise is over the legal limit. Most factory-installed exhaust systems even on powerful sports cars don’t exceed 75 decibels."



Assembly Bill No. 1824
CHAPTER 38


An act to add Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 19400) to Division 19 of the Elections Code, to amend Section 13953 of the Government Code, to add Section 1052 to the Military and Veterans Code, and to amend Section 40610 of the Vehicle Code, relating to state government, and making an appropriation therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.

[ Approved by Governor June 27, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State June 27, 2018. ]




40610.

(a) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), if, after an arrest, accident investigation, or other law enforcement action, it appears that a violation has occurred involving a registration, license, all-terrain vehicle safety certificate, or mechanical requirement of this code, and none of the disqualifying conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist and the investigating officer decides to take enforcement action, the officer shall prepare, in triplicate, and the violator shall sign, a written notice containing the violator’s promise to correct the alleged violation and to deliver proof of correction of the violation to the issuing agency.
(2) If any person is arrested for a violation of Section 4454, and none of the disqualifying conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist, the arresting officer shall prepare, in triplicate, and the violator shall sign, a written notice containing the violator’s promise to correct the alleged violation and to deliver proof of correction of the violation to the issuing agency. In lieu of issuing a notice to correct violation pursuant to this section, the officer may issue a notice to appear, as specified in Section 40522.
(b) Pursuant to subdivision (a), a notice to correct violation shall be issued as provided in this section or a notice to appear shall be issued as provided in Section 40522, unless the officer finds any of the following:
(1) Evidence of fraud or persistent neglect.
(2) The violation presents an immediate safety hazard.
(3) The violator does not agree to, or cannot, promptly correct the violation.
(4) The violation cited is of subdivision (a) of Section 27150 or of subdivision (a) of Section 27151.
(c) If any of the conditions set forth in subdivision (b) exist, the procedures specified in this section or Section 40522 are inapplicable, and the officer may take other appropriate enforcement action.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a), the notice to correct violation shall be on a form approved by the Judicial Council and, in addition to the owner’s or operator’s address and identifying information, shall contain an estimate of the reasonable time required for correction and proof of correction of the particular defect, not to exceed 30 days, or 90 days for the all-terrain vehicle safety certificate.

27150.
(a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise, and no muffler or exhaust system shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass, or similar device.
27151.
(a) A person shall not modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of the vehicle so that the vehicle is not in compliance with the provisions of Section 27150 or exceeds the noise limits established for the type of vehicle in Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 27200). A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an exhaust system so modified.

Not to point out something almost no one has talked about. The bill has been repealed back to pre Jan 1st standards.

Edit: I cannot find a current source outside of a email and some talk of it on Instagram. I can’t find the petition page for any updates as they just stopped emailing me.
 

cesar24

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I just got done reading the thread and I'm going through the same thing. I've had my 03 for 8 years and never had any issues with smog until now I got flagged to go to the state ref also. The tech didn't even plug in anything to the car he just scanned the smog notice. I have a tune from AED and its passed the star smog before. The car is pullied with a CARB legal intake. I had ran the car before going and all the monitors were ready except evap according to my scanner. My question is has anyone tried going to the ref with their tune if it has the monitors ready? I have an appointment Thursday and trying to figure out if I should take it with the tune or go back to stock which I would have to swap back to the stock pulley which I don't even have a puller. And I'm not sure how the port will affect the car on the stock tune. Any info helps!
 
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BADBOYSVT

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I hope not. Texas is GREAT as is. We don't need liberals or dumb@$$ Dems (Beto) :mad: to come in here and try to "F" things up for us...…..
True . Texas is where all the best tunner is . Back then Texas they have to check smog test . Where they monitor how much stuff come out your exhaust . Nowadays as long you don’t have check engine light , you pass . Even if you have check engine light , there always a way to pass :) . I love lone star state .
 

Blkkbgt

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I just got done reading the thread and I'm going through the same thing. I've had my 03 for 8 years and never had any issues with smog until now I got flagged to go to the state ref also. The tech didnt even plug in anything to the car he just scanned the smog notice. I have a tune from AED and its passed the star smog before I just swap back to my stock midpipe. The car is ported with a 2.76 pulley stock lower and a CARB legal intake. I had ran the car before going and all the monitors were ready except evap according to my scanner. My question is has anyone tried going to the ref with their tune if it has the monitors ready? I have an appointment Thursday and trying to figure out if I should take it with the tune or go back to stock which I would have to swap back to the stock pulley which I dont even have a puller. And I'm not sure how the port will affect the car on the stock tune. Any info helps!

This is interesting. So your smog guy never hooked up the state computer but you still need to see the ref?

I am really confused by all this because it seems everyone else has been getting sent to the ref because the monitors aren't set. I wonder if they gathered info from your last smog 2 years ago and they flagged you this year?

I would take it back to stock and play dumb. I dont think it's worth playing around with these assholes.
 

03 DSG Snake

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I just got done reading the thread and I'm going through the same thing. I've had my 03 for 8 years and never had any issues with smog until now I got flagged to go to the state ref also. The tech didnt even plug in anything to the car he just scanned the smog notice. I have a tune from AED and its passed the star smog before I just swap back to my stock midpipe. The car is ported with a 2.76 pulley stock lower and a CARB legal intake. I had ran the car before going and all the monitors were ready except evap according to my scanner. My question is has anyone tried going to the ref with their tune if it has the monitors ready? I have an appointment Thursday and trying to figure out if I should take it with the tune or go back to stock which I would have to swap back to the stock pulley which I dont even have a puller. And I'm not sure how the port will affect the car on the stock tune. Any info helps!

I would flash back to stock, but you will need to drive cycle it to reset your monitors all over again. Just stay out of boost while driving it.

The crapshoot is whether or not he checks the upper pulley out.
 

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