Hypothetical: messing with Cali's DMV & SMOG

[Deschodt]

Hypothetical scenario (no, really, I swear)

Say I currently live in FL and want to go 100% aftermarket, not smog compatible exhaust system on my 83SC.

Say I move back to California one day, and keep a residence in FL, where my 83 would remain registered and garaged most of the time (or not). I'd "convert" my driver's license and all cars to CA plates, except the 83SC, which would be used less frequently (track + occasional commute)

Could I get away with not smogging that FL plate car ? Are you not allowed to have the car registered in another state still, if you can make the point that it's your "other state car" and it's just in CA temporarily (even if you are lying thru your teeth at that point)? Just curious - bet you can't, but...

[the]

It's one of those things, obviously it is not allowed, but you'll get away with it until the day you don't. That day could come within the first 6 months, or never.

I've known people who have houses in Cal and Oregon who have run Oregon plates in Cal. for 20+ years without a problem.

[turbobrat930]

Maybe my brother will chime in here... ( x98boardwell), but I dont know... What I do know is that I will be praying for you every step of the way.. CA emissions laws SUCK!!!! If you can find a way to get around the BS and "stick it to the man", good for you... CA is a beautiful state but some of their laws and gas prices....wow..you wont ever catch me living there...

[terrysn]

How would you approach insurance on the car with Florida plates, with a Ca drivers license?
Terry

[Mr.Puff]

I think legally you have to get CA plates within 5 years of residency. Something like that.

[Deschodt]

It's on a classic policy, and I don't know that they (or even a regular insurance) give a toss about what plates are on the car, regardless of my driver's license...

Interesting concept though.. I wonder how people who live in 2 states actually do this... (say snowbirds).. They pick one? Is there a rule based on how many day you live in one place vs the other ?

[stout]

EDIT: Sorry, missed part of your post!

You might get away with it, but they've actually towed cars with out of state plates on the spot in SF. They get a bit picky about it as they see the drivers using the roads but not paying for them.

Would the risk be worth the benefit of the exhaust? Better to switch back and forth for smog tests?

The real pity is that CA doesn't do away with the visual portion of the test. Who cares if it's stock -- so long as it passes at the pipe? Of course, then you give rise to people who lean a tricked car out just to pass the day of... So why not do the roadside test machines and eliminate the need for almost every driver in the State wasting fuel, time, and making smog on their way to get smog-tested...?

pete

[turbobrat930]

Originally Posted by terrysn

How would you approach insurance on the car with Florida plates, with a Ca drivers license?
Terry

Hell, here in GA, you dont even need to have a drivers license in order to buy a insurance policy. Half of the illegals in our town have insurance on their cars, but all drive without a drivers license. ( you have to be a legal resident in order to get a DL in GA)...

[yelcab1]

On the 83SC, it is probably easier and less risky to keep the stock exhaust and put it back on every two years to pass smog. It's just 2 headers, one cat, and one muffler, right? 8 hours tops for conversion.

[Mr.Puff]

Cops in my area look under the car .

[drums]

Here is how it works: CHP sees out of state plate, puts it in computer, computer remembers it. Sometime down the road, another CHP sees it, runs plate into computer and, Presto! You get pulled over [whether you are smoking a dube or not] and you have a certain amount of time to get your car tagged [after paying the penalties for not putting on Ca. plates, based upon the length of time from the first sighting to the second]. My daughter and her boyfriend are CHP officers......
Drums

[RWebb]

worse than that - you will get nailed by a sniffer; they will see the out of state plate

the 2nd time - either a live officer or a sniffer, and you will be dead meat.

if they find you willfully evaded the law, they may toss your ass in jail for a little while too.

don't think they aren't waiting for some scofflaw to make an example of - it will get a lot of media attention

[ianc]

So... When you moving back Greg? Missed you and crazy adventures around here...

ianc

[9dreizig]

CA being basically a socialist country , will take every advantage to get every penny out of you.. If you by chance work from home, I'd keep the FL residence and be "officially" visiting your "vacation" home in CA.. No income tax, no emmissions.. That's what I do, all my plates say "Live Free or Die" on them

[rusnak]

Wow, Pete Stout is on this board?

Love your writing, Pete!

[avale]

Originally Posted by Mr.Puff

I think legally you have to get CA plates within 5 years of residency. Something like that.

I think it is 30 days...

[yelcab1]

Originally Posted by avale

I think it is 30 days...

You have 10 days after you first brought it in to the state to license it in Cal.

[Deschodt]

Originally Posted by ianc

So... When you moving back Greg? Missed you and crazy adventures around here...

ianc

Thinking about it Ian... But with my luck, I'll spend $$ on exhaust stuff for the car and immediately move back and have to undo it all...

[Peter Zimmermann]

CA requires that a car belonging to someone who has "established residency" here (defined by either living or working in CA) must be registered in 20 days (I think that it used to be 10). Students and military are possible exceptions. Regarding CA's emissions rules, I'd hate to see how bad our air would be if they weren't as strict as they are. Coastal residents get the benefit of breezes off the ocean to blow all the crap inland, if you want to see the big picture of how much pollution 30,000,000+ people can generate, take a drive up the 5, or the 99, through Central CA on a typical summer day. That's where all the bad air from those pristine beach communities ends up... If you want your car here please, please, make it smog legal.

[911Urge]

From the CA DMV website

Visitors whose vehicles are properly registered to them in their home state may operate their vehicles in California until they:

• Accept gainful employment in California.
• Claim a homeowner's exemption in California.
• Rent or lease a residence in California.
• Intend to live or be located here on a permanent basis (for example, acquire a California driver license, acquire other licenses not ordinarily extended to a nonresident, registered to vote).
• Enroll in an institution of higher learning as a California resident or enroll their dependents in school (K-12).

There may still be ways around this but Cali wants their money and cars to pass CA smog testing. In fact, one car rental company was nailed by Calif as out of state rental cars must leave the state in a certain time period.