California testing remote roadside emissions monitors
It turns out that in spite of regular emissions checks that are mandatory to keep a vehicle registered in California, there are still a significant number of vehicles on the road that exceed the standards. When modern engine management systems and emission controls are properly functioning, cars are incredibly clean. But if sensors or other components malfunction, emissions shoot up. Some cars that are found to be out of compliance are given temporary repairs or are re-tested at unscrupulous shops that do the tests on a clean car. The result is that about ten percent of cars and trucks generate about fifty percent of the noxious gas emissions. In an attempt to get these vehicles cleaned up or off the road the South Coast Air Quality Management District in California launched a pilot project last March to test remote emissions testing equipment. They have set up a van with infrared and ultraviolet sensors and they park it on freeway on-ramps. It scans passing cars and those with excessive emissions get photographed and receive a letter suggesting they get a repair. The letters offer the owner a chance to volunteer for a program that pays $500 towards emissions repairs or $1,000 toward scrapping the vehicle.
[Source: Los Angeles Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 12:54PM (9/22/2007)
Ah, yet another reason to stop you at a “check point” and ask "papers please". If they want, they can detain you while they "test" your vehicle and under the patriot act, they can say that they have "reason to suspect" that you "may" be a "terrorist" and detain you in an undisclosed location for an unlimited amount of time without charge. Sound like fun, comrade?
Welcome to the Peoples Republic of California.
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Joseph 10:47PM (9/22/2007)
I don't get it. Why don't they just fine people a load of money if they don't get their car fixed?
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Joseph 10:47PM (9/22/2007)
^double post.
Of course assuming that there is a reasonable time period given.
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small-wee-wee 2:58PM (9/22/2007)
At least Cali has emissions checks, Louisiana only checks to see if your gas cap leaks. No emissions at all. You pull, they honk the horn check the lights and give you a sticker. You'd be amazed at some of the S**t Boxes on the road here.
Just yet another reason LA is always 49 or 50th in the rankings.
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Snowdog 12:10PM (9/23/2007)
Sounds great to me. Because we have smog testing, yet I still end up behind smoking junk, that obviously paid off someone to stay on the road.
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