It's pretty bad in California.

http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/streetlegal.html

Legal part mods
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermk...es/amquery.php
Search for those that are legal

Only certain products are legal (as approved by CARB)
everything else is for off road use only.

 

Technically, it's not acceptable to add any component that has not been approved by CARB.
Practically, they won't notice the pulley (it's not red, is it?) or the plugs, and shouldn't care about the wires.
We only require cars more than four years old to get smog checks, so only '02s will have experienced the wrath of the smog check tech.

 

Do all those laws apply to humble travelers?? If my car is stock on the outside, im fine right? Nothing suspicious...heh heh

 

With your list I think you are safe. If you're adding an intake, it must be CARB approved to pass the smog test. Any part that alters the emissions system has to be CARB approved.

retroom

 

The reason I installed the K&N Typhoon CAI kit is because it is CARB-approved. I don't think anyone needs to worry about their spark plugs in Cali.

 

Just paint all of your mods black and cover them with grease.
Now you are fine and ready to go.

My police contacts say there is a book that shows pictures of stock vs modded engines for several cars. It's like color by number for the police to follow.

 

Really? And you think the undermanned police departments in Cali have time for examining our engine compartments? LOL! The main thing to be concerned with is passing the smog tests, as stated above.

 

getata is in something of a unique position as regards the California SMOG regulations - a car that was originally registered out-of-state is being brought into the state. If the car has more than 7,500 miles on the odometer and was originally registered out-of-state, it only must meet Federal emission standards. (And who in the DMV or the SMOG test stations is qualified to recognize Federal-only emission equipment as distinguished from California compliant emission equipment????)

If it were me (and I would have to be an out-of-state resident (which I am not, but for discussion's sake, lets presume I am an out-of-state resident...)), I would put on all of the modifications that I was contemplating doing before I brought the car into California. Then, when I brought the car into California and registered it (as a car that was originally registered out of California), if it passed the SMOG test (sniffer only, since the car was originally registered out of state), you are pretty much home free. Just keep all of the papers on the first test in California and your registering an out-of-state car, so if the SMOG test technician questions what is on the car, you can claim the out-of-state registration exemption for non-CARB Exemption stickered equipment on your car. As long as your car passes the sniffer test each time, you should be in a defensible territory.

 

at the DMV when you register your car (first one in state has to be at a DMV center, and have the inspection). They will look at the emissions stickers under your hood to see what type the car is (emissions wise) and the odometer will tell them what standard must be met.

There are mods and there are mods. You can't really see a pulley, unless you look, but some of the more blingy items can attract attention. Depending on where you move to, street racing may be a big problem and the modded cars are flagged as an indirect way to get at the racers. SF bay area in the south part of the east bay has some issues, but the rest doesn't really.

I think the 5 year exemption on smog inspections is only for cars bought in CA, but I don't know that for sure.....

Matt

 

Nope - the (edit:6, not four) year exemption applies to all new cars, though you pay $12 for the privilege of not getting a smog test. Just got my '07 reg, and no smog required.
Hadn't thought about the out of state reg. loophole, though - mine was originally registered in VA. Then again, they're just as likely to send you to a test only or referee station. I'm having issues with my supercharged '91, and the tech said there must be part numbers on all the non-OEM parts, though it's passed just fine for ten years.

 

Having brought an '02 MCS into California myself that was previously registered in Colorado:

1) You will have to pass a Visual Inspection on the engine compartment, both at the smog station, and at the DMV when you register your car.
2) You will need to pass a smog test prior to registration.

 

3. You will need to leave your guns behind

 

Thanks for all the replys =)
I guess I have to keep everything in black color for the Visual Inspection then...

 

If you will be parking on the street much in SF do yourself a favor and be sure you have a front plate on, the DPT people seem to look for it and the ticket for not having one is $100 :P

 

Do I need a front plate if my MINI is still using the Florida Plate?
In Miami a front plate is not required.

Thanks for the tips

 

Welp, if you are moving to CA and rent/buy a place and/or "accept gainful employment in California" you are required to register it and get plates...

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures...r9.htm#feesdue

 

True, but I lived in CA for more than 2 years with my Wisconsin-registered car. In fact, I never registered it in CA - it got totalled first.

What would have happened if I'd gotten pulled over...I have no idea

 

Yes, people can be lucky and not have problems being scofflaws, but just be prepared to pay the fine if ya do the crime

 

Oh, I was prepared...my registration and license (both WI) were up-to-date...so I'm not really sure there's anything they could have done about it. I mean really, prove I don't actually live somewhere 3000 miles away...

 

Biggest reason not to move I could live with the removal of my mods but not my guns

 

I am in CAL and fairly modded like many.

The biggest thing for the sniffer test is the VISUAL and actual #s ....

So ... One does take a bit of a chance on the visual if the items do not have CARB approval . I am going the route that they don't really know what they are going to be looking at (my intake is the K& N, that IS CARB OK).

I was stopped once (for reasions not mentioned here) the Highway Patrol had me pop the bonnet and did a visual inspection and made a comment about the intake ... I was sure to let hom know that was CARB approved and " he wasn't messing with a rookie" that worked for the intake but I couldn't really use the same story for the Borla exhaust tips he saw
I insisted they were stock and on the car when I purchased it. (I know small storys turn into BIG LIES )
He went to his car and made a phone call ... some inspector ? MINI ? ... not sure ....
He came back with the news that they were not stock > and I was shocked and amazed ... that didn't really work to well.

It was raining and he got on the ground and was looking for the CAT !

While pulling himself up off the ground he saw my video camera mounted in the back boot lid. HE SNAPPED !!!

He told me to play the tape (perhaps looking for "street activity") I had 4 x 4 stuf on the tape and some from Thunderhill .. he watched about 10 min of tape asking many questions, I knew what he was looking for and stressed that the club and group that I track with has strict rules about being fairly STOCK.

The rain really started to come down and he said that with his info and findings that he had the right to take my car and impound it pending an investigation !!!!

He returned to his car for a couple oc min and came back with a window tint ticket and said "be careful"

So be careful and always be pleasant to "THE MAN"

 

Okay, I didn't mean for the thread to get entirely diverted to this, but if you look at the DMV it lists the guidelines; it would be pretty simple to show if you worked in CA, rented etc. I'm sure the state gov has ways to encourage people to pay fines if they wish. I don't know if proving you have a residence elsewhere helps or not, but all in all I'd think it would be simpler and not very painful to obey the law in this case - sure there are a few fees but in the big picture the contribution is part of being a resident and using the resources no?

Anyway, end of topic for me, I was just trying to help the OP to avoid getting the no front plate ticket if he wasn't aware of it, the out of state thing is a whole other deal.

 

Actually, YOU have to prove that you DO live somewhere else. Unlike 'innocent until proven guilty' in a court of law, for the 'privilege' of driving you have the burden of proof.

CHP now even has a website with a link to report out of state 'scofflaws'.

 

on the fees that the rest of us residents of CA pay.....
It's a ticket with a fine. There's also a narc-line program in effect, because of the total revenue that the state looses out on from people who do just what you did. If you see a car with an out of state plate parked the same place over and over, or on your commute path, there's some 800 number to call. Only people who get out of it are skaters, students and the military, I think. And only two of those three options are legal!

Matt