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CHP Mobile Smog Stations

Discussion in 'California (Southern)' started by klfpaul, Jul 14, 2008.

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  1. klfpaul

    klfpaul Karting

    Apr 7, 2003
    158
    Murrieta, CA
    Full Name:
    Kevin Paul
    #1 klfpaul, Jul 14, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 14, 2008
    Anyone have any info on these? Saw one on the way to work this morning in Chino Hills (Chino Hills Parkway and Peyton). Dyno type setup just like the smog stations. Pretty sneaky setup by the CHP too, no warning that they were funneling traffic into this. I was going the opposite direction. They were setup around a blind corner and their traffic control signs only indicated a "Lane Closed Ahead", no mention of what you are getting into like they do with the DUI Checkpoints, where the signs actually state that it is a checkpoint. Now the DUI and Truck Safety stuff I agree to as there can be imminent danger, but this is SMOG check we are talking about. I ALREADY pay $60 of my own money every 2 years to have MY car tested, as does everyone else in CA.

    What recourse does a person have with these Big Brother type operations? Can you respectfully decline to be tested? Many of us I'm sure have cars that may not totally be legal in all sense of the law (front plates, loud exhaust, etc.) that could be "searched out" in these types of operations. Comments?

    -Kevin
     
  2. mrpcar

    mrpcar Formula 3

    May 27, 2007
    1,114
    Chino hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Robin
    #2 mrpcar, Jul 14, 2008
    WOW! Chino hills, that's just up the street from me. I drive through there all the time.
     
  3. Il Vecchio

    Il Vecchio F1 Rookie

    Dec 27, 2007
    2,572
    Near Pasadena, CA
    Full Name:
    Peter B.
    #3 Il Vecchio, Jul 14, 2008
    Hmm. Say that you have a pre-inspection car, such as from the 1960's as I have- would I be tested/harrassed?
     
  4. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,142
    Orange County, CA
    #4 SrfCity, Jul 14, 2008
    Soon someone will set up a website that you can go to to check for these stops. Sounds pretty invasive and an excuse to nail you for any other violation they may come across.
     
  5. nocturne1

    nocturne1 Formula 3

    Sep 8, 2004
    2,095
    Foothill Ranch, CA
    Full Name:
    Jay
    #5 nocturne1, Jul 14, 2008
  6. fmxa

    fmxa Rookie

    Mar 3, 2004
    47
    Los Angeles
    #6 fmxa, Jul 15, 2008
  7. JC 550M

    JC 550M Karting

    Feb 22, 2008
    209
    Murrieta
    Full Name:
    JC
    #7 JC 550M, Jul 15, 2008
    That is great. One disturbing line in that document that got my attention is :"If the driver refuses, the
    vehicle is released and another vehicle is quickly directed into the test lane. The license plate
    numbers of vehicles whose operators decline to participate in the Roadside Inspection Program
    are recorded and entered into a laptop computer for later analysis."

    So what would this later analysis mean? Frankly the California smog Nazi's are getting way too intrusive to suit me. Also the way I read this is that because there is such a high ratio of new to older cars this is a way to capture an emission profile on older cars to support the recently defeated SB 616 which I'm sure will come up again.
    JC
     
  8. nocturne1

    nocturne1 Formula 3

    Sep 8, 2004
    2,095
    Foothill Ranch, CA
    Full Name:
    Jay
    #8 nocturne1, Jul 15, 2008
    The setup described in the PDF is not anything like what I saw. This truly was an unmanned drive-by station, not something where they waive you over and delay you while testing.
     
  9. klfpaul

    klfpaul Karting

    Apr 7, 2003
    158
    Murrieta, CA
    Full Name:
    Kevin Paul
    #9 klfpaul, Jul 15, 2008
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2008
    What this was that I saw was truly a mobile smog test station, equipped with rolling dyno (just like the smog check stations in "enhanced" test areas of California. There was nothing unmanned about it. They had a whole crew of testing people, CHP cruiser, easy-ups, etc. Very similar to the roadside checkpoints the CHP sets up for doing transport truck inspections on the roadside. They literally had the "chosen" test car driven up onto the dyno bed to do the test. The PDF above is fairly representative of the setup, although what I saw was a bit more sophisticated in the test bed/dyno setup.

    -Kevin
     
  10. zsnnf

    zsnnf Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2003
    1,877
    #10 zsnnf, Jul 15, 2008
    Page 21 states no action will be taken against the owner regardless of the outcome of the test. I'm not sure how much of that I believe.......
     
  11. Spencer89

    Spencer89 Karting

    Apr 25, 2004
    56
    Long Beach
    Full Name:
    Rick
    #11 Spencer89, Jul 16, 2008
    These road side test are run by the B.A.R. to gather random pass/fail rates to compare with the rates of the regular test centers. If they see higher failure rates, then they hassle the test centers to try HARDER. The CHP is required to be there since they are blocking traffic lanes. They will not test older vehicles that are exempt from the program. You are not required to participate, they will tell you that you will be helping the program, the state, blah blah blah. Regards, Rick
     
  12. mrpcar

    mrpcar Formula 3

    May 27, 2007
    1,114
    Chino hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Robin
    #12 mrpcar, Jul 16, 2008
    So..... the million dollar question is how many of you would wanted to "help" with them if you get stopped in your Ferrari?
     

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