xschop

Soon there will be CAT death boards to determine their qualification and service life....Affordable CAT Act

Cuda911

This whole concept of "aftermarket cats may fail early so therefore they are illegal" is absolutely moronic.

Here's a nearly identical "logical" analogy:

CARB also regulates the VOC content of paints. But, there is a wide variety of quality of paints on the market. Just read Consumer Reports if you don't believe it.

If I buy the cheapest paint, I will need to repaint my house much sooner, so therefore my total VOC emissions from house painting is much greater if I buy cheap paint.

They should make all cheaper brands of paint illegal and put anyone who uses it in jail.

xschop

Don't give them any ideas, next CARB will regulate Taco Bell due to their VOC producing tacos and bean burritos.

Jetdriver69

Go Texas! No smog or visual inspection for over 25 years old. My 82 just passed and I have no Cat, air pump, etc.

I don't ever plan to live in California again and if I never sell the car, that is ok too.

Gross polluter? You should see how much CO2 I emit flying from Houston to Europe!

JWise

Go Oklahoma! No inspections at all, I mean NONE, emissions or otherwise.

The state did away with them about 15-20 yrs ago. And no, surprisingly, our roads aren't full of vehicles about to fall apart and the air is still clear.

rnixon

I'm against over-regulation of most things, California smog testing being a very good example of it. However, I'm also against allowing cars that pollute on the roads. The UK systems (at least until 6 1/2 years ago) seemed better to me - you have a decent safety inspection and test every year (the "MOT" test), which includes an emissions test.

Frankly, a rolling road emissions test and a visual inspection that you haven't done anything dirty, should suffice. I should be free to remove my cat, put on after-market turbos, etc, as long as I pass the emissions test. It's my problem if parts don't last. The UK requires all vehicles to be maintained in "road-worthy" condition, so they can inspect your car if they suspect that there's an issue, outside of the annual tests.

Having knocked California, I do like the sun . Smog testing is effective at improving air quality in the built-up areas, but it's overly prescriptive IMO - typical when politicians think that they understand technical stuff. That over regulation stifles innovation too.

69gaugeman

Too bad the laws as applied to this OP had NO effect on air quality there. The fact that newer cars are polluting less and there are more newer cars did. Typical "if taxes are good more taxes are better" BS

hacker-pschorr

Exactly

You can have a car in the US pass with bald tires, tire rods falling apart etc.... It's ridiculous.

The problem is, if a state like California adopted the UK system, they would go one step further and you would only be able to buy the original tires that came with the car, wheel upgrades would be illegal, installing 100 walt bulbs in the high beams would land you in jail etc....

Tom. M

This is the crux of the problem right here....legislators that don't understand the science behind things tend to lend their ears to those most vocal (typically groups with an agenda) and initiate legislation based on this. The agencies then have to respond to those initiatives with whatever means they can. Get rid of the those legislators...and you'll see saner regs driven by science rather than the whim of some legislator.

DKWalser

It depends on the state. Utah, for example, has a legitimate safety inspection requirement. Arizona does not. California allows private shops to do emissions tests. Arizona does not. Its just an example of our federal system.

kurt_1

... we have that in Germany already!
Virtually nothing of substance is allowed to be modified unless the new parts are officially approved.

___________
Kurt

90S4 satin black metallic
928 OC Charter Member

Nicole

Let me break down to you how this works in the home country of our cars:

100W Bulbs? Hahahahaha. Ticket, and possible impound. Don't even try to show-up at a vehicle inspection with those! Since they check the aiming of the headlights, they'd catch it immediately.

Wheel/tire upgrades? Have to be approved by the TÜV and added to the title and registration of the car, or have to have an ABE (Allgemeine Betriebserlaubmis) certificate with you - proof of general approval for the specific wheel/tire combo for your specific vehicle.

For the longest time, Porsches were only allowed to use tires with the N-Specification. This has been eased with the EU laws.

Cats need to have a manufacturer stamp that the inspectors can cross-reference. The way to get around this is to empty the factory cats and put modern metal cats inside (or nothing, if you like it loud - but that would catch Police attention, and they could theoretically impound your car, as they did with a 928 owner in Bavaria who installed an RMB). Oh, and you'd have to install a working cat every year for the annual smog inspection.

If you'd modify your car without approval, your insurance could demand you to pay them back after an accident. This could be costly, given that the minimum liability insurance in Germany is in the Millions.

In return, you have a few percent of roads that have no speed limit. The rest are mined with photo radars. That creates much needed revenue for cities and counties - no difference here to the US.

rnixon

Germany does have a reputation for rules, but also for following and enforcing them (unlike Southern Europe, stereotypically).

I'd love to have twin turbos on my 928, but keeping it standard is much more sensible. It would be nice to have a choice though, but I'd have to do a kit car to get that (in California).

Jetdriver69

I lived in Germany when I gray marketed my first 928 and they would not let anything slide. That was in 1986 and the inspection station was on a military base. I can't imagine what the standards are now.

BTW, there is many radar detector units with cameras just off the autobahn exits. So if you take the exit fast, you get a ticket in the mail. Good luck collecting those euros!

kurt_1

It's getting more restrictive every year. There are rules, then there are rules about rules and anything not covered by rules is forbidden by default.

And we don't even have the sea and the sun and can't go surfing all day long once your cars have passed all tests.
___________
Kurt
90S4 satin black metallic
928 OC Charter Member