(Sacramento,CA) Assemblymember Tony Mendoza's legislation; AB 1488, requiring smog tests for lightweight diesel vehicles has been signed into law by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Experts estimate that once the lightweight diesel smog-checking program is fully operational, an approximate one and a half tons of dangerous air pollutants will be removed from the air in our state daily.
Assemblymember Mendoza (D-Artesia) says, "Leaving our kids and grandchildren a healthy environment must be one of the most important priorities of our generation. This new law can help improve the long-term health and quality of life of all Californians. This new law is a major victory for my district. My neighbors and I are surrounded by the I-5, 605, 91 and other freeways. Reducing pollutants caused by traffic is crucial because we inhale the emissions from the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that cross our area every day."

THE DETAILS of AB 1488
-Currently existing law exempts diesel-powered vehicles from smog - checking lightweight diesel vehicles.
-Starting January 1, 2010, Mendoza's new law will require diesel-powered
vehicles to be smog checked every two years if they:
a) were manufactured after the 1997 model-year,
b) and weigh less than 8,501 pounds