Got a notice in the mail last night from CA Air Resources Board. It says

"Dear California Motorist,

The above described vehicle registered in your name was observed emitting excessive smoke. This was reported to the Air Resources Board's Smoking Vehicle Prevention Program (sic) by a concerned citizen.

Driving an excessively smoking gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle is a violation of Sections 27153 and 27153.5 of the California Vehicle Code."

27153.5. (a) No motor vehicle first sold or registered as a new motor vehicle on or after January 1, 1971, shall discharge into the atmosphere at elevation of less than 4,000 feet any air contaminant for a period of more than 10 seconds which is:

(1) As dark or darker in shade as that designated as No. 1 on the Ringelmann Chart, as published by the United States Bureau of Mines, or

(2) Of such opacity as to obscure an observer's view to a degree equal to or greater than does smoke described in paragraph (1) of this subdivision.


Guess this means I'm okay.....I only discharge smoke for 3-5 seconds. They're really gonna love me when the 370's go in...

 

Thats interesting.
Im not in California, but I wonder, what if you lived above that 4,000 feet mark?

Im in Nevada and Nevada has adopted a similar diesel smog check as California has. However, my elevation is averaged at 5000 feet.
I wonder how that plays into this?

Do you have to go to a smog inspection facility and be tested now? What course of action does this mailing require of you?

Rich.

 

Man thats too bad. When we were in CA last summer I was sure I would get pulled over for smoke (I use the go pedal very well ). Did get pulled over and I was sure it was for the smoke I had been pouring out, but they got on me for not having mirror extensions for my trailer (no ticket just wanted me to go get some). Sure am glad I don't have to worry about blowin smoke here in Missouri!

 

There was a "Smoking Vehicle Response Form" attached. They ask for the date repairs were made and receipts for any parts purchased, who made the repairs, and in my case, I checked the box "My engine has not been repaired for the following reason:"

My reason is "Diesel engine emits a 'puff' of black smoke upon initial acceleration. Smoke exceeding opacity of No. 1 on the Ringelmann Chart is emitted for less than 6 seconds. Under light acceleration or constant engine speed, vehicle emits NO visible emissions. Vehicle complies with the provisions of CVC 27153.5(a)(1)."

 

You were too nice. **snicker** I'd have been very tempted to tell 'em to mind their own business.

 

Well, that is what happens when you get a bunch of guys (on another forum) that have their "Great Smoke Stories". We ALL pay........

 

I'm sorry, but this kind of stuff burns my butt. There are so many regulations out there to stop this and that we don't know whether to fart or throw up.

Granted, there are going to be businesses out there that pollute. The govt has taken great pains to see that they are well fined and looking around all the time to make sure they are not breaking the rules.

Does anyone know exactly how much pollution the diesel engine puts out compared to a gas engine? Is it enough to worry about? Is it something that we should take steps to ban diesel engines? It doesn't seem so.

Let it lie. I agree...tell them its none of their business.

 

They have even hit 2 and 4 stroke moto bikes here. We have a season where you cannot operate a dirt bike if its red stickered. This includes I think all new 2 stroke motocross bikes and some of the new 4 stroke race bikes. I work next to the Pismo dunes and there afraid of a fire from a modified exhaust? Ive never seen wet sand burn . Theve gone to far, lawnmowers, BBqs, you name it.
Cant wait to retire and go elsewhere.

 

sgrooms, I agree with you, HOWEVER, the ones that seem to hollar the most are the ones that are driving their little tree hugger Subaru wagons and have the opportunity to report anyone that offends THEM. You and I both know that when we are driving down the road we are not putting out any more polution than anyone else. This is just because it happens to be the "in" thing to do. They are the ones that stopped the logging because of an owl or the ones that stopped a constuction job because of a minnow in a stream. Now before you think I am not for conservation, I must say that I feel we can use the resources that we have, just so long as we don't use them up. There is a resonable solution for anything if people will take the time to look.
Tom

 

I believe it's just a matter of time before this spreads cross country so guess we better enjoy it while we can. The more smoke they see, the faster it will spread.
Just my opinion and no I don't like it either.

 

Problem is that you're not the only one with the same idea. The rules follow the masses as they exit the crowded areas to make new areas crowded.
I've farmed and lived in the boonies all my life and have watched as the rural areas I've lived in get subdivided up with folks retiring from the city. Can't say as that I blame them but all it's doing is moving the same old problems to a new area. Face it, there's just getting to be too dang many people.

It's not bad when one truck smokes but when 50,000 of them do it can't be good. People may think that they aren't generating much pollution individually but when you multiple it by 250 million it's a lot.

 

Yeah they have vans they park along the freeway with infrared sensors and cameras is how they do it. They are getting a little too intrusive though, was having my father-in-law put in a dumpstation for our trailer which we probably would use 4-5 times a year and there was a notice from building and safety before we could order the gravel. I live in a remote area so I don't think they're out there on a regular basis so some washwoman of a neighbor must have called. What really irks me I pay a water assesment on that empty lot
every year. Like Apache says I can't wait to retire and move out.

 

I find it funny that they dont normally dont target bigger polluters like buses, garbage trucks, semis etc. - they are much worse offenders than any of us.....seems to me that the same rules should apply to everyone, but as usual they dont.

 

apache,
I don't know where you are on the central cost, but when my daughter went to build a new house in Malibu, it was a nightmare. They have regs against everything from what plants you can use to paying some guy $100 an hour to make sure they don't dig up Indian artifacts. Seems there's no end to it.

 

Sounds like it's just plain hard to live in CA. Makes me never wanna visit! That state has more mudslides, forest fires, floods, and earthquakes than any other and on top of that, liberals and tree hugging hippies everywhere. I don't see how you sensible people can do it!