[DeTomaso] DMV registration question for fellow Kalifornians.

[Peter Kovacs]

Hello All, 

I took my 72 Vega out for a drive a couple of Sundays ago. Not too much of this 
car is still 72 Vega and it's primarily used for charity events, car shows and 
every few years a trip to the drags. Although it hasn't been my daily driver for 
about 20 years, it has been registered and insured. A motorcycle officer in a 
speed trap I was well aware of (but not that day evidently) pulled me over and 
issue a ticket. He radio'd another officer who had been through the 'smog 
course' who asked that I open the hood. The educated officer said as a 72 it 
only needed the pcv valve and with a closed system and not the breather cap on 
the valve cover but recommended against the citation for it. He didn't notice 
the PCV valve on the other valve cover. The 'uneducated' officer ignored his 
recommendation and cited me for the smog violation sending me to a referee. 


I went to the referee today who seemed not to know what to do with a 72. He made 
a phone call to a manager and came back with change the manifold, carb, headers, 
gas tank, add a smog pump, thermostatic air filter housing and put it on the 
dyno. Huh??? I declined the inspection but they took pictures of the car 
and sent them to Sac. I assume this is so they can reconcile my data with the 
street racers they have on video.

So...options? What are the requirements and benefits for a historical vehicle? 
Is there a reasonably inexpensive way to fight the citation? Proof of correction 
would be $8.25. Not correcting it and just paying it would be just under $500 
but would also leave me open to the 'habitual' violator status in the future. 
Hmmmm

I could pay the fine and pull the plates saving insurance and registration costs 
in the future and just trailer the car to the events but I would likely just not 
participate in the events. 


There must be a better way and I'm sure someone in this group knows it.

Thanks in advance,


Peter Kovacs
209 345-6708 
209 436-2000 fx