- Leno’s Law, or SB1392, is a California Senate bill introduced to provide emissions exemptions for classic cars.
- The bill has been redrafted so that it now has a greater chance of passing and becoming law.
- Only vehicles registered as collector cars are eligible.
California Senate Bill 1392 aims to provide emissions exemptions for collector cars. If this sounds familiar, that’s because SB1392 is a revived version of an earlier bill dubbed Leno’s Law. The previous bill failed to pass, but lawmakers appear to have higher hopes for the new version.
Leno’s Law, so called because it was endorsed and promoted by comedian and car enthusiast Jay Leno, would provide smog exemptions for collector cars until 1981. Eventually, it was increased until 1986.
This certainly sounds interesting, at least to most car fans here in the Golden State. However, a closer look at the wording of the bill shows that this only applies to a small number of car owners.
The bill would provide smog exemptions for vehicles registered as collector cars. This means they must be at least 35 years old, and the vehicle’s primary use is car shows, parades, charity events, and history exhibits. You must also insure the vehicle as a collector car.
Initially, the law allowed vehicles manufactured up to 1981 to be granted smog exemptions, provided they met other criteria. This exclusion will roll over the term of the law, which will be in effect until 2032. Thus, the exclusion is for vehicles up to the 1986 model year.
Currently, California does not require a smog test for gasoline vehicles built before 1976. If you own a diesel vehicle, the exception applies to vehicles built before 1998.
According to Roads & Tracks, California estimates there will be more than 17,500 smog exemption applications if SB1392 passes.
So this new law, if passed, will definitely allow a number of cars to get emission-free status. But the average enthusiast won’t suddenly be able to register their swapped V8 project car. I’m not saying every exchange should allowed too.
But it would be better if the law were simplified to allow general haze exemptions. This will allow normal and old cars to remain on the road. Not everyone can afford a new car, or even a used car, nowadays. Leaving an old car on the road may be a person’s only option.
While we do not provide pure smog exemptions, we do relax testing requirements for certain models. My 1991 Mitsubishi Montero sailed through the smog without any problems thanks to a California-approved Magnaflow catalytic converter. But my 1986 Jaguar XJ6, with a California-legal V8 swap, struggled to get through despite new exhaust components. It’s possible, but it’s pointless.
Leno’s Law won’t help in that case at all.
Motor Pickup1: I understand why some car enthusiasts in California would be excited by the prospect of this bill passing. But your average fan should know that it probably won’t help them much.
While I’m a car fan myself, I’m not completely against California’s approach to keeping the air clean. This is the place where I want my children to grow up and enjoy the beautiful world around us. But the biggest contributors to dirty air are not just cars on the road. There are bigger actions we can take to curb emissions, but too much money is at stake to make them happen.
My 1967 Mustang and its 351, driven maybe once or twice a week, were not the cause of the smog. And sending old cars to junkyards and tow trucks only creates more junk that we need to store.
Of course there is a right way to do this bill. I think this is a good first step, but it really only helps a small percentage of car enthusiasts.
