Leno's Law

Not cities but counties. TCEQ added those counties because they are out of compliance with federal air pollution standards.
Take a look at the gasoline requirement map attached. Those areas also have federally mandated boutique gasoline blends.

Vehicle Emissions Inspections in Texas - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov

 

Yes, Bexar County TX did not require emissions tests, only annual safety checks. Safety checks are no longer required but emissions checks come in next year for cars from 2-24 years old. I had my 328 registered as a classic car in MD for 10 years and is now so registered in TX. In both states there are restrictions for cars registered as classic that, per regs, are quite extreme. In fact, in both states the regs make the car ONLY legal to drive to/from car shows or to/from a gas station or repair shop. BUT, in the 9 years in MD and now 8 in TX, it has never been an issue and I drive it to the grocery store, hardware store, etc and out on the road regularly (across the country 3 times). It seems unlikely that anyone in law enforcement is going to pull the car over JUST for the purpose of questioning the classic status however, if the car was stopped for a moving violation or safety issue, the "classic" registration might come up. I mention MD and TX since they are the only states in which my 328 has been registered - though it has driven through quite a few others.

 

Dont blame Smog requirements on the state. They are just trying to protect federal matching highway funds. Except for California most states are trying to do the least invasive process to keep the Feds happy. Many states are fortunate and only high population centers are an issue. Texas is like that. Different methods are employed by states to keep the Feds happy. Some are dumb, some are actually smart and effective but they are all dreamed up by bureaucrats.
A few states (at least one) zealotry have them trying to cure the planets air quality all on their own.

 

On the surface, I'd agree with that as Federal air quality standards are created and enforced by - the Feds. But - without getting into the politics of it - you can certainly blame the Legislators in the CARB and ZEV states for adopting CA's more stringent standards when they had the choice to do so or not.
- Dave

 

There is no new emission testing in Texas (Live in Houston and went through this last month with a 20 year old car), it is just the same as it has been for many years now (OBD2 plug in).

 

"There is no new emission testing in Texas '

It's new in parts of TX - Emissions testing has never been required in San Antonio, for example, but will be as of 2026. I guess it's necessary since there are so many more people in the San Antonio/Austin area than there were just a couple of years ago. I suspect that it won't be too long before Austin/San Antonio become physically one large, extended "city." Interstate 35 is a nightmare between the towns - as bad as I95 on the east coast.

 

So in San Antonio, as of now they don't plug into the OBD2 port? I thought that was supposed to be a part of all state wide testing (until 2025 in rural areas).

 

Man where the heck did you go in California? I lived in LA for about 10 years and there ARE places like that in LA (and I'm sure in every state) but I wouldn't get a hotel there.

 

"So in San Antonio, as of now they don't plug into the OBD2 port?"

That is correct. There was only a safety inspection - tires/brakes/lights/turn signals, etc. Nothing related to emissions/OBD. Only a few cities or counties in TX require(d) emissions testing; a few more, like SA, were added effective 2026 but most of the state's cities/counties will still not require emissions testing.

 

San Antonios air quality must have gone below federal standards. It would not have been added otherwise.

 

"San Antonios air quality must have gone below federal standards. It would not have been added otherwise."

Yeah, I'm sure you're right. Not surprising given the increase in population/auto traffic in the last few years.

 

Funny, 35 years of Texas politicians are why I live in California.

Where did you go in LA?? I lived in NYC for four years and during that time I encountered multiple people urinating on the street, a man pleasuring himself in a movie theater, countless homeless, prostitution and drug solicitors a plenty, and had several friends end up in a hospital after getting mugged (fortunately, I never experienced that). This was all over the city, you couldn't escape it: Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Times Square, Central Park, Battery Park, Financial District, Tribeca, NoHo, Midtown, Chelsea, Gramercy Park, SoHo, etc., etc., etc.

I have dozens of friends in LA who've never encountered anything you cited, and I've been there dozens of times and never had such issues (apart from seeing homeless people which is sadly normal for any city). I'm not saying LA is perfect, nor is it devoid of what you've cited, but there's far more places you can stay that are normal and safe than not. I think you picked the wrong spot (just like you could in any other city). I've been to just about every state in America and I've lived in Texas, New York, Florida, Colorado, and California. Quite frankly, I find California to the best place I've ever lived, despite any perceived shortcomings.

 

My other half was pharmacy director at a mental hospital. Doctors told her not to bother trying to communicate with patients who clearly were disconnected from reality. Ergo I will not attempt to dispute your statements.

 

FYI - I made no judgment, nor a personal attack, just noted my experience was different. Yet you imply I'm a mental patient and "clearly disconnected from reality". Funny how that works.

 

I did no such thing and clearly illustrates my point. Work on your English comprehension. Its lacking.

 

Oh, okay then. So what did you mean?

 

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/california-classic-cars-cruise-closer-to-smog-check-exemption/

The American Lung Association was one of the bill’s two opposers. American Lung Association senior director Will Barrett commented, “It’s a real jailbreak for our air quality problems in California.”

Senator Grove stated that just one percent of the state’s 30 million vehicles are considered classic. She also acknowledged most classic cars are typically well-maintained are driven more for special occasions, not everyday driving.​

So roughly 300,000 cars would be exempt. That would make pretty much zero difference in the air quality that the American Lung Association is concerned about. People aren't going to start magically driving their cars more because of this either, so it's really not going to change air quality at all.

 

no not LA i was in Oakland i stayed at Jack London square, my daughter was in freshman year with Northeastern university Mills campus, you are right about nyc i know every neighborhood you mentioned i worked in Chelsea for over 25 years (why i go by 26street) and now i cover from Maspeth to red hook, i own commercial property in hunts point the Bronx which is the worse the city has ,, from what i heard it is like long beach to you, every you said is true nyc is not a pretty place either and i really do not know how to explain this but in nyc up till recently the bad people knew there place

i really do not to make anything of this all cities have their fair share of BS and me being outside in your state i should be more aware of the people there and how they like to live, after growing and living in 3 of the 5 boros i now live in Westchester which is North of the city and nothing like it i am jealous of the 3 W's "Weather Woman and Wine" in California

i hope they loosen up the laws so you can enjoy these cars we all luv and the reason why we are here, i find it funny that California has no safety but the toughest tail pipe testing and new york has tough safety and no tail pipe testing would be great to have your weather and roads and New York laws for the cars

 

Okay, I have no idea where I got "LA" from, I thought you had said that, clearly you did not. So… you're pretty much right about Oakland. I avoid that place like the plague. I've been there twice and I have no intention of ever going there again. You're also right about NY - it is hard to describe, but you could be on something like 114th St and be perfectly safe, but then go one block to 115th St. and you're in danger. It was really weird! The funny thing is, despite some of the not-so-great experiences, I still really like NY. I don't think I'd want to live there again, but I would definitely still visit (which is not something I can say for a few other states).

I hope this law passes too, but like a lot of other folks in this thread, I don't have a whole lot of confidence. It's pretty absurd that 49 year old cars still have to pass emissions testing. I think California is the only state holding on to a particular year (1975 and older) rather than having a rolling 25 or 35 year thing. I could be wrong on that, I don't know all the other state laws. Most folks in California like new things, so most people are driving new cars anyway. This law would really have no impact on pollution, air quality, or the environment in any way, shape, form, or fashion. It would just make life a little easier for folks with classic cars.

 

If anything, I see Leno's altruistic pursuit of this shooting the classic community in the foot, such a movement does not have the votes in Sacramento and hasn't had them for 50 years. Such is the CA 'system' that the bureaucrats in charge will indeed revisit emissions and only make it worse. I could certainly see them slap a fat tax or have a 'special' ($$$) emissions test just for classic vehicles. They'll see classic cars as a missed opportunity to tax more simply based on emissions and thank you later for pointing it out. The label for it will be something innocuous the stupid will grasp onto to make sense of it all , "it's for the children" etc.

Yes, I've given up on CA, the last straw was seeing the park I used to go to has essentially turned into a crack house, as have most of the parks sans in the very wealthy areas. The new oligarch class runs CA now and they're the only ones who are protected and have law. Homeless population is absurd, can't build a house there due to immense regulation that makes zero sense other than to bureaucrats, we could go on for days

 

Ok this is funny, I needed a chuckle today... friggin post office lost my speedometer so I now have to try and find one... yay.

 

USPS should just be closed. The most useless government agency full of unemployable people.
My old shop was across the street. They could not find me to deliver the mail.

 

The sad part is CA is just one meeting short of banning all "classic cars" from the roads, forever.

The Low Rider community is probably the only thing keeping that from happening.

 

Oh I've had issues with FedEx too. I used to work for UPS and I try to avoid them for delicate items like speedometers (gee I wonder how I know to do that LOL).

It was shipped priority so basically 2 day to next day, and wasn't cheap with the insurance. I've sent this darn thing four times (this is the fourth) to try and get it fixed. I guess more than three was just too many.

The good thing is it was insured. The bad thing is I now I have to go through the process of filing a claim so God knows when or if I'll actually get my money.

In the meantime I'm looking for a speedometer.