Colorado’s auto emissions testing program is expensive for state residents as a whole, but can be lucrative for auto mechanics. In case mechanics don’t know that, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment sponsors a class to educate mechanics on how to sell the auto emissions program to customers. According to the course description, “sales script examples of each type of service will be provided.” CDPHE also gave Estes area mechanics the first chance to enroll in the sales class in an effort to encourage their participation.
TeaLiberty.com has already described how CDPHE urged auto mechanics to become interested parties in the rulemaking hearing scheduled for September 15, 2011 at 9 am at Estes Park’s municipal building.
A Better Option
Emissions inspection stations do nothing to directly reduce auto emissions. In fact, requiring Estes Park area residents to travel to Loveland, Ft. Collins or Greeley for testing can only increase emissions.
The proposed rules claim to be fair, but arbitrarily impose testing on some, but not others. For example, the proposed rules exempt “classic cars,” which are defined as vehicles 25 years or older. Such vehicles are necessarily high emitters, due to later improvements in technology.
Colorado is imposing tens of millions of dollars of costs on drivers when a tiny percentage of light-duty vehicles account for most of the emissions. The only way to decrease emissions is to repair high-emitting vehicles or remove them from the roads.
Since testing does not in any way reduce emissions, it should be done at the lowest cost and in the most efficient manner to identify high-emitting vehicles. In 2002, Professor Donald H. Steadman of the University of Denver proposed that remote testing replace the current program. Estes Park would be a good pilot area for a transition away from fixed testing stations.
The CDPHE apparently wants to sell the current program, with its focus on fixed inspection stations, rather than move to a more efficient testing program. The Larimer County Commissioners and the Town Board of Estes Park are both opposing expansion of the current emissions testing program to Estes Park.
TeaLiberty.com provides the full course description below, as contained in a CDPHE e-mail. Other courses described in the e-mail focus on how to diagnose the causes of emissions test failure.
Subject: Emissions Classes
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:41:51 -0600
From: [redacted by TeaLiberty] @dphe.state.co.us
To: [12 Estes area auto garages]
CC: [redacted by TeaLiberty] @dphe.state.co.us; [redacted by TeaLiberty]@dphe.state.co.us; [redacted by TeaLiberty]@dphe.state.co.us; [redacted by TeaLiberty]@dphe.state.co.us; [redacted by TeaLiberty]@dphe.state.co.us
Hello to All Estes Park shops and technicians! The following is advance notification of our upcoming emissions classes. We’re giving you first crack at these classes, so if you’d like to attend any of them, please RSVP to me at the phone # listed below.
Thanks, [redacted by TeaLiberty]
Administrative Specialist
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Ft. Collins Emissions Technical Center
970-[redacted by TeaLiberty]
Emissions Classes
We’re starting a new round of training classes and we’re adding two new classes to the list. Course descriptions are below. Class dates, times, costs are as follows: [….]
Seats are limited. If interested in taking any or all classes, please RSVP to [redacted by TeaLiberty] (please do not reply using email). Food and drink provided at all classes. …
[TeaLiberty is only reprinting the relevant course description]:
NFR-601 Communicating IM240 Service for Service Consultants 4 hrs.
With many technicians now able to effectively diagnose and repair IM240 failures, it is important that the person communicating directly with the vehicle owner fully understands the IM240 program and is in lock step with their technician when communicating the repairs needed to return the vehicle to proper operating condition. This course will focus on the requirements of IM240 and the technical details that you need to be able to convey to your customer. Sales script examples of each type of service will be provided. This class is for anyone in the shop that communicates with the vehicle owner regarding IM240 repairs.
Pre-requisites: None, but IM240 diagnosis experience strongly recommended
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[…] efforts also included offering local mechanics the first chance to enroll in state classes in emissions repair salesmanship with food and refreshments […]