Autoblog

After protests by California auto dealers, the head of California's Air Resources Board (CARB) said she is willing to discuss modifying one aspect of the state's stringent emission regulations. Mary Nichols, CARB Chairwoman, told reporters at an SAE Government/Industry meeting that she is open to "regional" standards for tailpipe emissions, rather than the current standards that create state-by-state standards.

As it stands now, automakers need to cut tailpipe emissions 30 percent by 2016, per regulations established by California in 2002. With 13 states adopting those same requirements and more in the process, a patchwork of regulations is emerging nationwide. Automakers, and auto dealers, have argued that such a trend could force some brands to stop selling vehicles altogether in places like California, because it's too cost prohibitive to build different versions of the same car to meet a multitude of standards. Some also speculate that consumers would just go buy larger vehicles in neighboring states with less stringent regulations. A regional approach to emission regulations might protect auto dealers from watching their business walking out of the state, but we're certain that the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers that represents most major carmakers in the U.S. will continue arguing for California's standards to be disregarded in favor of the more stringent national standards set forth in our nation's new energy bill.

[Source: Detroit News]

In California, home of the strictest car emissions regulations in the U.S., cars produced before 1976 do not need to undergo smog testing. California State Senator Dean Florez has proposed legislation that would remove that exemption for cars registered in the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District.

What would that mean if it were passed into law? It would mean that as of January 1, 2009, any car registered in a rather large swathe of central California -- from the 1974 Maverick to the 1929 Model A -- would need to pass every current and future smog test. If it didn't, it couldn't be driven.

It is theorized that the move comes because state authorities have missed their air quality goals and are now looking at targeting a tiny fraction of cars. Living in LA, we can't speak for Central California, but most of the pre-1976 vehicles we see here sound and run better than the glut of 80's Toyotas puttering down the streets. What vintage car owners fear is that if the legislation becomes law in the San Joaquin Valley, then it's only a matter of time before it gets adopted everywhere. Thanks for the tip, Kevin!

[Source: SEMA Action Network]

The California Air Resources Board has sent Saleen a $700,000 bill for making non-compliant changes to three of its aftermarket products. Saleen's Focus N20, Focus S121, and Mustang S281 were altered in ways that weren't legal under ARB guidelines. Based on the release, it appears that Saleen's offenses were altering emissions control systems on the N20, and not getting the other two models certified.

The size of the fine and the fact that the ARB expressly states it is using the fine as a deterrent for other aftermarket tuners makes it sound like Saleen knew it wasn't in compliance. However, the ARB release says that only the Focus N20 must be recalled and reconfigured. The other two models "were ultimately certified for use in California," but the ARB gives no indication that they had to be recalled in order to do so. Regardless, if you've got an N20 in SoCal that hasn't been fixed, get it off the road and back to Saleen.

[Source: Mustang Evolution]