| Calif. to give
low-income car owners financial aid for smog repairs Oct. 19 -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that will allow more low-income vehicle owners to receive financial assistance for smog-related repairs. The new law changes the eligibility criteria to allow more Californians to benefit from the Bureau of Automotive Repairīs Consumer Assistance Program. The program, which began this year, pays a motorist $1,000 to voluntarily retire his or her high-polluting vehicle and have it crushed, or as much as $500 for smog-related repairs. "By [Schwarzenegger] signing this important legislation, more low-income motorists will qualify for repair assistance, and this will make a difference in the quality of our air," said Assembly member Cindy Montanez, a Democrat, who sponsored the measure. The new law makes the program available to individuals with a maximum income of 200 percent of the federal poverty level and whose vehicle failed a smog check inspection.
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