A classic argument over smog

You can’t argue with 1,200 tons of pollution, the approximate amount of ozone-forming gases that comes from the dirtiest cars every day in California.

The vast majority of these cars are more than 10 years old and they are kept on the road by a mix of people who cannot afford anything newer and hobbyists who have fought politically for an exemption from pollution laws.

These cars are so dirty that they produce 30 to 50 times the emissions per mile that new cars put out. They are so dirty that they account for about 45% of all the auto pollution occurring in the state. Oddly enough, cars more than 30 years old are exempt from smog tests.

But two important developments could help reduce the pollution burden imposed by obsolete emissions technology in these older cars.

After a two-year lapse, the Bureau of Automotive Repair has reinstituted a program to buy and crush grossly polluting vehicles, the ones that fail their biennial smog test.

Second, as reported in The Times on Tuesday, the Legislature has approved and sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill that would repeal the smog test exemption on cars more than 30 years old -- an exemption won by the auto parts industry under the leadership of the Specialty Equipment Market Assn. in Diamond Bar. Schwarzenegger is being heavily lobbied by SEMA to veto the bill.

In 2002, Gov. Gray Davis canceled the gross polluter vehicle retirement program to save money during the budget crisis, but legislators restored funding in the current budget and Bureau of Automotive Repair officials have decided to reopen for business.

“We have a gross amount of $4.5 million, so we’ll be able to buy 8,000 vehicles,” said Richard Ross, the bureau’s new director.

It might not sound like a lot, but those 8,000 vehicles are putting out more pollution than a quarter-million new vehicles, according to figures by the California Air Resources Board. Although many people are concerned about the pollution released by sport utility vehicles, a single vintage Volkswagen bug puts out more pollutants than a huge fleet of SUVs.

Under the current program, the state will pay $500 to retire a car that has failed the smog test but still operates. The state was paying $1,000 prior to 2002, so the current program will probably not appeal to as many people, but it will still help a lot, Ross said.

When an older car fails its smog test it often doesn’t make economic sense to fix it. The owner cannot legally sell or register the vehicle. So the $500 payment is a legal escape route for the owner, Ross said. To get more information about the program, you can visit the Bureau of Automotive Repair’s website at www.smogcheck.ca.gov or www.smogcheck.ca.gov/ftp/pdfforms/cap_app.pdf.

The second important development involves getting a long-term handle on the classic car industry. Under the current law, cars 30 years or older are exempt from smog testing. That means that this year a model 1974 car is exempt and next year a model 1975 will become exempt.

The proposed legislation would freeze the exemption with the 1976 model, meaning that as years go by the pool of older grossly polluting vehicles would no longer continue to grow. It does not change the status of any currently exempt vehicle.

What’s more, cars newer than 1976 are already passing their smog tests and the emission rules for these vehicles will be frozen in time. In other words, a 1977 vehicle will only have to pass the 1977 smog test for as long as it is on the road, according to the bill’s author, Assemblywoman Sally J. Lieber (D-Mountain View).

“I am from Detroit and consider myself a car enthusiast,” Lieber said. “We want to get the benefits of better air quality without hurting people who are trying to preserve a part of American history.”

But SEMA is strongly opposed to the measure, apparently because it could put a crimp on people who specifically want to tear off all the emissions and exhaust equipment once they reach the 30-year exempted age, Lieber said.

“If you search the Internet for ‘emissions crap’ you see a lot of discussion about this,” she added.

SEMA officials did not respond to a Times request for an interview.

It’s great fun to admire or drive a classic car, but not enough to justify lung damage. Indeed, the American Lung Assn. has endorsed the bill, AB 2683. If the owners of these cars have the money to restore the paint and upholstery, they should also have the resources and intelligence to maintain functioning emission systems.

Will the governor sign the bill? It seems likely, but it’s not a sure bet. Schwarzenegger’s pal Jay Leno has come out against the bill, so it’s possible that state environmental policies are being influenced by a television comedian.

That’s not so funny, Jay.

The air board estimates that all vehicles in the state put out 2,500 tons of pollution every day and the dirtiest 10% of the vehicles account for 1,200 tons of it. The dirtiest vehicles are invariably older cars with either broken or obsolete emission systems. And classic cars are a big part of the problem, according to the agency.

“They are a significant factor,” said board spokesman Jerry Martin. “While they may be driven only one-fourth as much as new cars, they are putting out 30 to 50 times the pollution doing it.”

Although SEMA officials declined to comment, the organization’s website indicates that it is conducting a major lobbying effort to get the governor to veto the bill. “The amendments do not protect car collectors and are being opposed by SEMA and the major car clubs and organizations in California,” according to the website, www.sema.org.

It also calls on its members to call the governor directly. If you would like to express your opinion, one way or the other, you can call the governor at the same number listed on the SEMA website: (916) 445-2841 or leave a note at www.govmail.ca.gov.

Also, if you see a vehicle smoking, you can report it to the California Air Resources Board at (800) END-SMOG. The board will send a letter to the vehicle owner, requesting the problem be fixed. The board says half of vehicle owners contacted actually make repairs.

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Ralph Vartabedian can be reached at ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com.