Welcome to California - Well, not really!

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

If you have an old Bus Conversion with a Diesel burning Engine, and you want to visit California, you better do it now, before California bans your dirty old Bus from entering their state.

On the flip side, if you are in the market for a vintage diesel burner Buses, there may be several for sale at discounted prices very soon.

https://rvtroop.com/californias-war-on-out-of-state-diesel-motorhomes?fbclid=IwAR3ICaGxYIyRKzn6_1vD0SlcNP19UuUAi6iVkfil6k8F4Wc8OTjBoIQxJyk_aem_th_ATkuCIWcYY8wiDoY2BWOteLsMm-RUsNBOxeXZ6aMvwa7jlyOppptYczwjaPmf9NpCYjCZVrcTgfmFi6ydGrMgriz

[windtrader]

Gary,
Thank you for bringing up this potentially significant issue of what is legal on roads in California. Rather than putting busnuts living outside the state, the new regulations appear to be just the opposite. It appears all buses registered OUTSIDE California are exempt and those busnuts with CA registered buses may be doomed.
Following are some initial research notes on this potentially devastating program to we CA busnuts. Stay tuned. I have emailed CARB for more clarity but the way it is worded seems to cast a net over us and based on the timeline we may dread going to the mailbox to find the death notice.

Here's the deal. We California residents that own a vintage two stroke diesel vehicle and converted them into motorhomes were allowed by the CA DMV to title and register it as a housecar/motorhome. The massive regulation that swept virtually all two stroke diesels off the roads had an exemption that exempted them from smog devices and checks.
This new regulation states California-registered motorhomes are now regulated by this new program. It does not state those motorhomes currently exempted can bypass this. Frankly, it is a bit worrying to say the least.

https://www.bar.ca.gov/arsc/newsletters/newsletter/spring-2023/carb-implements-heavy-duty-vehicle-inspection-and-maintenance-program
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/heavy-duty-inspection-and-maintenance-programhttps://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/factsheet_background_and_program_requirements_starting_in_2023_1.pdf

Which heavy-duty vehicles must comply with the regulation?
Nearly all diesel and alternative fuel heavy-duty trucks and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds that operate in California must comply. This includes hybrid trucks and buses, commercial vehicles, privately-owned vehicles, government vehicles, and vehicles registered outside of California.

Which vehicles are exempt from the regulation?
The heavy-duty vehicle types shown below are exempt from the regulation:
• Zero-emission vehicles
• Military tactical vehicles
• Emergency vehicles
• New vehicles with engines certified to the most stringent optional, NOx standard (only for the first four years of program implementation)
• Motorhomes registered outside of California
• Vehicles operating under an experimental permit
• Historical vehicles

If your vehicle is identified as a potential high emitter through REMD, you will receive a Notice to Submit to Testing (NST) from CARB. Upon receival, you will have 30 calendar days to submit to CARB a passing HD I/M compliance test performed by a HD I/M tester.
Non-OBD vehicles, i.e., those that don't meet the engine model year requirements above, are required to undergo a smoke opacity test and a visual inspection of the vehicle's emissions control equipment, referred to as the Vehicle Emissions Control Equipment Inspection. The smoke opacity test is the same SAE J1667 snap acceleration smoke inspection used to comply with CARB's PSIP.
Question: What are the vehicle testing requirements for the Clean Truck Check program?Answer: Currently, vehicle compliance tests are only required if you receive a Notice to Submit to Testing (NST). Upon receiving an NST, a passing vehicle compliance test is required within 30 days of receipt. Please refer to the Vehicle Owner Basics factsheet for additional information on current testing requirements.
Please note that Periodic Testing Requirements will be phased in starting in 2024. This will require nearly all vehicles subject to the program to undergo twice per year testing with results submitted to CARB. Agricultural vehicles and California-registered motorhomes will be required to undergo testing once per year. CARB plans to release more information on the timing of these requirements in July of 2023.
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2023-01/factsheet_vehicle_owner_basics.pdf
What is the HD I/M regulation?
• It is a new program to test heavy-duty vehicles' emissions control systems for proper operation. Nearly all diesel and alternative fuel vehicles over 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating that operate in California, including personal vehicles, will be required to comply.

If you receive a Notice to Submit to Testing from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) due to a potential high-emitting vehicle, submit a passing compliance test to CARB within 30 days.

[Dave5Cs]

LOL and Newsome want to run for the White House in 2028? HA HA HA, He has been smoking to much weed.

It is only for vehicles that OPERATE in California that register there and live there.
Windy they are coming for you LOL
Well it looks like discrimination suits are coming from a lot of RV'ers.

[dtcerrato]

Sounds like steadfast California residents of non compliant vehicles need to start reregistering them in other states...

[windtrader]

Might be Dan. Will have to wait for more clarity we get a pass or not. If not, then it is the same long running game getting any 49 state legal vehicle to at least be legal in one USA state other than California. This does not change the risks and potential liabilities and fines etc by running the vehicle in the state when the driver is a CA resident. That part is REALLY difficult to divest residency. That would be extremely difficult for me as any investments still owned in CA makes you a resident even if you live in Peru full time.

[luvrbus]

LOL CARB changes the rules every time they meet They are coming for Don  just be patience 

[windtrader]

Clifford,This one really has me concerned based on how I read it so far. There seems virtually no escape from it. We busnuts are a small group of the entire diesel RV folks that might be impacted.
What is your estimate how many other not bus conversions are still on the road? I mean those older two strokes that were produced as RV like a Custom Coach or Prevost, etc. I think we all got a pass from the ban two strokes they did a few years ago. But this time they just say all personal RV must pass the testing. In the case of non OBD engines, there is an opacity test instead. Maybe a clean two stroke can pass but I'd not be surprised CARB just wants them all to fail and off the road for good.

[CrabbyMilton]

Very sad. So what happens when trains cross over the California border?

[muldoonman]

Think I had 97,000 miles on my Immaculate 1991 Prevost XL DDEC11 that I sold a year or so ago to a Couple in Northern Califorkia. Beautiful, inside and out. They Flew into Austin Tx. drove West to barn and drove home. Almost 2000 miles. . He told me they would never get the Private Buses off the Road. Looks like he might be wrong.

[dtcerrato]

I guess there is always the possibility of a repower. In our case if we ever got between a rock & a hard place our 42 year bus ownership would turn into a tiny home. Mom always said "can't fight city hall & gee wiz think of all the $$$ you'd save! Jeeze...

[Jim Blackwood]

I don't see the problem. Just register it as a hysterical vehicle.

Jim

[dtcerrato]

I don't see the problem. Just register it as a hysterical vehicle.

Jim

Lol, Jim did you mean to spell it that way? It is an accurate statement, especially for Don! Sorry, I couldn't resist! Histerical / historical 

[luvrbus]

Lol, Jim did you mean to spell it that way? It is an accurate statement, especially for Don! Sorry, I couldn't resist! Histerical / historical 

You register one as a historical vehicle then they can only be used in special events in CA,they haven't really ever enforced that yet!, here in AZ you can drive one for 3000 miles a year and it requires record keeping,LOL do like the kids in Safeway do here all the electric handicap carts have a plaque with Tesla models on the front 

[Jim Blackwood]

That's 3000 miles in-state right? Don't see as where they would have any say at all about miles out of state.

Jim

[lvmci]

Injecting of Natural gas (CNG), Propane and now by Cummins Hydrogen injection kits, will cleanup the diesel particulates and smoke. Cummins says their kits are available. MCI made their CNG clean busses for the SoCal Fly bus company for many years...