Complaints About Smog Check Program

* In “Officials Vow to Solve Smog Check II Woes” (Nov. 13) it was asserted that the law does not allow confiscation of vehicles that have flunked smog tests. Let me set the record straight. Local governments can, and do, impound these vehicles.

My son, who was employed in our struggling family business, has very little real income. In 1995, when his registration was due for his light truck, we took the truck in for a smog test. It didn’t pass. We paid the registration fee anyway, and took the truck to a mechanic for repairs. After $150 of repairs, it still did not pass. My son had to save more money for further repairs. But the registration was paid (no tags issued, of course) through August 1996. In April, while parked outside of his part-time job, the truck was cited by Glendale, for not having current tags--never mind that the fees were paid. In May the truck was towed away and impounded, on Pacific Coast Highway, because it didn’t have current tags. It took every cent he had earned at his part-time job to get the truck back.

The truck is now fixed, and has current tags. So while it may be true that the law does not stipulate that a vehicle that fails a smog test can be confiscated, it is true that a vehicle may be impounded, even though all registration fees have been paid on it, because tags are not issued until the vehicle passes a smog test. Let’s be honest about the cost of clean air.

MAUREEN KENNEY

Northridge

* Southland smog is at its lowest levels. The previous smog test program of test and repair at the authorized garage of your choice works and works well.

Your article on Smog Check II woes is only the tip of the iceberg. The new program is a losing situation for everyone but the special interest groups (big industry) and contract stations. Every car owner should voice opposition to our elected officials. The will of the few should not control the lives of so many. JOHN D. LOKRANTZ

Santa Monica

* The new smog check criteria are unjust and unfair, and the public must speak up now and not passively accept this. Older cars that easily passed only two years ago are unable to do so now. Why: Because when older cars are tested at very high rpms they cannot pass the arbitrary criteria for carbon monoxide. It is like asking a 70-year-old to run a mile in under six minutes (and not exhale too much carbon dioxide)!

Of course we are all for clean air, but the criteria for older cars are financially decimating for multitudes of Californians. In fact, it is resulting in old-car owners having to stop using their cars or go without registration--this is simply unfair and must be changed immediately.

GARY GORLICK

Los Angeles