Emissions fee still up in the air

The cost of emission tests in Salt Lake County could increase, remain the same or become whatever the testing centers' operators want to charge.

Councilman Randy Horiuchi has added to the debate about whether or not to increase the fee for emission tests by tossing in a new proposal: Get rid of the ceiling on fees and let market forces determine the cost of the test.

"A lot of us are from the free market system," Horiuchi said. "The idea that we are going to restrict the fee is antithetical to what we believe."

Currently, the county allows emission testing centers to charge as much as $25 for a test. Because of a change to state law that would allow cars 5 years old or less to be tested every other year, testing center operators have requested a $7.50 increase in the fee to cover the lost revenue.

Whether that new law will actually be implemented remained a question during Tuesday's council meeting because of differing opinions from state and federal officials about whether or not the county can even allow biannual tests.

According to Deputy District Attorney Karl Hendrickson, the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state officials are still trying to decide whether clean air restrictions require all cars to be tested annually. Should that happen, the request for a fee increase may become a moot issue.

The idea of eliminating the ceiling on the fees may live, however. The County Council plans to hold a public hearing about the fee issue next Tuesday regardless of the EPA decision, and many council members seemed intrigued with Horiuchi's proposal.

Paul Ashton, who operates an emissions testing center in Provo, said that the lack of a ceiling in Utah County has actually helped consumers. That's because the large car centers can offer better prices to car owners who simply want the cheapest service, but the more expensive mechanics people use for all car repairs can also afford to do emissions tests, while the larger centers can offer better prices to car owners who simply want the cheapest service.

"There's prices all over the board and coupons everywhere," Ashton said. With a ceiling, "that guy who charges $65 an hour because he knows what he is doing, that is who you are shortchanging."

John Papanikolas of the Vehicle Testing Association said the fee increase is needed so the centers can break even.

"A lot of our businesses would go out of business without a fee increase," he said.

Councilman David Wilde disputed the fee increase, especially since the fee was raised by $10 in 1998.

"They were given a huge increase that has put them over the top for four years," he said.

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E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com