My Car is a GROSS Polluter!

The Gross Polluter and You


A lot of urban legend surrounds the car that fails the Smog Check as a "gross polluter". Some of the things I've heard are:

• The state will confiscate your "Gross Polluting" car.
• The state will force you to retire your "Gross Polluting" car.
• The state will make you buy another car.
  
• The state will forbid you to drive your "Gross Polluting" car.

The Back-Story

In 1996 the state of California implemented the term "gross polluter". It was meant for vehicles that failed the Smog Check with extremely high emissions. It was a heavy burden to own a gross polluting vehicle.

It meant there was no cost limit to get the offending vehicle below the gross polluter threshold. It also meant the vehicle would have to undergo an annual Smog Check for up to four consecutive years. Additionally, after repairs had been performed, the vehicle would have to be certified by the Smog Check Referee.

The Smog Check Referee was soon overwhelmed with gross polluting vehicles in need of certifying. In some parts of the state it took up to 30 days to get an appointment.

The state soon relented, amid a consumer and legislative outcry, and allowed the gross polluter to be tested at "Gold Shield" or "Test-Only" Smog Check stations.

The state dropped the no cost limit to get the vehicle below the gross polluter threshold. Further, after the vehicle passed the Smog Check, it went back into it's normal biennial cycle.

The Gross Polluter Today

Today if the vehicle fails the Smog Check at or above the gross polluter levels, it has to be certified at a "Gold Shield" or "Test-Only" Smog Check station after repairs are performed. There are no other penalties for owning a gross polluting vehicle.

If being pegged as a gross polluter is a real concern to you, the Smog Check station might run a pre-inspection first. Not all Smog Check stations offer a pre-inspection and you have to ask for one.

More to come.
Thanks,
Bob