{"code":"HSC","codeName":"Health and Safety Code","section":"44001.3","citation":"Health & Saf. Code, § 44001.3","status":"in-force","lawOn":"2026-09-28","headings":[{"name":"DIVISION 26. AIR RESOURCES [39000. - 44475.3.]","url":"https://blackletter.si/health-and-safety-code/division-26"},{"name":"PART 5. VEHICULAR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL [43000. - 44299.91.]","url":"https://blackletter.si/health-and-safety-code/division-26/part-5"},{"name":"CHAPTER 5. Motor Vehicle Inspection Program [44000. - 44127.]","url":"https://blackletter.si/health-and-safety-code/division-26/part-5/chapter-5"},{"name":"ARTICLE 1. General [44000. - 44005.]","url":"https://blackletter.si/health-and-safety-code/division-26/part-5/chapter-5/article-1"}],"history":"Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 804, Sec. 1.   Effective January 1, 1998.","effective":"1998-01-01","html":"<p>The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows:</p><p>(a) Under the state’s previous smog check program, a motor vehicle owner could obtain unlimited repair cost waivers and, therefore, avoid repair of a polluting vehicle. </p><p>(b) As a result, many vehicles were reregistered year after year and allowed to continue to pollute the air. </p><p>(c) Repairing high-polluting and gross polluting vehicles (which pollute 2 to 25 times more than the average vehicle that passes a smog check) could significantly improve California air quality and allow the state to meet federal clean air goals. </p><p>(d) The existing repair cost limit for smog repairs is a minimum of four hundred fifty dollars ($450) in all areas where the enhanced smog check program operates; fifty dollars ($50) to three hundred dollars ($300) based on the model year of the vehicle where the enhanced program is not fully implemented; and no cost limit for the repair of gross polluting vehicles. </p><p>(e) Without state financial assistance to repair a vehicle, a low-income vehicle owner is forced to either scrap the vehicle or drive an unregistered vehicle. </p>","text":"The Legislature hereby finds and declares as follows: (a) Under the state’s previous smog check program, a motor vehicle owner could obtain unlimited repair cost waivers and, therefore, avoid repair of a polluting vehicle. (b) As a result, many vehicles were reregistered year after year and allowed to continue to pollute the air. (c) Repairing high-polluting and gross polluting vehicles (which pollute 2 to 25 times more than the average vehicle that passes a smog check) could significantly improve California air quality and allow the state to meet federal clean air goals. (d) The existing repair cost limit for smog repairs is a minimum of four hundred fifty dollars ($450) in all areas where the enhanced smog check program operates; fifty dollars ($50) to three hundred dollars ($300) based on the model year of the vehicle where the enhanced program is not fully implemented; and no cost limit for the repair of gross polluting vehicles. (e) Without state financial assistance to repair a vehicle, a low-income vehicle owner is forced to either scrap the vehicle or drive an unregistered vehicle.","otherVersions":[],"url":"https://blackletter.si/health-and-safety-code/general-44001-3","source":"California Legislative Information bulk export (pubinfo)"}