Random Smog Checks by Bureau of Automotive Repair

[dominus]

I drive an older vehicle which is in very good condition and registered. Today, my husband & I were directed by a CHP officer on Guerneville Road (heading east towards Coddingtown) to pull into an unmarked random smog check station which was improvised right on the road. They had orange cones set up as well equipment. This is a divided roadway and doesn't allow for traffic diversion around this checkpoint. Additionally, it was set up several feet behind what looked like road work by city of Santa Rosa.

Traffic was slowed down to one lane and drivers were backed up. I rolled down my window and I was approached by a BAR employee who told me that they were performing random smog checks and it would only take a few minutes to hook my car up to check tail pipe emissions. I asked if I was legally obligated and I was told "no." I declined as my registration was just renewed last month and a smog check isn't required until next year. At that point, the BAR representative said to me "If I offer you $10, would you change your mind?" Again, I declined as I had an appointment and didn't want to be late for it. He then said "How much money would you want in order to change your mind?" Now, I laughed at his question as I'd never heard of anything like this. He seemed embarrassed and said "I know this sounds strange but I have to ask this." It sounded like a bribe to me. Suppose I was to offer a CHP officer or BAR employee money to change their mind, would that be legal? I don't think so. It almost seemed like entrapment.

I since have done some research and read some horror stories of scenarios that some drivers have experienced. This includes vehicle impoundment (including taxis lined up for those drivers who have had their cars taken,) drug searches, dui checks, expired registration, uninsured vehicles, fix-it tickets for other violations, parking citations, outstanding warrants, etc. It almost seemed like a ruse to pull over unsuspecting drivers at random with the intention of finding any other types of law infractions or violations. Again, it wasn't a matter of money but that I had an appointment that I didn't want to be late for. He told me he needed to record my license plate (so be it) and I was cleared to leave. I presume he needed to keep records of all those that are pulled over to document his efforts.

I can't help but wonder if CHP is profiling drivers with older vehicles. California is struggling financially but I found the whole experience unnerving. I'm wondering if anyone else has had an experience of this kind.

[Bryan]

I couldn't find any specific reference to this program at the state website (https://www.bar.ca.gov/). The BAR https://www.bar.ca.gov/images/BarLogo_forWeb3.jpg (https://www.bar.ca.gov/)
will pay upto $500 for some cars to be repaired. That is a good program.
They will buy cars upto $1500 to get them off the road. That is a good program.

I would think that their office failed though in not providing ALL drivers a written
explanation about this program and what it can do (and not do).
It would be a huge shame if the police used a benign air pollution program to do illegal search and seizure.
Sherry G Mehl, this department chief, costs around $200K/year with pension, benefits etc.
Sherry should be ashamed to allow a program to go out to the
public and NOT have a full explanation provided to the PUBLIC. Remember us? The ones
who pay their salaries?

[podfish]

the responses (not just here, but all over the state) are a bit of a political Rorchach test to measure how suspicious you are of government actions. Is it a plot to take our cars off the road? Or just a socialist make-work boondoggle? or maybe some bureaucrat came up with a program to see how effective their policies are in the real world... https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Random-Smog-Checks-Help-Clear-The-AIr-85424567.html "A series of e-mailed questions sent to the state has yet to be answered, but an article in the "Los Angeles Times" reported that data gathered from random smog tests conducted between 2000-06 showed nearly one- third of older cars failed roadside tests within a year of passing at test stations. As a result, new legislation is being introduced that will target unscrupulous smog station inspectors and change the way current inspections are conducted."

[podfish]

.... explain my flabbergasted state upon hearing that a BAR employee was asking someone if she would like to buy her way out of an inspection. ... re-read her post. She was offered money to participate, not to avoid inspection. We see what we expect to see, eh?