[Scalded Dog]

My daughter is going to college, and she needs a car. We're not wealthy, so I had to find a deal on a used car. Got a great deal on 2002 Corolla S, which I got from a friend. He'd had it parked for a while, and his registration had expired long ago.

In CA, when a car title is transferred, the car must pass a smog test. The way the process works (with already- expired registration) is that you go to the DMV, start the paperwork, pay your fees, and then you go get the smog test done, before the transfer/ registration can be completed.

I did the DMV stuff, then went to smog the car. Now, a few days before, I had installed a new battery. The smog test mechanic (another friend of mine) plugged his reader into my OBD port, and asked, "Did you just change the battery?" Yes, I replied. He then told me that the car was going to need to be driven for 200 miles, in order for the codes to reset. Until the codes reset, the smog test cannot even be performed.

So, I hit the road... that evening, I drove 200 miles. Only, just before I got home, late that night, a "Check Engine Light" appeared. Crap. I plugged in my OBD reader, and saw a "0420" code. That meant that either the car was smoking pot, or it needed a catalytic converter. Damn.

So, I went and got a new cat. Cost me $340, but, now, I needed to drive it ANOTHER 200 miles.... because, once a code gets thrown, the test cannot be performed until a few miles have been driven to clear the code. So, off I went again, another random, pointless, 200 mile road trip, late at night, when I was tired and pissed off.

Went back to Nate... he plugged in his reader, and, damnit, again: "Sorry, man... sometimes 200 miles doesn't do it. Try another 200 miles."

Let me tell you... I was not a happy guy. So, I spent another night, driving around.... another 200 miles on the clock, just so that CA's smog test can be performed.

Finally... the next day... it passed. But, I ended up driving around for a total of 600 pointless miles, emitting 600 miles worth of burned- up gasoline, pumping smog and toxins into the air... all in order to overcome the technology and requirements set forth by my state politicians. I have a hard time believing that those 600 miles of pointless f'n driving are gong to result in a net reduction in smog for this vehicle.

Oh, and on top of all that, CA has a new "thing:" They no longer issue you a 60- day, or even a 30- day temporary permit while you go get your car registered. The NEW thing is a ONE DAY PERMIT. That's all. ONE day. Now, sure, if your car passes smog first time around, everything is all butterflies and rainbows. But, if it does NOT pass, well, you are simply screwed. You COULD make an appointment (usually two- to three weeks out), and go get ANOTHER one- day permit, and try to getyuorsmogcheckdoneandmaybehavetodrive200milesand getanothersmogcheckdone, all in one day, and hope for the best... or, you can get a certificate from the smog check place that confirms that your car has failed, then (make another appointment and) return to the DMV, where, for $50, they MAY issue a 30- day permit. Or, do like me, and just drive around with no permit whatsoever, beyond the one- day permit I was first issued. The risk vs. guaranteed hassle is weighed pretty heavily towards just taking the risk. The car was insured, but there's no way in hell I could have accomplished the correct registration procedure with all of the roadblocks that CA puts in the way.

I spent 600 miles driving around, pissed that the people elected to make the rules are people who (1) Don't ever have to buy used cars, or deal with the associated hassles, (2) surely don't know a damn thing about car technology, (3) aren't doing it for environmental reasons, but only to LOOK like they are "environmentally concerned" to OTHER clueless morons, and (D) are the same uninformed and clueless overlords who make the rules about guns and property rights and immigration and constitutional amendments and so on and so forth. Yeah... politicians. Not my favorite people, especially in CA.

Rant over.