I'm definitely not condoning the above action, but if you look at this logically, older cars do pollute (in general) a lot more than the newer ones. Statistically, it makes perfect sense to try to clean up the older vehicles. Stop and think about it logically, and you will agree (once you take out your own personal agenda and emotion).
That said, I will also (and have in the past) fight tooth and nail to stop this. If this was more about clean air and less about legislation and politics and money, then why in the world wouldn't they just create a 'emissions banking' system, like the RECLAIM program for large stationary sources (in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) jurisdiction anyways). It should be completely irrelevent what engine you put in your vehicle and what emissions system you keep or do not keep. What counts should be what is measured at the tail pipe.
So, under that philosophy, if you were to undergo a swap, you would actually get credit for the net decrease in emissions from what the maximum allowable would be for the engine that was removed, compared to the new engine....make sense?
For instance, my swap.....I will be dollars to dimes, that my LT1 (without EGR, CAT, and air pump) emits less than the L6 2.4 with all the crap that it had on it......
It would make everyone happy....less emissions, more $$ into the economy (more people would likely undergo swaps thereby pumping money into the aftermarket and JY and replacement parts market), which means more tax dollars going into the State's coffers.
OK...so it would still mean a smog test (1 time), but I think it would be a no-brainer!!
Tim