I don't really care how it affects car modders or people with sports cars. I have a sports car, and yeah the California smog test has been super annoying cause of electrical problems with that are unrelated to its actual emissions, but I knew what I was getting into when I bought something known for unreliability. Fixed it myself. There's a dude across the street with a modded car who always complains he has to bribe the smog guy $500, as if he was forced into driving a track car on the street. I just want regular cars to be drivable without undue burdens, and the enthusiasts can deal with it.

California gasoline tax pisses me off more because it's higher than anywhere else and the money seemingly goes nowhere.

> Done right, it can be low burden and low cost

The rules mostly penalise the poor (and often unfairly).

You are severely underestimating how hard "done right" is.

I'm from New Zealand and the yearly car checkup is burdensome. About $75 and an hour wasted minimum to get car checked.

However the workshop profits come from fixing faults so their economic incentive is to find faults.

It costs you way more time if something needs fixing (parts delays, getting car and from workshop, etc.)

Our warrant of fitness regulations are ostensibly for safety (yours and others). However the jobsworth wonks have zero incentive to balance the risks versus the costs. The rules get stricter every year for goals that have no measurable outcome.

Many of the safety regulations are sensible, but many are just bullshit.