At least California doesn't have this "vehicle inspection" BS

https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/new-york...ection-program

Also: CA requires smog check every two years. Looks like NY is once a year... so I don't know where the "free country" part comes from.

Maybe I should also add that NY follows the California standard for emissions testing...

Hahaha I guess not,
but we have our own certifications, plus we tend to be looser than other countries as far rules applications (especially in the countrysides), so tuning is still an option ;)