Smog Checks and Air Quality

No one can deny that auto emission laws have made an impact on the smog problem. However, as frustrating as it is for consumers to get their smog check certificates, it doesn’t compare to the frustration or expense encountered by the licensed smog check stations.

The original inspection machines were infrared exhaust sniffers that worked fine and could be used for tuning and diagnoses daily. The Hamilton inspection stations run by the state took the inspections out of the hands of the independents. Then the inspections went back to the independents, who were required to buy a new machine to do the inspections. Then, before many of the machines were paid for they were rendered useless by the requirement to use the latest BAR90 machine, costing upwards of $20,000. Once again, a proposed change would render useless smog inspection equipment before it’s paid for.

TOM TOPPING, Los Angeles