Re: Auto Emissions Laws

[Chris Guy <Cguy1@xxxxxxxx>]

>I found out today that the State of Alabama is preparing to formalize =
>legislation regarding auto emissions and manditory auto inspections. This =
>is a result of the percieved ground level ozone problems in Birmingham.=20
>
>I personally like the idea of some type of safety/emissions check, but =
>I've never owned a vehicle where these types of inspections were common.  =
>There really is no choice on passage of some type of law, the EPA will =
>force a mandate if conditions do not improve.=20
>
>Since this legislation has yet to be finalized, I'd like to petition my =
>representatives to "get it right".
>I was hoping some of you can give me feedback on your experiances, as well =
>as what has worked and what failed in your areas.=20
>


Lived in three places:

1) Chicago - We had State drive in inspections every year or two. They 
slap an inductive tach on your hood and you run in neutral at idle then 
again at 'high idle' (about 2500 rpm I think). They measure with a probe 
stuck in the tail pipe. My Fiesta failed once, and passed with a tune up. 
Get a waiver with about $250 of work.
They never opened the hood and I could have had a V8 in there for all 
they cared.

2) Huntsville, AL - No emissions, inspections, etc.

3) Denver Co - Here we get the IM/240 emmisions test. You drive and in 
and leave the car. They look in the tank for the unleaded restrictor. Do 
an inspection of the engine compartment and underneath the car (cat). 
Then they put in on a rolling chassis dynometer. The computer has a speed 
profile and the guy driving the car (typically never have seen a manual 
transmission before) has to follow it - I think it tops at around 60mph. 
Then they pressure test the gas cap and run the paperwork. Have 3 cars 
(all 86 or older) and the beater Volvo has passed twice, the the other 
Volvo twice, and the BMW passed the first and just flunked last week for 
high Hydocarbons (a little over) and high CO (WAAAAYYY over). Need to do 
$475 work at certified emmission repair place to get a waiver (two 
years), but none of the shops I visit are certified. The seller of a car 
is responsible for making the car pass here, BTW. Older cars (81 and 
older) get an Illinois style idle test only - administered by state or 
local shop.

They have adjusted limits downwards because not enough cars have been 
failing and this year dropped levels of trucks (aka SUV's - CO is SUV 
heaven [or hell depending on how you look at it]) significantly to fail 
some more. Think the goal is to fail 20% of vehicles, they were running 
at 11% few years ago, 15% two years ago, and are about 19% last year.

Skies are supposed the be the cleanest this century and we have been 
squeaking under EPA limits. Wood burning is WAAAY down and new wood 
burning fireplaces are qutie restricted. They sweep up the gravel, er 
sand, used on the roads to help with particulate emmissions.

4) Have relatives live in CA. No dyno test. Thorough look under the hood. 
Moving into state you go to state run facility. All others are done at 
local garages. Some are up and up, other are willing to look the other 
way for a slight fee.


State run (or licensed out to seperate company) are the most legit. The 
local places are easier to work with. CA exempts cars older than 25 
years, CO makes them pass only at change in ownership. 


Chris Guy
86 535i 5sp Sharked, big CO polluter w/expired tags & emmisions sticker

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