Things that make me pissed #4

4. Legislation that guts environmental protection in the name of convenience. Illinois and other states are considering legislation to cease emissions tests on vehicles before the 1996 model year. On these older vehicles, testing must be done via the tailpipe, instead of the computer-driven test that can be done on newer models.

About 70% of the 238 million cars and trucks in use nationwide are 1996 or later models [and can be tested via computer], the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says.

The big loser? Common sense.

Environment Canada estimates that pre-1988 vehicles and poorly maintained vehicles are responsible for about 35 percent of on-road emissions in Canada.

A review of Connecticut's vehicle emissions testing program found similar results:

Current year cars fail at a rate of less than 0.1 percent, two-year-old cars at less than 0.4 percent and three-year-old cars at less than 0.7 percent while eight-year-old cars fail nearly 6.5 percent of the time. (emphasis mine)

Instead of soothing irate vehicle owners by eliminating emissions tests, how about following Colorado's lead and screening for high emitting vehicles? After all, it's the small portion of badly polluting vehicles that are responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions.