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California Motorcycle Smog Test Bill
Hits The Skids
Bill’s Sponsor, Senator Fran Pavley, Agrees To Water Down Language
A California bill that puzzled many environmentalists, angered riders and spurred advocacy groups to action has been watered down from mandating smog checks for motorcycles. The bill would have required all model year 2000-and-newer on-road motorcycles with engine displacements of more than 280cc to be tested every two years. The motorcycles would have been included in the state Department of Consumer Affairs "smog check" program, which involves testing for unacceptable levels of pollutants in emissions.
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AMA members, ABATE of California and the California Motorcycle Dealers Association along with at least one senator argued the legislation was expensive, unfair to those who ride motorcycles for recreation, and was ostensibly nothing more than another tax. California's motorcycle engine emission standards are already the strictest in the nation and, because of their relatively low yearly mileage totals when compared to other vehicles, the state's motorcycles have the lowest emissions of any motor vehicle category in California.
Pavley, (D-Santa Monica), wanted mandatory smog checks for motorcycles. She claimed they are more polluting than cars and that owners often exacerbate this by removing the catalytic converters. The latest version of Pavley's bill drops the smog-test provision. It now merely authorizes law enforcement officers to fine motorcyclists who remove the converters.
The emissions testing provision was dropped out of the bill and it cleared the Senate on June 1. The measure is now in the Assembly for consideration, where it could be further amended.
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