[Tobra]

They have had the authority to impound modified cars on the street for a long time. I don't know what they do with impounded cars, but they can take it right now if they pull you over and it is modified in a non-approved way. Pull you over for tail light blinking too fast, look your car over and give it the hook if it has the wrong stuff under the hood.

I have declined to participate in the roadside sniffer. I asked the CHP officer if I was being detained. He said they were doing this roadside check. I asked again if I were being detained, because he did not answer one way or the other. He said no, I asked if I were free to go now, he waved me on.

Thom, the STAR program is where they hit cars that tend to not pass smog with a little extra ding, make them go to a test only smog shop. They charge more for a few reasons, primarily because they can. For example, if you own pretty much any Honda Civic or Integra, you are going to the test only place, your M3 must be on the list. I like the place on FO Blvd, just S of North Ave next to the radiator place. They have a coupon in the Pennysaver generally.

AB550 has you pay $200 every other year, instead of $50, and you have to show you spent $XXX on repairs. CARB is all about money, always.