Hey everyone,

The other day I was driving on Huntington Dr. in San Marino, and there was a smog checkpoint. It seems more and more of these are popping up everywhere in the San Gabriel Valley, and probably in LA.

Is there a website, or can we start a thread here, where we can be warned of these checkpoints so that some of us can avoid them. If the thread is here, then those that spot the checkpoints can just report them here as soon as they can.

Just a thought, and I know there are those who would prefer not to pass through these checkpoints. Thanks.

 

What a waste of taxpayer money.

 

There used to be a thread, but it died off pretty quick because no one really ran into them. I've never seen one in the 9 years I've lived in Orange personally

 

I too luckily have never seen one... I hope it stays that way.

 

Well if someone runs into one, please post it up. It might be occurring more in the San Gabriel Valley since I'm hearing people running into them more in that area. Regardless, let's try to post when we can. I know I will.

 

I have seen this one twice in Fontana, on Valley Blvd between Citrus Ave and Sierra Ave

and on a regular basis; ordinary check point throughout the city

 

Read this, i was thinking about printing this out and keeping it in my car when it was registered in California but i dont have to worry about that now.
http://www.autorepair.ca.gov/80_BARR...8_10_2010l.pdf

 

I think I may do that. I almost drove thru one in Irvine a couple years back. Those roadside smog stations will give a man with a modified car a heartattack....

 

so its for informational purposes according to the pdf posted?

 

It is for informational purposes, but the CHP officers there can still write you up for illegal mods.

 

thats what i dont understand has somebody been ticketed from one of these?

 

Thanks for the link. We'll see how "voluntary" it is. Im sure CHP uses it as a way to get people.

 

There are two different mobile systems.

One is the portable smog station as mentioned above.

The other uses sensors, usually on a freeway onramp, that measures tail pipe emissions as the car passes through. I believe those units have (or can be set up) with a camera to take a picture of the plate. The owner of the car can them be "informed" (or ticketed/flagged?) that his/her car is not smog compliant.

 

I've seen the portable smog station. A picture of what the freeway on ramp set ups look like may be helpful in that if a driver can identify it, then the driver can just avoid it before entering the on ramp. That's if the set up is not installed too far into the on ramp.

Thanks for the info up there about the "voluntary" smog survey. I too am skeptical about how "voluntary" it actually is. The other part is, if it's voluntary, and you decide not to let your car be inspected, will the CHP just pull you over anyway and check themselves if they feel the car may be modified. In this case you can get a ticket whether it's "voluntary" or not.

 

I hope I never see one of these if I do I will let ya'll know how it goes.

 

Agreed! Plus a waste of law enforcement resources.

 

Yeah, these things can have your car towed away. But I was told of this by someone witnessing imports heavily modified,(visibly and performance wise) being loaded on tow trucks while a couple squad cars nearby. Here in the IE its goes from the Edge of Ontario basically Mira Loma all the way over to Moreno Valley. Seen one in Brea, one in Upland, and another in Montclair, I am actually scared. haha. I am surrounded by them and luckily I ALWAYS turn a street before I am caught up to one. I see someone said they are on fwy on ramps I have seen them on busy streets.

 

I've seen them on the 15 fwy to the 91 interchange. Problem is once you see it, its already too late. Lets say you do get stuck having to drive thru a check point, would turning your car off and letting it coast thru help out any?

 

full throttle up to it and coast on by!

 

Decel would be your best friend, especially if you have DFCO enabled in your tune.