(Probably) Definitive Info on Colorado Emissions, Collector’s Plates and Late Fees

[porschenut]

Ferg, I don't think the intent of the law was to correct their interpretation of what is collectible and what isn't. I don't think "collectibility" has anything to do with it whatsoever. The intent, as I understand it, is to make it harder to own an old smoggy gas-guzzler.

There is a great deal of pressure to get Denver's air in line with tougher federal standards, and I think they saw an opportunity to adopt the same policy that California adopted a few years back (no more rolling 25-year period). They're trying to get you to dump your post-'75 car and buy a new hybrid.

Politicians and EPA regulators don't care a whit about your classic car hobby.

Collector plates are nothing more than a way for hobbyists like us to make smog-producing performance mods and get away with it. This new law, I believe, was intended to specifically target this.

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Ferg, I don't think the intent of the law was to correct their interpretation of what is collectible and what isn't. I don't think "collectibility" has anything to do with it whatsoever. The intent, as I understand it, is to make it harder to own an old smoggy gas-guzzler.

There is a great deal of pressure to get Denver's air in line with tougher federal standards, and I think they saw an opportunity to adopt the same policy that California adopted a few years back (no more rolling 25-year period). They're trying to get you to dump your post-'75 car and buy a new hybrid.

Politicians and EPA regulators don't care a whit about your classic car hobby.

Collector plates are nothing more than a way for hobbyists like us to make smog-producing performance mods and get away with it. This new law, I believe, was intended to specifically target this.

I think you're right. The only thing I would question with your argument is why don't they just ban all cars regardless of age that can't pass emissions if the politicians and EPA regulators don't care a whit? And why 1975; why not 1962 (which has no significance ... I just pulled that year out of the air presumably like the State Senate did with 1975)?

I've long argued that they should make all cars pass the emissions standards they were required to when the car was built. I can't claim to know for a fact what the Colorado emissions standards were when my '82 dirty little CIS pig was built but I bet they were less stringent than the standards the car has to meet today. Of course if that was the law I probably couldn't do all the mods I'd want to but at least the reg would make some sense. Why does it seem reasonable to expect an older car's owner to make his car do something it was never designed to do re: emissions?

[Winter]

As far as I know, emissions remain a Front Range only issue in Colorado. I've never had to pass any emissions test for any car I've owned in the past 20 years, all of them have been registered in Eagle County.

Good news on the '75 being able to get collector plates, though, and I probably will do this, as this exception from testing won't last forever.

Thanks to everyone for their info and links regarding this. It is much appreciated.

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Tom '75 targa

[rbuswell]

Originally Posted by Winter

As far as I know, emissions remain a Front Range only issue in Colorado. I've never had to pass any emissions test for any car I've owned in the past 20 years, all of them have been registered in Eagle County.

Good news on the '75 being able to get collector plates, though, and I probably will do this, as this exception from testing won't last forever.

Thanks to everyone for their info and links regarding this. It is much appreciated.

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Tom '75 targa

The new law added a couple more front range counties to testing (I think it was Weld, Larimer and El Paso) but Eagle wasn't one of them. Probably a good idea when you renew next if your car is newer than 1975 although it may make sense for any car. When I first bought my car the DMV clerk asked me if I wanted collector's plates. I said "No" because I wasn't sure how long I'd keep the car. What an idiot I was!