RANDOM THOUGHTS AND

PARTING SHOTS,YOU’RE KILLING ME HERE

 

The government estimates that at least 25,000 Californians die every year of air pollution.  The most affected are the young and old, with untold numbers becoming chronically ill with diseases like asthma and emphysema and heart disease.  Most of the pollution is generated by "mobile sources", that is pollution sources which move ,like planes, trains and automobiles.

 

The overall environmental watchdog at the federal level is the
Environmental Protection Agency, which implements the Clean Air Act.  Tax money is collected in California and sent to the Feds to be used for pollution cleanup.  The EPA sets the guidelines and the state implements plans to reduce air pollution to meet those guidelines.  These tax dollars are returned to California for various cleanup projects but California must meet the guidelines or lose those tax dollars.  So...even if you're not one of the very young or old, or suffer from asthma or emphysema...air pollution is still costing you money.

 

After years of collecting data thru the smog check program it has been determined that a relatively small percentage of autos are responsible for the highest contribution to the toxic soup we breathe each day.  The state plan to clean up the worst offenders includes a new system of testing and repair.  This currently includes Inspection and Repair Stations,Test Only Centers and Gold Shield Repair Stations,which perform the Consumer Assistance Programs’ repair and certification function.Inspection and Repair tests the least offensive vehicles, Test Only tests the most offensive and Gold Shield Repair stations are tasked to fix the worst offenders.

 

Have you ever wondered why your vehicle was directed by the DMV to a Test Only Center for the registration renewal smog check instead of the regular station you’re used to going to?Well, the vehicle is most likely on the state list of historically “high emmiters”.The state also selects some small percentage at random to send.The percentage of vehicles sent to Test Only Centers is ever increasing as part of a strategy to get cleaner air.More vehicles fail at a Test Only Center therefore the “fail rate” is higher there.The higher the “fail rate”,the more vehicles get properly repaired in order to pass when they are retested.Result,cleaner air =fewer deaths and disease.

 

So, if your vehicle fails the smog check, let’s see if you can qualify for the CAP program, and if so, let’s let Arnold cut the check for the necessesary repairs.