CA Smog Referee

[_robert_]

Originally Posted by Danlnyc88

Can you legally refuse to pop your hood?

Unfortunately if they have reasonable suspicion, from an old forum about this topic in California:

Posted by a local Officer:
If you have anything that points to possible emissions modifications, then yes an officer can do an "Inspection" under your hood. The court finds it reasonable to for an officer to believe that a vehicle is modified because people who have modified exhaust, stickers, extra gauges, etc. usually have illegal mods (intakes, headers, blow-off valves, etc.). This is not a "Search", but a "Vehicle Inspection". If you don't have CARB numbers for everything, you are screwed and cited for 27156(B) cvc (Smog Ref Certification need). The car must be driven directly home and taken off the road. If you don't, the car is impounded. If you refuse to open the hood, you are subject to arrest under 2800 cvc. Officers are all being trained on what to look for. Getting sent to the state smog ref is worse than getting a moving violation, as they go over your car with a fine tooth comb. Thank the ricers in LA causing all of this enforcement by the way.

[MisterF80M3]

Originally Posted by CSF Cooling

You want the BEST PSA EVER??

I got pulled over in my F10 M5 in California, 1st thing in the morning. Right after start-up - I have no cats in my car.

Full shake down, pop the hood, exhaust, etc..

Didn't go to inspection, showed up for the court date (in a suit). Judge asked me why I hadn't fixed the car yet, I told him I was planning on selling the car out of state and that he cost of going back to compliant was more expensive than I wanted to bear with. He asked if I wanted a 30 day extension, I said, i'd rather pay the fine.. Paid $700 that day at the court house with a check, and that was that.. Never had to deal with it again. I've gotten new registration after that with no issues.

TLDR - Just pay the fine and move on - way cheaper and less time consuming than dealing with trying to be compliant.

If I get caught, I hope I don't get sent to state ref. At this point, I rather just pay the fine than to pay to get everything removed and installed again (FBO).

[stevehifi]

Reviving this thread. I have a 2017 m3, does that mean under the CA laws that smog inspection would be in 2025? (8 years). Looking at putting on downpipes and want to know.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by stevehifi

Reviving this thread. I have a 2017 m3, does that mean under the CA laws that smog inspection would be in 2025? (8 years). Looking at putting on downpipes and want to know.

You'll pay a Smog Abatement fee for the first 8 years, then a smog inspection will be due on the 9th year.

[Boostd4]

Originally Posted by stevehifi

Reviving this thread. I have a 2017 m3, does that mean under the CA laws that smog inspection would be in 2025? (8 years). Looking at putting on downpipes and want to know.

If you bought the car used, you are now in the 2 year cycle for smog. The 8 year plan is only for new cars and the original owner. Sucks...but that's how it works.

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by CSF Cooling

You want the BEST PSA EVER??

I got pulled over in my F10 M5 in California, 1st thing in the morning. Right after start-up - I have no cats in my car.

Full shake down, pop the hood, exhaust, etc..

Didn't go to inspection, showed up for the court date (in a suit). Judge asked me why I hadn't fixed the car yet, I told him I was planning on selling the car out of state and that he cost of going back to compliant was more expensive than I wanted to bear with. He asked if I wanted a 30 day extension, I said, i'd rather pay the fine.. Paid $700 that day at the court house with a check, and that was that.. Never had to deal with it again. I've gotten new registration after that with no issues.

TLDR - Just pay the fine and move on - way cheaper and less time consuming than dealing with trying to be compliant.

Thank you for this. I just got a stupid Ca state ref ticket and was thinking how much of a nightmare its going back to stock then back it would cost me more then just paying the fine.

I wonder if a loud exhaust ref ticket is the same cost. But, I will do it this way. It makes more sense.

Hope it works. Lesson learned.

[FriedPiston]

Originally Posted by papasmurf_m3

Thank you for this. I just got a stupid Ca state ref ticket and was thinking how much of a nightmare its going back to stock then back it would cost me more then just paying the fine.

I wonder if a loud exhaust ref ticket is the same cost. But, I will do it this way. It makes more sense.

Hope it works. Lesson learned.

If it's not too late, you can hire either Ticket Dismissers or F Your Ticket to waive the state referee. IMO, this is a better option than giving your money directly to the state.

[Wanted_M]

Bummer man, that blows. Where you rolling thru gears or just cruising?

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by FriedPiston

If it's not too late, you can hire either Ticket Dismissers or F Your Ticket to waive the state referee. IMO, this is a better option than giving your money directly to the state.

I was just thinking that too. Contacted both just in case. I'm sure they know more about this than I do. Thank you for the reminder!!

Originally Posted by Wanted_M

Bummer man, that blows. Where you rolling thru gears or just cruising?

Ya, I was kinda just cruising back home w/ some in and out for the family. I turned on sport plus with some loud pops and cop heard it.

Lesson learned I'm keeping in efficient mode for city streets.

[BzsBimmer]

Sucks for sure. What area in Cali?

[papasmurf_m3]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Sucks for sure. What area in Cali?

San Diego county brotha!

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by papasmurf_m3

San Diego county brotha!

Good to know… will have to remember that if driving down. I think from OC and down, they can get pretty strict on sound. A few members have had tickets in OC.

[f93_gc]

My friend has received a State Ref on this STI last year and just paid it off rather than fixing everything, is that still an option or did they make it mandatory to fix it??

[milk242]

Someone should add one of those fake exhausts noise generators that's over 96db to a Tesla model 3 and see if you can get pulled over.

[headstart101]

Originally Posted by Boostd4

If you bought the car used, you are now in the 2 year cycle for smog. The 8 year plan is only for new cars and the original owner. Sucks...but that's how it works.

Wrong! The rule applies to both new and used vehicles.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by headstart101

Wrong! The rule applies to both new and used vehicles.

Actually not entirely true. There is a caveat.

“WHAT VEHICLES REQUIRE A SMOG CHECK?
Gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid
vehicles, and alternative-fuel vehicles that
are model-year 1976 and newer require a
Smog Check, with the following exceptions:
1 Eight model years and newer do not
require a biennial Smog Check.
2 Four model years and newer do not require a change-of-ownership Smog Check.
To determine the first year a vehicle requires a biennial or change-of-ownership Smog Check, add eight or four, respectively, to the model year
of a vehicle.
For example, a 2020 model-year vehicle will first be subject to a biennial Smog Check in 2028
(2020 + 8 = 2028). That same vehicle will require a change-of-ownership Smog Check if sold in or after 2024 (2020 + 4 = 2024).”