I just got this response from the people that oversee the emmisions testing
in GA .
I thought I would have some fun with them and didn't really expect a
response at all , but from the looks of this well-rehearsed reply , it
seems that I am not the first to screw with em .
BTW - After looking at the web site for these leaches , I now know that in
the Atlanta area if your vehicle is from 1975-1992 , that you have to
undergo an even tougher test than the newer cars by actually having the
vehicle strapped to a rolling dyno (kinda like a DynoJet) and have it
tested under load .
Here are a few things copied directly from the "Clean Air Gistapo" web site :
"Older vehicles (over six model years) will get an Acceleration Simulation
Mode (ASM) test. During this test, the car is secured on rollers that allow
the vehicle to be tested under simulated driving conditions. This more
comprehensive test allows for a more accurate test of metro Atlanta's older
vehicles."
Here's another goody from the FAQ page !!
"Q.Since the ASM is a more rigorous test, will there be a higher failure rate?
A.The EPD says the current testing failure rate -- about 11-15 percent --
could as much as double under the ASM."
"Q. Why is a tougher test needed?
A.It is necessary to address metro Atlanta's serious ground-level ozone, or
smog, problem. ASM allows for the first time in the metro area the means to
identify excessive NOx emissions, or oxides of nitrogen, commonly found in
metro Atlanta's older cars. NOx combines with hydrocarbons on hot,sunny
days to create ground-level ozone pollution contributing to the summertime
smog in the region."
So by the government's OWN admission , the new test will possibly double
the failure rate of cars 1975-1992 .
Is it just me or does this smell fishy ?
It seems that the tougher test is being specifically targeted at older
vehicles in the HOPE that they will fail , thus removing the "danger" of
these older , more polluting vehicles from the roads .
Just a word of warning to those that think they'll never have emmisions
tests where they are......when you least expect it , they'll have em .
Until a couple of years ago , we thought that the county we were in was
safe from the bastiches ! But now , they say that "Metro Atlanta" includes
not just a couple of counties in the area , but 13 COUNTIES IN NORTH GA !!
"Q. What 13 counties are included in the testing program?
A. If you live in Cherokee, Forsyth, Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Dekalb,
Paulding, Douglas, Clayton, Rockdale, Henry, Fayette or Coweta counties,
you have to have your car tested."
These F*ckin' people turn my stomach !!
One little glimmer of hope that I saw stated this :
Senior Citizen Exemption:
Senior Citizens who own a car meeting all of the following criteria may
qualify for this exemption:
Driven less than 5,000 miles per year.
10 model years or older
Owner is 65 years of age or older
If you do qualify for the Senior Citizens Exemption, you will not receive a
window decal or any other sticker showing that you
qualified. However, you will receive the necessary paperwork to process
your registration."
Since my dear ol'Dad is 64 , I have to wait only one more year and then I
can get an 89 or older car and tell those guys to screw off!!
Anyway , didn't mean to take up your time , bt this sh*t drives me ape sh*t .
>Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:11:11 -0400
>From: GCAF <gcaf@campus.mci.net>
>Reply-To: gcaf@campus.mci.net
>Organization: Georgia's Clean Air Force
>X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.0Gold (Win95; I)
>To: hemi@mindspring.com
>Subject: Re: Emmisions testing in GA
>
>Jack Hilton wrote:
>>
>> Do you guys enjoy being the Gistapo of the 21st Century ?
>
>Dear Jack,
>
>Georgia's Clean Air Force is contracted with the State of Georgia's
>Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division to
>administer the emissions testing program in the metropolitan Atlanta
>area. We do not create the rules and regulations of the program. The
>state legislature following mandates and regulations from the state as
>well as the federal EPA govern this emissions testing program as well as
>emissions testing programs in other state. We do work to ensure that
>proper procedures are followed and that there is adherence to all laws
>and regulations.
>
>If you have encountered a particular problem with the program, we will
>be happy to investigate the situation for you. You will need to provide
>details of the situation and a phone number where we can contact you.
>
>If you have further questions or need additional information, please
>contact us again.
>
>Thank you,
>Susan Harris
>Program Coordinator
>Georgia's Clean Air Force
>
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