Section 44015 Of Article 2. Program Requirements From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 26. >> Part 5. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 2.
44015
. (a) A licensed smog check station shall not issue a
certificate of compliance, except as authorized by this chapter, to
any vehicle that meets the following criteria:
(1) A vehicle that has been tampered with.
(2) A vehicle identified pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph
(3) of subdivision (b) of Section 44036. A vehicle identified
pursuant to subparagraph (K) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of
Section 44036 shall be directed to the department to determine
whether an inadvertent error can explain the irregularity, or whether
the vehicle otherwise meets smog check requirements, allowing the
certificate for compliance to be issued, or the vehicle shall be
reinspected by a referee or another smog check station.
(3) A vehicle that, prior to repairs, has been initially
identified by the smog check station as a gross polluter.
Certification of a gross polluting vehicle shall be conducted by a
designated test-only facility, or a test-and-repair station that is
both licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2.
(4) A vehicle described in subdivision (c).
(b) If a vehicle meets the requirements of Section 44012, a smog
check station licensed to issue certificates shall issue a
certificate of compliance or a certificate of noncompliance.
(c) (1) A repair cost waiver shall be issued, upon request of the
vehicle owner, by an entity authorized to perform referee functions
for a vehicle that has been properly tested but does not meet the
applicable emission standards when it is determined that no
adjustment or repair can be made that will reduce emissions from the
inspected motor vehicle without exceeding the applicable repair cost
limit established under Section 44017 and that every defect specified
by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and by
paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been
corrected. A repair cost waiver issued pursuant to this paragraph
shall be accepted in lieu of a certificate of compliance for the
purposes of compliance with Section 4000.3 of the Vehicle Code. No
repair cost waiver shall exceed two years' duration. No repair cost
waiver shall be issued until the vehicle owner has expended an amount
equal to the applicable repair cost limit specified in Section
44017.
(2) An economic hardship extension shall be issued, upon request
of a qualified low-income motor vehicle owner, by an entity
authorized to perform referee functions, for a motor vehicle that has
been properly tested but does not meet the applicable emission
standards when it is determined that no adjustment or repair can be
made that will reduce emissions from the inspected motor vehicle
without exceeding the applicable repair cost limit, as established
pursuant to Section 44017.1, that every defect specified in paragraph
(2) of subdivision (a) of Section 43204, and in paragraphs (2) and
(3) of subdivision (a) of Section 43205, has been corrected, that the
low-income vehicle owner would suffer an economic hardship if the
extension is not issued, and that all appropriate emissions-related
repairs up to the amount of the applicable repair cost limit in
Section 44017.1 have been performed.
(d) No repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension shall be
issued under any of the following circumstances:
(1) If a motor vehicle was issued a repair cost waiver or economic
hardship extension in the previous biennial inspection of that
vehicle. A repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension may be
issued to a motor vehicle owner only once for a particular motor
vehicle belonging to that owner. However, a repair cost waiver or
economic hardship extension may be issued for a motor vehicle that
participated in a previous waiver or extension program prior to
January 1, 1998, as determined by the department. For waivers or
extensions issued in the program operative on or after January 1,
1998, a waiver or extension may be issued for a motor vehicle only
once per owner.
(2) Upon initial registration of all of the following:
(A) A direct import motor vehicle.
(B) A motor vehicle previously registered outside this state.
(C) A dismantled motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11519 of the
Vehicle Code.
(D) A motor vehicle that has had an engine change.
(E) An alternate fuel vehicle.
(F) A specially constructed vehicle.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision (f), a certificate of
compliance or noncompliance shall be valid for 90 days.
(f) Excluding any vehicle whose transfer of ownership and
registration is described in subdivision (d) of Section 4000.1 of the
Vehicle Code, and except as otherwise provided in Sections 4000.1,
24007, 24007.5, and 24007.6 of the Vehicle Code, a licensed motor
vehicle dealer shall be responsible for having a smog check
inspection performed on, and a certificate of compliance or
noncompliance issued for, every motor vehicle offered for retail
sale. A certificate issued to a licensed motor vehicle dealer shall
be valid for a two-year period, or until the vehicle is sold and
registered to a retail buyer, whichever occurs first.
(g) A test may be made at any time within 90 days prior to the
date otherwise required.