Amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the 1981 model year from emissions inspection requirement was unanimously approved by California’s Senate Appropriations Committee on May 27.
Having already been approved by the Transportation Committee, S.B. 1239 will now be sent to the full Senate for a vote by all members. Under the amended bill, vehicles manufactured after the 1976 model year but prior to the 1981 model year would be exempted if the owner submits proof the vehicle is insured as a collector motor vehicle. This exemption would be a two-year trial that would need to be renewed by separate legislation in order to continue.
Current law requires the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles.
For more information on the bill, or to voice your support for this legislation, go to the SEMA Action Network homepage.
In a severe disappointment for the old car hobby, the California Senate failed to gain final approval prior to the June 3 deadline for amended legislation (S.B. 1239) to exempt motor vehicles prior to the 1981 model year from the emissions inspection requirement. Under the amended bill, vehicles manufactured after the 1976 model year but prior to the 1981 model year would have been exempted if the owner submitted proof that the vehicle was insured as a collector motor vehicle. This exemption would have been a 2-year trial that would have needed to be renewed by separate legislation in order to continue. Current law requires the lifetime testing of all 1976 and newer model-year vehicles.