Mandatory California motorcycle emissions testing dropped
A few months ago, California State Senator Fran Pavley introduced legislation that would have required regular smog checks for motorcycles larger than 280 cc and newer than model year 2000. That mandate was planned to go in effect in the year 2012, but that's now changed.
Ongoing discussions in the State Senate resulted in Pavley agreeing to rewrite the legislation so that mandatory smog checks are not required. Instead, the bill will allow police officers to levy fines against motorcycle owners that remove emissions controls from their machines, including catalytic converters.
The amended bill has now passed through the State Senate and will be delivered to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who will then be able to sign the bill into law.
[Source: San Jose Mercury News via The Kneeslider]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
win39 5:31PM (6/02/2009)
Don't know why it has to be either or. There are so many ways to modify a motorcycle that would not show especially those with lots of fairings. What are there, two dozen motorcycle makes with multiple models and configurations? And a highway patrolman has to know them all? He will not know whether the engine has been chipped, fuel system modified, or even if the the "catalytic converter" is just an empty shell. Another law that will never be used except against the very stupid. I should stimulate the economy for the manufacture of converter shells.
Reply
cWj 4:45PM (6/02/2009)
or a law that will be used to generate revenue anytime it should prove convenient...
cWj 4:46PM (6/02/2009)
or a law that will be used to generate revenue anytime it should prove convenient...
Reply
FitFan 6:47PM (6/02/2009)
Yep. It sounds like this has become a revenue generation issue. Motorcyclists will be able to easily swap back in the legal equipment for the sign-off. It will be the same as the front license plate requirement on cars.
Reply
BigDaddy 7:09PM (6/02/2009)
Let them suffer through the same smog checks all of us with cars must endure. While they're at it how about actually enforcing some of the laws restricting exhaust system modifications. Don't get me wrong, I like the sound of a Ducati or v-twin Harley, but I don't need to hear it a mile away.
Reply
jpm 9:33PM (6/02/2009)
Why should be suffer? Cars get much worse mpg, take up more space, and cause more road congestion. Especially around cities, cars spend a lot of time idling, meanwhile I'm zipping by getting to my destination in 1/2 the time.
But I do agree on noise-limiting laws, both for cars and motorcycles.
brn 12:52PM (6/03/2009)
I can't say that I'm a fan of regular smog checks, but I'm all for restrictions.
Given their power and weight, motorcycles don't get very good mileage. They produce more emissions than they need to. They're way too loud.
That last one bugs me the most. I appreciate the fun of a loud exhaust, but I can't believe the motorcycles get away with what they do. Any car that made that much noise would get tagged.
Let's hold motorcycles to the same standards we hold cars to.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:57PM (6/02/2009)
This is terribly, terribly weak.
Reply
DasBoese 8:35AM (6/03/2009)
Yeah, let's not use the originally proposed system, I mean it has only been shown to work in other countries all over the world.
Instead we'll introduce our own system which is highly flawed, completely useless for emission legislation and moderately useful for generating revenue.
And of course, small-displacement motorcycles being exempt would have been a disadvantage to a certain american motorcycle company.
Reply
Jeff Cotter 1:20AM (6/23/2009)
hi im one of those guys that rides a "loud" bike. I rode quiet bikes for quite a few years and after getting cut off and turned in front of enough times i decided that louder pipes might help. I was right i hve yet to be cut off or turned in front of since i got my latest bike and the new exhaust. of course i have to thank the guy driving the cage that turned left in front of me and totaled my bike. if he hadnt done that i probably wouldnt have a metal knee and still be on a quiet bike. soo many people claim that they dont see bikes and cause accidents. louder pipes make you aware im there and thus less likely to turn in front of me.
I agree bikes should be held to the same standards as cars but they produce so much less pollution that it is unnecessary to smog them. i get 55 mpg while im cruising on the freeway at 75 and 45 when im in city traffic how many cars can say they get that kind if mileage. there is such a small portion of bikes that produce any where near as much smog as a 4banger car that its unreasonable to require all of us to smog our bikes especially since the ones that do produce that kind of pollution wouldnt have been covered by the legislation since they are almost all pre 90 bikes.
im sorry if this displeases any of you cage drivers out there but being stuck in a cast for 3 months after a car turns in front of me displeases me. now why dont you go get in your old car that spews black and blue smoke and go for a drive to cool off. yeah your car smokes worse than a pan head with bad valves but hey it passed smog last month.
Reply