04-08-2007, 07:04 PM
[quote M A V I C][quote ztirffritz]The emissions regulations have good intentions, but they are horribly biased, unequally enforced, and largely ineffective. For example, Seattle (King county) has a higher average income and is required to have emissions inspections and controls, which is ironic because they have a higher concentration of smaller, newer, fuel efficient cars. Yakima County, 130 miles away in the same state, does not have any emissions regulations or controls, yet it is populated by the lower-income families driving older, larger, less efficient vehicles belching black smoke which burn 10-12 mpg.
That's actually the point. They force higher-income people who can afford more efficient vehicles to have them. Plus, the population density here is MUCH higher, not to mention population overall.
But really, I am rather sick of this whole "if your car doesn't get good gas mileage, you're bad" attitude. My car gets 22 mpg on the highway.
This is getting to be border-line political, but I think we can keep it civil and on-topic.
My feelings are that the emissions inspections are great for hi-population density places, such as King County. But why just there? The emissions from just 1 of the gas guzzling smoke-screen machines in Yakima probably exceeds the CO2 and particulate output of 5 cars from King County, yet we are not required to have emissions testing. Why? It isn't like King County's air stays in King County. Similarly, Yakima County's air spreads all over eastern WA too. I would welcome and encourage emissions testing statewide. Different regions may require different standards because of weather/environmental reasons, but everyone should be required to meet a certain baseline requirement. Also, there is no reason that an older car can not be made to pass emissions tests. I have a '66 Corvair that passed Pennsylvania's emissions tests with high marks. I had an 83 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that passed too. If the car is well maintained and tuned it can pass. The Corvair gets pretty good gas mileage too, around 24-26 MPG hi-way. The Jeep was not so good, but that was the price you paid for the ability to move 6 people comfortably with AC while towing 1 ton of cargo.
That's actually the point. They force higher-income people who can afford more efficient vehicles to have them. Plus, the population density here is MUCH higher, not to mention population overall.
But really, I am rather sick of this whole "if your car doesn't get good gas mileage, you're bad" attitude. My car gets 22 mpg on the highway.
This is getting to be border-line political, but I think we can keep it civil and on-topic.
My feelings are that the emissions inspections are great for hi-population density places, such as King County. But why just there? The emissions from just 1 of the gas guzzling smoke-screen machines in Yakima probably exceeds the CO2 and particulate output of 5 cars from King County, yet we are not required to have emissions testing. Why? It isn't like King County's air stays in King County. Similarly, Yakima County's air spreads all over eastern WA too. I would welcome and encourage emissions testing statewide. Different regions may require different standards because of weather/environmental reasons, but everyone should be required to meet a certain baseline requirement. Also, there is no reason that an older car can not be made to pass emissions tests. I have a '66 Corvair that passed Pennsylvania's emissions tests with high marks. I had an 83 Jeep Grand Wagoneer that passed too. If the car is well maintained and tuned it can pass. The Corvair gets pretty good gas mileage too, around 24-26 MPG hi-way. The Jeep was not so good, but that was the price you paid for the ability to move 6 people comfortably with AC while towing 1 ton of cargo.