Senate Bill 712, also known as Leno’s Law due to it’s support from comedian and famous collector car enthusiast Jay Leno, recently leapt a big hurdle on its way to reducing the need for smog checks on cars 35 years or older — passage from the California Senate floor to the Assembly Transportation Committee with bipartisan support.
The purpose of the bill is to reduce the financial onus on collector car owners for vehicles that are driven for special occasions, not used as daily commuters, by not holding them to the same emissions standards as a daily driver with the justification that the environmental impact is radically smaller.
The law was authored by California State Senator Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) who is pleased with the legislation’s progress, while still having some reservations about the current iteration: “I’m thrilled to see Leno’s Law clear the Senate Floor, marking a significant step for car enthusiasts across California,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “Leno’s Law would give collectors the option to have a smog check exemption and that is a win for many enthusiasts!”
“Unfortunately, there were duplicative requirements added by the last committee, such as mandating classic car insurance and historical license plates,” added Senator Grove. ‘These provisions could create barriers for collectors, including the need to own a locked garage in order to qualify for the smog check exemption.”
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