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JANUARY, 1998
In
order to comply with the new mandates of federal Clean Air Act, the
Department of Consumer Affairs/Bureau of Automotive Repair (DCA/BAR) is
directing fifteen percent (15%) of all vehicles in Enhanced Areas to
Test-Only Stations for their Smog Checks. Thirteen percent (13%) are
selected by application of the High Emitter Profile, which identifies the
vehicles most likely to fail their Smog Checks, with the remaining two
percent (2%) to be randomly selected.
High Emitter Profile. The
High Emitter Profile (HEP) uses data from several different sources. Some
of it comes from the state Vehicle Identification Database (VID), which
collects data from Smog Checks transferred by modem during each individual
test to the state VID and is used by the Department of Motor Vehicles,
BAR, and other government agencies. Data available from Smog Check
inspections performed before the VID was established are also used to
establish the HEP. In addition, general vehicle data such as make, model
year, vehicle miles traveled, and engine size help define the HEP.
The High Emitter Profile identifies the vehicles most likely to
fail their Smog Checks. These vehicles are directed to Test-Only Stations
for their initial testing.
The data are then sorted to determine
which vehicles are most likely to fail their Smog Checks, especially at
Gross Polluters levels--at least two times the emissions level allowed for
the particular make and model of the vehicle. While no single factor
identifies a vehicle that is likely to fail, the greatest weight is given
to each individual vehicle's Smog Check history. This means that a
well-maintained vehicle which has passed its previous Smog Checks is
unlikely to be identified by the High Emitter Profile, while a
poorly-maintained vehicle of the same year, make, and model with a poor
Smog Check history may be identified by the HEP as likely to
fail.
Two Percent Randomly Selected. Two percent of the vehicle
fleet in the Enhanced Areas that are subject to the Smog Check program
will be called into a Test-Only Station. These vehicles are selected
randomly, not because they have poor Smog Check histories, but to evaluate
the Smog Check program's overall effectiveness.
How Motorists are
Notified. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notifies owners of
vehicles which have been selected to have their initial Smog Check
inspections performed at Test-Only Stations. The Renewal Notice sent to
these vehicles will say "Smog Certification Required at Test-Only
Facility."
Moreover, if a motorist does not see this statement on
his or her Renewal Notice and he or she takes the vehicle to a
test-and-repair station, the technician at the station will be unable to
certify the motorist's vehicle. The motorist will still need to have the
vehicle inspected at a Test-Only Station