Tailpipe tests get tougher
By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News
Published May 5, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.
It gets a little tougher for your car to pass its emission test, beginning Tuesday.
As part of the effort to cut ozone pollution in the Denver region, state regulators have toughened the test. That means another 31,000 cars and light-duty trucks will fail each year, and have to be repaired.
Colorado's Air Pollution Control Division anticipates that the failure rate for 1982-and-newer vehicles tested at centralized stations will increase from about 3 percent of vehicles to about 7 percent of the roughly 2 million cars required to undergo testing every other year.
Regulators have tightened tailpipe emission standards for three key pollutants: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides. The latter two are key contributors to ground-level ozone, a pollutant that can damage the lungs and poses the greatest risk to those with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma and emphysema.
The Denver region has struggled to meet federal health limits for ozone since the standards grew more stringent at the turn of the new century. And in March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that health standards for the pollutant would become even tougher, forcing cities across the country to find ways to cut emissions that lead to ozone formation.
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May 5, 2008
7:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
Why is it whenever I drive to the store I see someone in a old car and it is belching out black smoke and no one seems to stop them.These people do not maintain a car in the proper manner and the rest of us behind them have to breath the fumes.We need to take those junkers off the road and crush them so dealers do not ever sell them again.This seems to be the only solution to the problem.Also how about making those who own a toxic waste dump on wheels pay a penalty for destroying our air quality.
May 5, 2008
8:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
badbob writes:
Maybe this will help eliminate the junk automobiles that are on the road that are hiding under the "Collectors" plates issued for 5 years, the majority of these automobiles should be in the junk yard. When you sit behind one at a stoplight and when they start up you are almost asphyxiated. Granted, there are some automobiles with Collectors plates that are true gems and have been well maintained and some restored to showroom condition, but they are in the minority.
May 5, 2008
9:19 p.m.
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Arvada writes:
Mike you are correct. Vehicles that are obviously polluting should be ticketed, or better yet impounded, and only be allowed back on the road after passing the emissions test required for the vehicle.
Bob, you are even more clueless than you my or may not be bad. To say that the majority of vehicles with “collectors” plates should be in the junk yard is ignorant and uninformed. .
May 6, 2008
7:41 a.m.
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bthye writes:
Something's wrong with the math in this article - if the percentages are right, that would mean an additional 80,000 vehicles would fail every year, not 31,000.
And I agree - get the junkers off the road. In fact, you can report smoking cars to the state by email or phone:
http://www.dmv.org/co-colorado/smog-c...
(And no, I'm not a DMV employee, nor do I have any other vested interest in this)
May 6, 2008
7:42 a.m.
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bthye writes:
Sorry, didn't see the above post before I added mine! Thanks, Houston.
May 6, 2008
8:40 a.m.
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mark79trans writes:
The roadside drive-by vans are more effective then the tailpipe tests. It would be helpful if the police officers focused more on belching vehicles and aggressive drivers then setting up speed traps and ticketing people doing 10 over.
Impounding a vehicle or saying it belongs in the junkyard for failing an emission test is pretty ignorant and disrespectful. Vehicles are personal property and may hold a great deal of value to someone. Repairing a vehicle is a fairly simple thing to do; and revoking the license plate on these vehicles is more then adequate until the vehicle is repaired. Additionally, lower income families cannot afford to go out and buy a new Prius. It is pretty elitist to create these mandates.
The collector’s plates should be issued in a similar way as collectors insurance. In order to maintain my collector’s policy, I need to register and insure a vehicle 15 years or newer for every driver in the household. My collector cars are driven less then 6,000 miles per year for all of them combined. If a vehicle is a daily driver, it should be licensed and tested as a regular vehicle regardless of age or condition. There are ways to protect collectors and collector vehicles while at the same time updating and testing the primary vehicle fleet…hopefully in a way that does not impose unnecessary burdens on lower income families.
May 6, 2008
9:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
holekeeper writes:
People using collector plates for everyday driving are breaking the law
(5) Motor vehicles having such special registration plates may be used on the streets and highways for driving such vehicle to and from assemblies, conventions, or other meetings where such vehicles and their ownership are the primary interest. Vehicles so registered may also be used or driven on special occasions, for demonstrations and parades, and on occasions when their operation on the streets and highways will not constitute a traffic hazard. They may also be used for traveling to and from and while on local, state, or national tours held primarily for the exhibition and enjoyment of such vehicles
http://www.michie.com/colorado/lpext....
May 6, 2008
11:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
CONative48years writes:
Here is the number to report smoking vehicles, collectors or not!
303.692.3211
May 6, 2008
1:35 p.m.
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mark79trans writes:
Huffdiver
“Count the ones on junk cars and then count the ones on justifiable collector cars and you will see twice as many on the junkers.”
This is hardly a scientific statement. I am sure there are many vehicles in a state of disrepair, or a project waiting for funds to start or complete. Gene’s statement holds a lot of merit. It is highly unlikely that you will see my ’79 Trans Am 400 4sp WS6 40k mile all original car going down the road since it sees about 100 miles per year…if that! Now, In contrast, I have a ’77 Blazer with a collector’s plate that has not been driven in about 5 years; it needs a ton of work. It is one of many projects I need to complete…this vehicle will be a recreational vehicle used only for 4x4 trails. So, since I haven’t completed this project…it is a junker right? Nice! …I am a little weary of the crush it mentality as a tactic used by environmental groups.
The legislature hasn’t moved forward because they haven’t advanced a policy that makes sense. An owner should be able to register any limited use collector or recreational vehicle if it is truly a limited use vehicle…the registration and use of a new vehicle is a pretty good check and balance against the fraudulent use of the collector’s plates. The legislature should model the policies of a collector insurance company. My collector policy renewal each year is dependent on a new vehicle being registered and insured for each driver in my house…the muscle cars and off-road vehicles sit at home.
May 6, 2008
2:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
greenleaf writes:
mark.
Your point is reasonable and your cars shouldn't be targeted, smoking beaters should be ticketed and fined, but still be given a chance to repair the offending car. Legitimate collectors just don't seem to be a problem to me.
May 6, 2008
4:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
mark79trans writes:
The legislature could close that loophole by:
1. Allowing the registration of ANY vehicle as collectible if and only if there is a registered and insured 15 year or newer vehicle for every driver at the registered address.
2. Impose a $500 fine if the collector vehicle is operated on public roadways when the registration or insurance of the primary vehicle is default.
3. Require the registration and insurance of the primary vehicle to be in the collector vehicle at all times. If the driver does not have the necessary information, the driver has a mandatory court appearance to submit proof or pay the $500 fine.
4. Charge a $50 fee per 5 year plate...for the green folks, you can put this fee toward the carbon fund.
If you want to close the loophole, this will do it. The only people who will really balk at this are those who are misusing the collector plate. My insurance company already requires this.