Vehicle emissions tests are a waste of time and money for most motorists. They do little or nothing to help clean the air or reduce smog. A recent Colorado state audit showed that carbon monoxide reduction was about 8 percent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) swears it is at least 30 percent. (This is the same EPA found to be unable to justify its clean air standards by a three-judge appeals court last year.)

The audit concluded that the $40 million dollar program could be eliminated with “little short or long term impact” on pollution levels. A similar Arizona study determined that emissions of oxides of nitrogen — or NOX — a major precursor of smog, were cut by less than half of what EPA projected. Some findings were even worse for the EPA — Minnesota's study found no benefit from emissions testing.

The bottom line is that cars built since the mid-1980s are fuel-efficient and have sophisticated controls for regulation of emissions. Ten percent of the cars on the road make about 80-90 percent of the pollution. Most are older than 1981 models and are in poor tune.

With new technology called “remote sensing” these cars can be identified by a roadside infrared sensor. So why don't we start remote sensing and eliminate all this emissions testing nonsense? Aside from putting a lot of bureaucrats out of business, and bucking the trendy establishment crowd that also believes that more laws and regulations make life better, there would be nothing wrong with it.

This same crowd, mostly Clinton-Gore voters, are afraid of less government spending because it might justify tax cuts — which in turn would necessitate smaller or less government. Besides, the more people you can get involved in a problem, the more it appears you are doing something to solve the problem.

If you are interested in bringing some sanity to government, this is a good place to start. Write or call your state and federal representatives and senators and ask them to do away with vehicle emissions testing and initiate remote sensing. And remember the politicians who foisted this nonsense on us in the coming elections.

William Fielder

Peachtree City

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