In an effort to further reduce air pollution in the Inland Empire, air quality officials are proposing a stricter Smog Check program in some growing communities in western Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The proposed change, to be discussed at two public meetings this week, would require a more stringent Smog Check procedure in and around several communities including Murietta, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Idyllwild, Beaumont, Banning, Desert Hot Springs and parts of the San Bernardino Mountains. (See following table for a complete list of communities and ZIP codes that would be affected.)
"Motor vehicles are primarily responsible for roughly half of our smog-forming pollution," said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. "Reducing vehicle emissions by enhancing the Smog Check program is one of the most cost-effective methods available to us to clean the air."
The proposed change has been spurred by a state-mandated enhancement of the Smog Check program in Temecula next fall.
AQMD is proposing that vehicles registered in the affected communities would switch from a "Basic" to a "Partially Enhanced" Smog Check program.
In a Basic Smog Check, a vehicle's emissions are tested at two idle speeds. In Partially Enhanced procedures, a vehicle is tested on a treadmill-type device, simulating actual driving conditions and providing a more accurate gauge of emissions. The "Enhanced" Smog Check program, in effect across most of the metropolitan Los Angeles area, adds a test-only component for 15 percent of vehicles. (See following fact sheet for details.)
The proposed Partially Enhanced Smog Check would affect about 220,000 vehicles and could increase the price of a Smog Check test by $10 to $15. However, about 45 percent of affected vehicle owners currently take their vehicles to Enhanced stations for convenience or other reasons, and therefore would not pay any additional amount.
In addition, the 90 Smog Check stations in the affected area would be required to use the treadmill-type equipment, which could cost station owners $31,000 to $45,000 each. Of the 90 stations, 33 have already upgraded to the treadmill equipment for various reasons including improved emissions diagnostic capabilities, and would not have to purchase any additional equipment.
AQMD is proposing to switch to a stricter Smog Check program in October 2002, at the same time that Temecula will change to an Enhanced program due to its recent population growth. State law requires that cities be subject to an Enhanced Smog Check program when their population exceeds 50,000. The state Bureau of Automotive Repair, the agency responsible for the Smog Check program, suggested this fall that the entire Inland Empire could be placed under uniform Smog Check requirements, instead of the current patchwork of different requirements in adjoining communities.
After receiving public feedback at this month's meetings, AQMD's Governing Board will consider asking the Bureau of Automotive Repair to implement the Partially Enhanced program in the proposed areas next year.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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Proposal for Stricter Smog Check Program
Public Meetings
| Lake Elsinore
Wednesday, Dec. 12 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. City of Lake Elsinore Cultural Center 183 N. Main St. |
Big Bear Lake
Thursday, Dec. 13 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Northwoods Resort Talmadge Baldwin Room 40650 Village Dr. |
Cities and ZIP codes That Would be Affected
Riverside County
| Aguanga -- 92536
Anza 92539 Banning -- 92220 Beaumont -- 92223 Cabazon -- 92230 Desert Hot Springs -- 92240, 92241 |
Homeland -- 92548
Idyllwild -- 92549 Lake Elsinore -- 92530 – 92532 Mecca – 92254 Menifee – 92584 Mountain Center – 92561 |
Murrieta -- 92562 –92564
North Palm Springs – 92258 Perris -- 92570-92572, 92599 Sun City -- 92585-92587 Thousand Palms – 92276 Wildomar – 92595 Winchester -- 92596 |
San Bernardino County
Angelus Oaks -- 92305 Green Valley Lake -- 92341
Big Bear City -- 92314 Lytle Creek -- 92358
Big Bear Lake -- 92315 Running Springs -- 92382
Fawnskin -- 92333 Sugarloaf – 92386
Smog Check Test Requirements in Southern California
|
Type |
Features |
Where Used |
|
Basic |
Static test measuring vehicle's carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions at two idle speeds |
Currently in communities under 50,000 population |
|
Partially Enhanced |
"Treadmill" test measuring CO, HC and nitrogen oxides |
Proposed in Inland Empire ZIP codes listed above |
|
Enhanced |
Same as partially enhanced, but with additional provision that 15 percent of vehicles must be tested at "test only" stations that cannot perform repairs. |
Cities with more than 50,000 population |
Background on Smog Check
Under California's Smog Check program, administered by the state Bureau of Automotive Repair, vehicle owners in seriously polluted urban areas must take their vehicles to a licensed mechanic for inspection and testing every two years. Since its introduction in 1984, the Smog Check program has helped ensure that vehicle emission control devices are operating properly and have not been tampered with or removed.
For more information on the state Bureau of Automotive Repair's Smog Check program, see the agency's website .
AQMD Home Page
This page updated: March 01, 2004
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/Smog_Check.htm