2023 California Code › Health and Safety Code - HSC › DIVISION 26 - AIR RESOURCES › PART 5 - VEHICULAR AIR POLLUTION CONTROL › CHAPTER 5 - Motor Vehicle Inspection Program › ARTICLE 8 - Gross Polluters › Section 44081.

44081. (a) (1) The department, in cooperation with the state board, shall institute procedures for auditing the emissions of vehicles while actually being driven on the streets and highways of the state. The department may undertake those procedures itself or seek a qualified vendor of these services. The primary object of the procedures shall be the detection of gross polluters. The procedures shall consist of techniques and technologies determined to be effective for that purpose by the department, including, but not limited to, remote sensing. The procedures may include pullovers for roadside emissions testing and inspection. The department shall consider the recommendations of the review committee based on the outcome of the pilot demonstration program conducted pursuant to Section 44081.6.
(2) The department may additionally use other methods to identify gross polluting vehicles for out-of-cycle testing and repair.
(b) The department shall, by regulation, establish a program for the out-of-cycle testing and repair of motor vehicles found, through roadside auditing, to be emitting at levels that exceed specified standards. The program shall include all of the following elements:
(1) Emission standards, and test and inspection procedures and regulations, adopted in coordination with the state board, applicable to vehicles tested during roadside auditing. Emission standards for issuance of a notice of noncompliance to a gross polluter shall be designed to maximize the identification of vehicles with substantial excess emissions.
(2) Procedures for issuing notices of noncompliance to owners of gross polluters, either at the time of the roadside audit, or subsequently by certified mail, or by obtaining a certificate of mailing as evidence of service, using technologies for recording license plate numbers. The notice of noncompliance shall provide that, unless the vehicle is brought to a designated test-only facility or a test-and-repair station that is both licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2, for emissions testing within 30 days, the owner is required to pay an administrative fee of five hundred dollars ($500) to be collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the next annual registration renewal or the next change of ownership of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. Commencing on the 31st day after issuance of the notice of noncompliance, the fee shall accrue at the rate of five dollars ($5) per day up to the five hundred dollars ($500) maximum.
(3) Procedures for the testing of vehicles identified as gross polluters 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, to confirm that the vehicle exceeds the minimum emission standard for gross polluters set by the department.
(4) Procedures requiring owners of vehicles confirmed as gross polluters to have the vehicle repaired, resubmitted for testing, and obtain a certificate of compliance from a designated test-only facility, or a test-and-repair station that is both licensed and certified pursuant to Sections 44014 and 44014.2, or removed from service as attested by a certificate of nonoperation from the Department of Motor Vehicles within 30 days or be required to pay an administrative fee of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), to be collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles at the next annual registration renewal or the next change of ownership, whichever occurs first. Commencing on the 31st day after issuance of the notice of noncompliance, the fee shall accrue at the rate of five dollars ($5) per day up to the five hundred dollar ($500) maximum. The registration of a vehicle shall not be issued or renewed if that vehicle has been identified as a gross polluter and has not been issued a certificate of compliance. Except as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 9250.18 of the Vehicle Code, any revenues collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to this subdivision and Section 9250.18 of the Vehicle Code shall be deposited in the Vehicle Inspection and Repair Fund. If the ownership of the vehicle is transferred, the administrative fee provided for in this subdivision shall be waived if the vehicle is brought into compliance.
(5) A procedure for notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles of notices of noncompliance issued, so that the Department of Motor Vehicles may provide effective collection of the administrative fee. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall cooperate with, and implement the requirements of, the department in that regard.
(c) The department may adopt any other regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this section, as determined by the department.
(d) Upon the request of the department, the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall provide assistance in conducting roadside auditing, to consist of (1) the stopping of vehicles and traffic management, and (2) the issuance of notices of noncompliance to gross polluters. The department shall reimburse the Department of the California Highway Patrol for its costs of providing those services. The Department of Transportation and affected local agencies shall provide necessary assistance and cooperation to the department in the operation of the program.
(e) There shall be no repair cost limit imposed pursuant to Section 44017 for any repairs that are required to be made under the roadside auditing program, except as provided in Section 44017.
(f) This section does not apply to vehicles operating under a valid repair cost waiver or economic hardship extension issued pursuant to Section 44015.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1001, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2003.)