Roadside smog check. (Pasadena, Highland, August: centers, cars, office)

[CALGUY]

Saw something I have never seen before today.
Traveling on Pasadena ave just east of Highland park, the lanes were set up with parking cones, and highway patrol was directing vehicles that looked older, into the right hand lane.
I was driving my 02 Dakota, so the chp directed me into the right lane.
As soon as I pulled up to the next officer in line he said good morning Mr.H.

In that short time after turning in the right lane, (about three seconds), they not only had my name, but the year of my vehicle.
Less than a few seconds more, and the officer said thanks, we are checking smog control on older vehicles, and your's is fine.

Never saw this before.
Think it is a great idea.

Bob.

[genjy]

You forgot to write "Thanks for reading."

[Pennychaser11]

So they didn't put your car on a roller? What did they do? Curious because I have a 93 300ZX TT with some mods that weren't 'legal'. Luckily I it's not my daily. I've heard of CHP mobile smog checks and it scares me lol

[Mr_Geek]

Originally Posted by Pennychaser11

So they didn't put your car on a roller? What did they do? Curious because I have a 93 300ZX TT with some mods that weren't 'legal'. Luckily I it's not my daily. I've heard of CHP mobile smog checks and it scares me lol

I'm guessing they are looking for the obvious like black smoke or something.

[HyperionGap]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

Saw something I have never seen before today.
Traveling on Pasadena ave just east of Highland park, the lanes were set up with parking cones, and highway patrol was directing vehicles that looked older, into the right hand lane.
I was driving my 02 Dakota, so the chp directed me into the right lane.
As soon as I pulled up to the next officer in line he said good morning Mr.H.

In that short time after turning in the right lane, (about three seconds), they not only had my name, but the year of my vehicle.
Less than a few seconds more, and the officer said thanks, we are checking smog control on older vehicles, and your's is fine.

Never saw this before.
Think it is a great idea.

Bob.

Good stuff. I wonder how many asshats they catch who are out of compliance this way.

[adr3naline]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

Less than a few seconds more, and the officer said thanks, we are checking smog control on older vehicles, and your's is fine.

Did they plug in a diagnostic tool to your ODBII reader? Hold an oxygen sensor near your exhaust? If not, how did they confirm your vehicle was within compliance?

[CALGUY]

Originally Posted by adr3naline

Did they plug in a diagnostic tool to your ODBII reader? Hold an oxygen sensor near your exhaust? If not, how did they confirm your vehicle was within compliance?

They didn't put the pickup up on the rollers, but I did see a chevy surburban on the rollers.
I can't say if they stuck anything up the pipe, because I wasn't looking out the rear window.
I doubt they did because I was only there a couple of seconds.
The officer did have a scope machine, and perhaps it showed I had a recent smog check in August.
Bob.

[TurcoLoco]

Regardless of what they are doing, checkpoints like this are technically not legal.
They are not supposed to stop you without having a reasonable suspicion that you broke the law.
This doesn't qualify.

R.I.P. Constitution.

[simbared]

They've set up near my office on several occasions. The CHP seems to direct older vehicles into the test area. My newish van never gets a second look, but when I drove my girlfriend's '95 Toyota they waved me over. I pointed to my office building and said I'd be happy to leave the car if I could go & come back so I wasn't late for work. They tester said he didn't want me to be late for work, and told me to take off.

I think they are not only looking for polluting cars, but also trying to identify test centers that pass cars that shouldn't be passed (i.e., taking bribes).

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Is this something Brown spearheaded? It certainly seems like it.