CHP Mobil Smog Check points
 

I was driving on California State 116 today when I noticed a sign "Survey Crew Ahead". Turned out to be a full on smog check station set up in the street! They even had a dyno. A CHP officer was waving people either through or to the machine. My buddy in San Diego saw one there today as well.
Does anyone know what the legality of these are? I believe they are technically voluntary.
Anyone else have any experience with one of these checkpoints?

Those check points are mandatory under California Health and Safety Code Section 44081 , and they operate like DUI checkpoints. Supposedly, they are to monitor the effectiveness of the biannual smog check program, not to cite offenders who happen to be pulled over. We'll see.

My God, that's an effective use of taxpayer money. Oh, I forget, this is Kalifornia.

So what happens when a pre-'75 rolls by?

"You may go, you aren't the gross polluter that we're looking for."

Pre 75 cars are not exempt from smog pollution equipment laws in California.

They are exempt from biannual testing, but it's still illegal to tamper with any of the stock smog equipment, even on a pre 75.

Just wondering if I would be exempt, being in a Canadian registered car?

As long as you also live in Canada. In Indiana you have 60 days to register a out of state or country once you become a resident
Ernie 81sc

Ah, but if a pre75 is exempt from biannual testing then would you not be exempt from mobile testing also? Just thinking.

There are a lot of unanswered questions here. What if my '71 911 does not meet some arbitrary standard, even though it still has the original motor with no visible modifications? Or my '67 VW with Weber carburetors? I intend to do some research to find out what is going on.

The thing that annoys me the most is the covert nature of these "surveys".

I believe some letters of concern to elected officials are in order.

Found this on the Murcury news site. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_23219778/surprise-bay-area-drivers-have-cars-examined-at

"The random smog checkpoint was set up last week by the state's Bureau of Automotive Repair, part of the agency's push to bring state air quality into compliance with federal standards. Other roadside stops in the Bay Area were set up earlier in the year in Antioch, Concord and the San Jose area.

California drivers can expect to see the emission checkpoints more often.

The goal of the inspections is to see what emissions are "actually like in the real world," and if the state's smog reduction programs are working, said Russ Heimerich, a spokesman with the Department of Consumer Affairs, which includes the automotive repair bureau.

Targeted at cars made from 1976 to 2007, the tests are voluntary. They are also not punitive, as drivers do not lose their licenses or rack up fines if they fail.

The tests, which take about 10 minutes, are set up similar to smog checks at a service station. Technicians drive the vehicle up onto an elevated metal dynamometer to check the car's components and systems, indicator lights, ignition timing, gas cap and exhaust recirculation system, said Eric DeBarruel, a program representative with the automotive bureau.

Technicians also perform a "tailpipe test," measuring exhaust emissions by inserting a probe into a vehicle's tailpipe.

"We tell the drivers that would have failed a test, why it failed and what repairs would be recommended," DeBarruel said.

so I get this..... this is to get the last of our cars off the road.... the smog testing on the horizon as I understand it will be simply a plug in to the car computer and read the tattle tail. that being the case, why the f would they drag a dyno and the rest of the horse & pony show to a roadside near you to do "real world" testing? when all they need to do is plug into the onboard info deal to reveal any sins. my pops has a 01 zo6 and they have the capability to read his, so how far back does the OBD, or what the systems are call go back? mid 90's?

random? yeah right, seems like a way to find undocumented aliens, or if im high.... in addition to writin me a ticket...

EDIT: Trackrash posted while I was typing. Same info, basically, below.

From what I've found, I will need to modify my answer as to the tests being mandatory.

California law states that only CHP can pull cars out of traffic lanes and this is the mandatory part of the program--you must obey the directions of the CHP officer and pull out of traffic and into the testing lanes. However, once in the testing lane, the further procedure of testing is voluntary and you are asked if you want to participate, given a flier that explains the program, and you can decide whether or not to participate.

(From the Smog Check Inspection Report, Feb. 2000), "The greeter explains to the driver that the test is part of a survey to evaluate the Smog Check Program and that there are no penalties, emissions-related or otherwise, associated with the test. The BAR greeter also provides the driver with a consumer information handout (Appendix D) that further explains the Roadside Inspection Program. If the driver agrees to participate in the inspection process, the vehicle is inspected. If the driver refuses, the vehicle is released and another vehicle is quickly directed into the test lane." (Emphasis mine.)

The purpose of the testing is to collect data only and there are no requirements to fix a car that fails.

They pull in cars from 1976-2007 only because the purpose of the testing is to check the effectiveness of the smog check program which is for post 1975 cars. They are not trying to find any gross polluter vehicles outside the year range of biannual smog checks.

Your 71 911 and 67 VW would not be waved in, and even if they were, you could opt out.

I don't think that is correct. If it was, the state would still get us to bi-annually bring it in somewhere to do a visual. Remember, this is Calif guys. They would/will soak us for anything. If that kind of **** comes to fruition I'll be using my AZ address for the 69. My trucks already are.:D

My student son recently had his 95 Camry stopped for testing. He happily complied since he had just failed a mandatory Star test and was actually on the way to be retested after replacing a catalytic converter.

He passed the roadside test easily, but guess what? He failed the retest, I guess they don't calibrate their equipment very well. So much for the data being collected.

I hope this info in the news is correct. Random voluntary testing is justifiable, but I have my doubts as to what they may actually do in the field. Hopefully some Pelicanites can share some first had experiences.