[Windswept]

I had my car's emissions tested last week, which is a requirement for renewal of one's vehicle registration in my state.

I went to the emissions test site at 8:30 in the morning with my renewal slip from the Department of Motor Vehicles. There were only three cars ahead of me, and my car and I only had to wait for about ten minutes until a test bay was open.

My car passed, and that information was put online immediately. In the past, I'd then have to go home, write out a check for the amount of the registration renewal fee, and then mail my registration renewal slip, my check, and the emissions *PASS* slip to the DMV, and then wait for the little adhesive tags to stick on my license plate to come in the mail (to show that my car's registration is up to date).

Car registration seems to be a big deal for police officers and such. It's like you qualify as some sort of criminal if your tags have expired. I got stopped by a police car two years ago for having expired tags, and he was pretty unfriendly about the whole thing.

I felt like saying, wait a minute here, I am perfectly nice, law-abiding citizen and an asset to my community. Why are you treating me like I am a criminal because my stupid tags are six weeks expired. I mean, there are people out there killing each other and yet suddenly I am a suspect of some kind because of my stupid license plate?

Of course, I didn't say any of that, but his surly attitude made me realize that car registration must be a big effing deal to the police. So I was happy to find that SO many things relating to car stuff can now be done online in my state.

When my car passed the emissions test, I went home and got online. Since the fact that my car had passed was already in the state computer, I was able to renew my car registration online with my debit card. I paid for two year's registration, because I like being paid up as far in advance as possible.

I was also able to order a duplicate driver's license card online, which I felt I needed to do because the front of my old one was worn. Not only could I order a duplicate license online, but at the same time, I was also able to renew it for six more years. Yay!

If you knew what a hassle virtually *everything* to do with the DMV used to be in my state, you would understand my delirious joy at having all this suddenly become so easy. Click a button, and it's done. No waiting in line for three hours to get a duplicate license, for example.

Anyway, I was wondering if you have vehicle emissions testing where you live? Must you test every year or can you go every two years? Can you renew your driver's license and car registration online?

Do you feel that the emissions testing program where you live is effective? How long has it been in operation? 10, 20, 30 years? Does the air where you live seem cleaner because of the testing? How much does it cost for the test itself?

I was just curious how things are elsewhere wrt such things as these.

Thanks for any replies.

Poll is being typed. Give me ten minutes.

[alcimedes]

We had emissions testing and they tossed it out. Just a huge fucking joke. Another way for the state to tax you a bit more whereever possible.

[Sauvblanc]

Cal-ee-for-nee-ahh has smog testing. Mandatory. They like to thank you in the little blurb that accompanies your test results for helping reduce emissions by a coupla hundred tons a year.

It *is* a bit of a joke. I think all the efforts to bring down car emissions are overpowered by people driving POS jalopies that belch unbelievable amounts of smoke out their tail pipes. Given that there's *no way* these people would have passed a smog test and have been able to renew their vehicle registration, it means that there are a lot of illegal, unsafe, smog-ridden (and probably uninsured) vehicles on the road right now.

[intlplby]

if you run your car down to about a gallon of gas and then put a gallon of 99% alcohol in the tank and you should get any car to pass emissions

don't use any of the 70% crap though... has to be the almost pure stuff.

[Windswept]

Originally Posted by intlplby if you run your car down to about a gallon of gas and then put a gallon of 99% alcohol in the tank and you should get any car to pass emissions don't use any of the 70% crap though... has to be the almost pure stuff.

Would that be illegal, or is it okay to do something like that?

Would the emissions equipment be able to detect that such a thing had been done, or is it not capable of making such a determination?

[hiltond]

Our registration, inspection and licensing procedures were changed heavily during McGreevey's tenure as governor. It was a campaign issue that he actually followed through with.

We went to a new harder to forge and harder to illegally obtain licensing system. The old ones were very easy to make and you needed almost no ID to get a duplicate. Almost everyone in my high school was 21 as of junior year. Seeing as how criminal elements had succes in obtaining ill-gotten NJ papers we put some improved processes in place. You must renew your license at a DMV office and you must have very specific identification.

You must register your car every year and that can be done online with a credit card. You can print out a special page incase your card doesn’t arrive in time.

Inspection must be done after the first four years of ownership of an automobile then every two years thereafter. Emissions, brakes, lights, aliment and glass are tested.

I don't feel that air quality has improved with emissions testing and I would be inclined to believe that the oil refineries, chemical and power plants have a greater effect.

It used to take hours to do any of these tasks. Most people seem to report that it now takes about 15 minuets to do any of these tasks even if you need to go to the DMV.

[Windswept]

Originally Posted by hiltond Our registration, inspection and licensing procedures were changed heavily during McGreevey's tenure as governor. It was a campaign issue that he actually followed through with. We went to a new harder to forge and harder to illegally obtain licensing system. The old ones were very easy to make and you needed almost no ID to get a duplicate. Almost everyone in my high school was 21 as of junior year. Seeing as how criminal elements had succes in obtaining ill-gotten NJ papers we put some improved processes in place. You must renew your license at a DMV office and you must have very specific identification.

So then how long will it take before all the people with fake and forged driver's licenses need to get the real thing? I guess they might have to get new licenses right away, or rather, in the month of their birth, right?

[hiltond]

It was one of those next time you renew things. I don't remember when the change occurred but a license is good for four years. It has been two years since that governor resigned and I am pretty certain it happened while he was still in office. At most two more years.

[intlplby]

i don't think it's illegal to do that, but once you put regular gas back in your car and drive normally, your car will be back over the emissions standards, then it might be illegal....

[DMBand0026]

We have emissions testing, I'm pretty sure air quality hasn't improved at all since it was implemented many years ago. I don't think cars have to be tested until they're about 5 years old, than every year or two after that.

We are able to get our plates/registration renewed online here, it's a pretty nice site, works well for what I've had to deal with it for.

Is there a reason why, when your applying for a DMV registration in Los Angeles that you have to pass an emission test? Does it apply to a newly bought car?

[Taskiss]

Well, we have to pass a test, but it's based on the on-board computer status results.

Air in St. Louis is much better than in the past.

[Souflay123]

Originally Posted by doriee Is there a reason why, when your applying for a DMV registration in Los Angeles that you have to pass an emission test? Does it apply to a newly bought car?

no, only used, and old junk crap cars. LA air is no better, just more paper and gas being wasted, not including peoples time used to go get smog done. This is the shit that makes people just go buy new cars no matter what so that you dont have to have this shit done. Fuck the DMV... W00t lol Air in Los Angeles still is filled with shit, when flying in you can see when you are above and below the layer of smog.

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Souflay123 no, only used, and old junk crap cars. LA air is no better, just more paper and gas being wasted, not including peoples time used to go get smog done. This is the shit that makes people just go buy new cars no matter what so that you dont have to have this shit done. Fuck the DMV... W00t lol Air in Los Angeles still is filled with shit, when flying in you can see when you are above and below the layer of smog.

Uh, doesn't the regulation in California apply to *all* cars and it's the old junkers that are exempt because there's no practical way to bring them into compliance?

I'm pretty sure I remember having all our cars tested and none of them are over ten years old.

[faust]

Hard survey, made me realize how little I know of the NY process.

I do know that last time I renewed I didn't need a new picture but I did need proof documentation of the status of my vision. I had Lasik 2 months prior so that wasn't an issue.

[veryamusing]

Originally Posted by Windswept Car registration seems to be a big deal for police officers and such. It's like you qualify as some sort of criminal if your tags have expired. I got stopped by a police car two years ago for having expired tags, and he was pretty unfriendly about the whole thing. I felt like saying, wait a minute here, I am perfectly nice, law-abiding citizen and an asset to my community. Why are you treating me like I am a criminal because my stupid tags are six weeks expired. I mean, there are people out there killing each other and yet suddenly I am a suspect of some kind because of my stupid license plate? Of course, I didn't say any of that, but his surly attitude made me realize that car registration must be a big effing deal to the police.

I too was stopped because my registration had expired. Since my car is registered in both mine and my dad's names, his birth month was used. However, as I found out the hard way, here in Florida your registration expires at 11:59pm on the night of your birthday (my dad's is the fourth). I was pulled over on the 30th; and thinking that I had until the end of the month to renew my registration, I opted to fight the ticket (and subsequently lost).

As an aside, the same police officer that stopped me has an extensive record of writing these bullshit tickets.

Edit: It seems the same officer wrote another motorist a ticket for "Horn-Improper Use." It's official this guys needs a hobby...or a job.

[Souflay123]

Originally Posted by Ryan Uh, doesn't the regulation in California apply to *all* cars and it's the old junkers that are exempt because there's no practical way to bring them into compliance? I'm pretty sure I remember having all our cars tested and none of them are over ten years old.

If you go buy a new car you don't have to have it smog tested, it is only after like 10 years or so you have to do that. I think cars before like 1970ish don't have to have anything done, like vintage cars. B/c traditionally those, like a 57 t-bird, you don't drive more that 2k a year. but in all reality i am not sure, i just think that the DMV and most goverment in California is a load of useless bull shit. for example, it takes a month for someone in the lapd to call you back after your phone was stolen, and then by the nameless mexican, threatens you and attempts to extort you. But they treat you like you are fucking with them. Assholes! Oh, and the new law that you have to have a headset when driving, what useless bullshit. Our gov is filled with pork, if we just got rid of the red tape we would have much much much more money, in turn less taxes, and more money for important things… like edu. but who cares there.....

[NosferaDrew]

Originally Posted by Souflay123 no, only used, and old junk crap cars. LA air is no better, just more paper and gas being wasted, not including peoples time used to go get smog done. This is the shit that makes people just go buy new cars no matter what so that you dont have to have this shit done. Fuck the DMV... W00t lol Air in Los Angeles still is filled with shit, when flying in you can see when you are above and below the layer of smog.

Not true at all.
L.A. air quality has improved dramatically in the last 15 years. There used to be air quality warnings everyday, especially during the summer.

From the CA DMV website:

Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 6 or less model-years old are exempt from the biennial Smog Check inspection requirement. For vehicles with registration renewals due in the 2006 calendar year, this exemption includes model-years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Beginning January 1, 2005, vehicles 4 or less model-years old are exempt from the Smog Check inspection requirement upon change of ownership and transfer of title transactions with DMV. In 2006, this exemption includes model-years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Beginning April 1, 2005, the 30-year rolling exemption has been repealed. Instead, vehicles 1975 model-year and older will be exempt. Therefore, 1976 model-year and newer vehicles will continue to be subject to biennial inspection indefinitely. Beginning April 1, 2005, vehicles being initially registered in California that were previously registered in another state are exempt if the vehicle is a 1975 and older model-year vehicle. Newer vehicles, the first 6 model years, are not exempted upon initial registration in California. These vehicles are required to undergo a Smog Check Inspection. Smog inspections are required unless your vehicle is: • Hybrid • 1975 year model or older • Diesel powered • Electric • Natural gas powered and has a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 14,001 lbs. or more. • Motorcycle • Trailer

[Souflay123]

Originally Posted by NosferaDrew Not true at all. L.A. air quality has improved dramatically in the last 15 years. There used to be air quality warnings everyday, especially during the summer. From the CA DMV website:

so what, the air is still shit...

[NosferaDrew]

You sound angry and you are wrong. What's the problem?
The air is far better than it has been in past years. That is a fact.

Also, the law requiring the use of a hands-free device while driving is one of the best laws ever passed in California, IMO.
I don't understand how you could be against that. Driving in Los Angeles is bad enough without all the idiots who have a cellphone to their ear.

[Souflay123]

Originally Posted by NosferaDrew Also, the law requiring the use of a hands-free device while driving is one of the best laws ever passed in California, IMO. I don't understand how you could be against that. Driving in Los Angeles is bad enough without all the idiots who have a cellphone to their ear.

It is not the holding the phone to the ear that is the problem, it is the dialing that is distracting, not the hold hand to ear. And if you want to make a statement, a 25 dollar fine is not going to do it, and 50 if you do it more than once, also it is a no point on your MVR. The points on the MVR are what stop people from doing things, not just here pay 50, enjoy your afternoon. I wonder to save paper the cop will just take a credit card on the spot. that is why i think it is a stupid dumb law, that is pointless and does nothing to curve people who are morons and still talking in their car. oh, and most the time keeping the damn hands free thing in your ear is more of a hassle than when you get a call answering, and when it randomly shuts off and does random things. it is a stupid law!

[Ryan]

1) Paragraph breaks, please.

2) Thanks for the quote from the DMV, Nosfera. I hadn't heard about those new rules as I had moved before they took effect.

[Windswept]

Received an email from the Motor Vehicle Department that my car registration needed to be renewed in July, and that I *did* need emission testing this time.

Took the email to the emission testing place, got my car tested (It passed. Yay! ), then went online to pay and renew for two years.

Only one car in line ahead of me, so I only had to wait a few minutes. The online part was quick and easy, and I just saw my new tabs in the mail.

Such an easy process now.

You can't imagine what a time-consuming, standing-in-line-for-hours ordeal it used to be to renew a car registration in this state. Omg.

Driver's license used to expire every year. Now it's good for 12 years? Decades? Not sure, but seems forever. Yay!

[psmith2.0]

Yeah, it's about time they brought that whole process into the modern era. I remember, 10 or so years ago, standing at the DMV in Orange County and thinking "why in the hell are we still doing this?"