A few months ago, California State Senator Fran Pavley introduced legislation which would have required smog checks for all motorcycles of model year 2000 or newer, beginning in 2012. The proposal has been amended to authorize police officers to fine bikers who have removed catalytic converters but the smog test provision has been dropped after the senate objected. The senate approved the amended bill which now goes to the state assembly. If it passes there, the governor’s signature is all that’s needed.
Link: Silicon Valley Mercury News
Related: California Proposes Motorcycle Smog Checks
steve says
finally some sensible thoughts. However the Fed. bill already contains what is needed to fine those that change exh. on newer bikes but then again Calif. thinks they are the Gospil when it comes to Regulations.
davidabl says
Time to lift a celebratory beer (except that I don’t drink anymore.)
Will not have to figure out how to cut the approval stamps off my stock mufflers,
weld ’em on the mufflers on the bikes, cover up the tell-tale marks. Kinda like making
fake i.d.’s
Kelly Dynge says
I am not sure where your info is coming from, but currently the proposal has passed & although amended, STILL requires motorcycles to be smogged.
Misleading headline.
kneeslider says
Kelly, the post is based on the link directly below it from the Silicon Valley Mercury News. If you have more details than the story reports, please share them for the rest of us.
GoVale46 says
Between this and the rethinking of the lead ban on kids bikes it seems someone is listening and making intelligent decisions. I never would have thought it possible.
Ferniherst says
As questioned by Kelly D., the information about California dropping the Smog Check provision in the revised bill appears to be in error. The Senate Transportaion committed did pass an ammended bill on 05/28/09. However a review of that ammendment still very much includes mandatory smog checks for all 2000 and later Class III motocycles (larger than 280cc) beginning in 2012. In fact, the bill passed the Senate 22 to 17 and is now in the California Assembly Transportation Committee with a scheduled hearing on 06/29/09. All can be verified through accessing bill status at senate.ca.gov and at assembly.ca.gov for scheduled hearings under the Transportaion Committee agenda. Such misinformation also appears to be coming from various sources, resulting in a dangerous drop of interest being expressed by the California motorcycling public. I feel it is imparitive that you let readers know the correct facts!
Auntie Smoggie says
Make sure you write to Senator Fran Pavley D-Agoura Hills regarding bill 435 to let her know you oppose it. Here is what I wrote:
Senator Fran Pavley D-Agoura Hills bill 435 is well intended, but will do little to alleviate noise and will only anger the motorcyclists who already have a quiet motorcycle, which is most owners. Why punish the thousands of riders in the state for the abuse caused by a few? I am sure that the owners of bikes with loud mufflers will only put on their original stock muffler for the ride to the check point and get their sticker, only to ride home and spend 5 minutes putting on their loud pipes.
To alleviate this, the noise levels should be monitored, not a required stamp that will do little or nothing to stop the noise. Set up a guideline that requires pipes to be less than so many Decibels at a set distance from the end of the tail pipe while the engine is revved to 3000 RPM’s. Not subjective, etc. No chance to defeat it in court, the decibel meter does not lie and some models cost less then 100 dollars. Then have the enforcement of each bike done by officers on the street. Putting a stamp on the bike will be useless and one more hoop riders have to jump through. I would support a bill requiring Smog Checking of motorcycles to fight the illegal removal of catalytic converters and other pollution control equipment.
Use her address on the form or it will kick back to you!
2716 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/ContactPopup.aspx?district=SD23
Kelly Dynge says
Senator Pavley is still trying her best to get her piece of s**t bill passed. This time as a ticket to any exhaust without the EPA stamp. Anything for a buck.