California Looking To Restrict Out-Of-State Diesel Motorhomes

[VinceB]

California Looking To Restrict Out-Of-State Diesel Motorhomes

Written by Patrick Buchanan in Class A,Motorhomes,RV News
Diesel Motorhome

Going To California?

When Led Zepplin wrote Going to California in 1971 they apparently weren’t thinking about diesel motorhomes in 2023. If they had, they would be surprised to know that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has announced, as reported by the RV Industry Association, that they are,

“…developing a Heavy-Duty Inspection/Maintenance regulatory concept to make sure that non-gasoline powered vehicles greater than 14,000 lbs. operating in California (including vehicles registered out of state) have properly functioning emissions control systems. While this is only a regulatory concept right now, CARB said the intention is that it will eventually become a regulation that would establish a smog check program for heavy-duty diesels. The new requirements being considered by CARB could have huge implications for diesel motorhome owners.”

With CARB planning a workshop for late March, a full regulatory proposal is not likely to be sent to the Board until near the end of this year, with an anticipated effective date in 2023. The elephant in the room of course is, how many of our diesel pushers will pass a California smog check?

Conform Or Be Cast Out

As many rush to get this story in front of RVers, RV Pro recently reported, adding that the rulemaking that is under development, as mandated by California Senate Bill 210 will require owners of diesel motorhomes nationwide to,

“…obtain an annual certificate of conformity from CARB in order to operate their vehicles on California roads.”

This conformity would be expected regardless of where your diesel motorhome is registered. Senate Bill 210, which introduced the Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program was originally designed to help control emissions generated by the heavy trucking industry. The obvious question is, how much will that annual certificate cost? The RVIA also notes that,

“While this is only a regulatory concept right now, the intention is for this to eventually become a regulation that would essentially establish a smog check program for heavy-duty diesels. The new requirements being considered by CARB could have huge implications for diesel motorhome owners.”

Truckin’

Though not dead yet, gratefully, CARB laws are already affecting the diesel industry in California. The state made big news with an executive order banning the sale of new gas or diesel vehicles by 2035. On June 25, 2020 CARB unanimously voted to require truck manufacturers to begin the transition from diesel to zero-emission trucks in 2024, with a full zero-emission expectation date of 2045.

For most of us, that date seemed pretty far off and the likelihood of it affecting our ability to steer a diesel pusher into The Golden State wasn’t concerning. This recent news however changes that. If you are planning to visit one of the thousands of RV parks in California, you’d better do it soon.

Fight The Good Fight

In order to give RVers a voice and hopefully triumph over what could be a devastating blow to the RV park and resort industry in California, the RV Industry Association and their partners will continue to work with CARB staff to develop appropriate provisions that will protect the public without being overly burdensome on diesel motorhomes. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out and the ramifications it has on the RV industry as it relates to California.

Author Patrick Buchanan Avatar
Patrick Buchanan

All around RV enthusiast who enjoys trips with his wife and little dogs in their 43-foot diesel pusher.

[NXR]

It will be interesting to see if there is an effort to block this because it affects interstate commerce, which is the sole purview of the federal government.

Ray

[530ktm]

[PJStough]

Originally Posted by NXR

It will be interesting to see if there is an effort to block this because it affects interstate commerce, which is the sole purview of the federal government.

Ray

So you dont believe states have the right to make laws regarding vehicles that come into their state?

Ever heard of the 10th Amendment?

[mbridinger]

another reason not to visit, that makes 1201.

[atreis]

Originally Posted by PJStough

So you dont believe states have the right to make laws regarding vehicles that come into their state?

Ever heard of the 10th Amendment?

Agreement (or disagreement) with this particular statute aside, states have had their own laws regarding vehicles traveling within that state, regardless of whether they're from another state or not, for a very long time. A few examples:

In terms of equipment:
- At what weight trailers are required to have brakes is left to the states, and everyone is required to follow those rules whether they're from that state or not.
- Whether or not double towing is permitted, and what restrictions there are regarding that, is state specific.
- For tractor trailers, whether or not doubles are permitted, and on which roads, is state specific.

In terms of driving:
- Speed limits are left to the states and other local jurisdictions, and everyone on those roads is required to follow them.
- Other traffic laws vary by state (e.g. rules for left turns, U-turns, etc.), and everyone driving within the state, regardless of where they're from, is required to follow them.

These are examples off the top of my head. I'm sure there are others.

[JDaveB]

X2

Dave

[hattitude]

Certainly every state has a right to regulate traffic as they see fit...

I came to CA back in 1978 and as a camper, motorcycle enthusiast, fisherman and scuba diver.... SoCal was absolute heaven..

IMHO... things have changed considerably for the worse, in almost everything the state government has its hands in....

Take CARB... in the 60's it did wonders for the pollution issues that plagued the state.... It has since turned into a bloated bureaucracy that has lost sight of its original purpose. It is now knee deep in activism, and about raising revenue.... not to mention it seems to be drunk with power....

The wife and I are actively looking to relocate from SoCal, to another state, because of the insane political climate & the political decisions of the last several years...

They are driving away residents, businesses, and now tourists....

CA was once an awesome place to live, travel, and play... it has lost its luster for us and many other people. There are certainly many places around the US, that are every bit as beautiful, and far more welcoming than CA....

CA can do what they want about motorhomes coming into their state... when we leave, I will have absolutely no problem avoiding any return trips to CA.... in my motorhome or otherwise...

[Biljol]

Almost all those items some of you have pointed out that the state has control over are safety related ie. speed limits, breaks, and so on. Now CA is moving beyond safety regulations that are going to infringe on my rights to travel within the United States. That of course is unconstitutional.

Recent study’s by Berkeley and cal state university’s have determined that over 50% of the air pollution in the western United States comes from forest fires due to those states using improper forest management techniques.

This reeks like another California recent law that is trying to force high earners to continue to pay CA income tax for up to 10 years after they move out of the state. So now the state of CA is trying to charge citizens of other states to visit family, national parks, the Pacific Ocean ect. For the right to do so.

The state has gone nuts I have every right to visit any national park, monument, building and so on that exists as long as I do it safely.

At some point someone is going to need to do something about CA to stop them from passing laws that effect US citizens of other states.

[Jim18655]

More craziness:https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/new...ns/ar-BB1e7tNK


City council thinks the city has enough places to fill-up a gasoline vehicle.

[n2zon]

There's no way I'd bother going there in the coach if they implement this. (As it is, I'd avoid buying fuel there, but with about 1K miles of range on a full tank, that's probably not a major inhibitor.)

[Limegreencj5]

I think Chicken Little said it best “The sky is falling, the sky is falling”.

[bmcgc]

I encourage California to enact this legislation.

Once they get it, lets see the impact. If it saves the planet, good on them, if it destroys their economy, good on them.

What about diesel and fuel oil burning ships that use the port of LA/LB. Those ships create millions of jobs and billions of tax revenue. What about LAX, SFO, SAN and SJC, those jets burn far more fuel than a truck or MH does. If you are going after truckers and RVs, its only fair to go after the marine and air industry too.

Military bases should also move out. Tanks, planes, ships and boats are all big polluters.

Come on California, are you going to talk or walk the walk on the environment.

[Winemaker2]

Maybe it would be worth proposing reciprocal legislation... If CA doesn't allow our of staters then CA travelers not permitted to enter other states...?
Can't go to neighboring states & fuel with CA plates!?