Roadside Smog Inspection Program – Bureau of Automotive Repair

Checkpoints are becoming part of the scenery in many parts of the country. Excuses for blocking roads range from catching drunks, to finding drugs, to catching illegal immigrants, to just simply making people show their papers in order to continue down the road. In California, they employ daily checkpoints to catch polluters.
I ran into these characters on Laural Canyon in NOHO on this day and declined to participate.
The smog tests, run by the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), are technically voluntary, but with the fanfare and presence of highway patrolmen flagging people down, it does not come off that way to many drivers.
They certainly don’t make it seem like it’s voluntary. There were no warning markers. Nothing like that at all, also I know several people with modified car that have been impounded after the hood was popped and this is after they tell you there is no consequence for the test. however if they give the CHP henchman on site the high sign he slips over and take advantage of the open hood and WILL site or impound a modified car, keep in mind this is the same guy who picks which cars get pulled over.
Your best option is to pull over after officer friendly waves you over, then politely say no thank you to the BAR Agent and they cannot detain you. it is «survey» and those are voluntary.
The funny thing is they are glorified mechanics why do they call them agents… more scare tactics!
Danger Will Robinson!
Just say No Thank You!