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Re: bmw-digest V5 #74

> From: carnone@domain.elided
> Date: Mon, 5 Aug 96 10:43:33 EDT
> Subject: Smog rules protest in CA
> 
> Please let us all know how this is going.  Also, I must say that I am not
> optimistic about stopping these programs nation wide.  We fought one off in
> NY recently by defeating Mario Cuomo for governor.  Folks in NJ fought one off
> for a while about a year or so ago.  However, the thing is that any of these
> successes will only be temporary so long as the 1990 Clean Air Act remains
> on the books and the current EPA stays in place.  Sorry to have to get political
> on this issue, but simply put, if the November election goes as the current
> polls indicate that it will, there will be no change to this course for air
> quality through these types of inspections.  Sooner or later (at least in
> populous states) these regs will come into play.  Even though I don't own
> an older car currently, I too am concerned as everyone should be, if just for
> the fear of having a dyno test performed on my car by an untrained operator
> (consider that most states, when enacting these new laws, included clauses
> freeing them from any liability due to damage done during the test.  Maybe
> someone could report if this in in the CA law).

Myself I'd be more worried about the "clunker" laws than a a dyno test.
Our tests here aren't dyno yet, but are easy to meet and considerably
lower standards are required than new, easy. 
  Dyno tests in themselves aren't any problem, but the implementation
can be disastrous. From what I understand, NJ has a test designed
so that a 4 yr. old car will fail, and you can't licsense it. When you 
park it in your driveway, the government thinks it can tow your car off
private property. I rather expect people to get killed trying this.
Any legal eagles out there? Looks like a sitting cash cow to me.    

  Another big problem here is
> that on this issue it is almost impossible to educate the increasingly
> ignorant electorate to what is going on here.  They only hear the words
> "repeal the clean air laws" in the same sentence as "medicate cuts" from
> the media, and they freak out and immediately take the liberal side on the
> issue.  Good luck out there, you'll need it.  Also, does anyone know if
> there are any states that you ca register your car in just by having a Mail
> Boxes Etc. address?  I've heard that Nevada and Oregon are pretty lax about
> this.  This may be the future for some of us...

Well I don't see any reason to have to register out of area if 
political pressure is kept to the point that they're forced to respect 
property rights.