---Kevin Sullivan <kevins@khoral.com> wrote:
>
> On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Jim Carlile wrote:
>
> > cars are required to go to "Test Only" stations, and I'm curious if
>
> Test only as opposed to test and what?
>
Kevin,
'Test Only' stations are smog inspection outfits that are not allowed
to make repairs to "polluting vehicles". They can only offer the
tests. That's their only business, and it's something brand new.
In California we've just commenced a terrific racket called Smog Check
II, which will probably end up being the model for the rest of the
Country. It actually started in December, but in March all test
stations were required to initiate high speed dynamometer read-outs
along with the regular free standing exhaust tests. If you manage to
fail any of these new inspections, which most of us will, and the
local gas station you took your MG to for testing can't effect a
satisfactory repair, which of course they can't, you are then required
to go to something called a "referee station".
It used to be that you could take you car to be tested to someone who
knew 'B's, and they handled everything. With 'Test Only' stations, you
can't do that anymore.
Because there are so few 'Test Only' stations now, there is some
confusion over just how this is working out, or what authority the
referee has when deciding who goes where, and that's bad enough. But
the story gets worse.
Legislated into the law is a little statute that allows the DMV to
pick out up to 15 per cent of all vehicles due for inspection, and
assign them immediately to a 'Test Only' station. This means that if
your car is deemed a "gross polluter", which isn't very hard now to
be, you can't get your friendly neighborhood smog guy-- or MG savvy
tester-- to help you through in any way, even if it's legal and they
know what they're doing to your 'B'. You're stuck, and you've
automatically gone on the books in Sacramento as a menace.
Being that the 'Test Only' folks are in business solely to find you
out, they have a vested interest in making sure that there's a good
reason for you being there. That's why they exist. If they determine
that you are indeed a "gross polluter", there's an excellent chance
that life will no longer be worth living. In fact, when news of this
new system went public a few years ago, the classic car clubs went
ballistic and effected some change, but the smog lobbyists kao'ed much
of the reform, especially concerning exemptions.
Who gets chosen to be sent to a 'Test Only' station? The official
'algorithm' for this rank discrimination remains secret, as do the
precise ppm figures that determine pass or fail. In fact, the new
printouts that I've seen don't print the ppm figures at all, nor are
they displayed on the machines themselves. Sweet. I wonder if the SU
'B's are lumped in with the rubber bumpers?
If I sound cynical about this, it's because I am. The whole scheme is
predicated on the phony premise that "gross polluters" are the main
reason why we have smog in California, when the actual cause is that
people here just drive too damn much! Also, as the owner of a '74 B,
I'm real pissed that the '73's and earlier were legislated through as
exempt from the new tests, but the rest of us have to wait 30 years.
That's not fair.
A WORD OF WARNING TO CALIFORNIA 'B'S. Smog stations are now passing
out official DMV pamphlets to people who fail the tests. These
pamphlets state that "gross polluters" are not allowed a two year
waiver, and must get their cars fixed at any cost before being allowed
back on the road. THIS IS NOT TRUE. There is a minimum $475
expenditure required before a waiver is granted, but you will get a
waiver. The fact that the DMV here won't even play straight with
people when it comes to the facts shows that this whole business is
mighty sleazy...
Sorry about the length, but it's life and death now for our 'B's and
Jags.
Soapbox Jim
'74 B
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