WASHINGTON (Aug. 5, 2010) — The California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) is proposing updates to its Smog Check Program regulations aimed at speeding up the retirement of older, high-polluting vehicles.
The program overseen by the BAR—a unit within the state's Department of Consumer Affairs—was designed to reduce emissions by requiring vehicles to meet certain standards. Owners of vehicles not meeting the standards can retire their vehicles for monetary compensation, according to the Bedford, Texas-based Automotive Service Association (ASA).
Currently, the regulations involve retiring vehicles for failing biennial smog checks. Among the new regulations, the ASA said, is a plan to incorporate off-cycle vehicles into the program. As a result of these new monetary incentives, it is believed that 11,500 additional older vehicles could be removed from the road annually.
For a copy of the BAR's proposed regulation, visit the ASA's legislative website.