From Deseret News archives:
S.L. County spins wheels on car tests
Vote on raising fees put off for another month
Which means that, at least for July, emissions tests will still cost $25 or less. During that month delay, the council will try to figure out a way to keep testing stations from going bankrupt without excessively burdening drivers of older cars.
Station owners had initially requested a fee increase of $7.50, the most allowed by state law, to help them cover the losses associated with new state regulations, which took effect Tuesday, allowing cars six years old or newer to be tested every other year.
Councilman David Wilde, however, said that the numbers from the station owners about their possible losses have simply not passed muster, and before he could consider a fee increase he needed better financial figures.
"I've been trying to listen, trying to be sympathetic," he said. "You've (the station owners) got to show us something more . . . maybe open your books."
The delay also gives new life to various proposals that failed to pass the council on Tuesday, as well as some that were not considered. They include:
After the meeting, Michael Duncan, president of Just Emissions in Midvale, called the delay "a disaster from hell, the stupidest thing I've ever heard." He doubted that more information would make a difference, especially since opponents of the increase seem more inclined to look at estimates from the Salt Lake County Health Department than at the shop owners' figures.
"We gave them our information, and now they want more, even though they only believe the government numbers," he said. "I don't think they'll believe us. As far as they're concerned, we're liars."
The proposal to create a free market environment for emission testing received considerable debate, with some council members hesitant to pass it because of state law that caps the fee at $32.50. Instead, some members wanted to wait for a change by the Utah Legislature that would allow a true free market, with no government-imposed price cap.
"The prices will rise to that cap," Councilman Russell Skousen said. "To call it a free market system is not a proper appellation of what we would do."
Councilman Joe Hatch said that the council should deregulate the fee and then place the cap squarely on the shoulders of state leaders.
"If there is a cap put on by the Legislature, we have to live with it," he said. "I would like to emphasize the free enterprise aspect, not the cap."
During a public hearing prior to the council's debate, resident Paul Schmidt pleaded with the council to avoid raising the fees, since it would primarily hurt lower-income people driving older cars.
"This fee increase is absurd," he said. "You're giving the people who can't afford new vehicles a shot in the pocketbook."
E-MAIL: jloftin@desnews.com
Comments
- Teen girl killed in Kaysville crash 7:09 p.m.
- Plenty of H1N1 vaccine available 6:38 p.m.
- Obama orders 30,000-troop boost 6:37 p.m.
- 2 arrested in Roy double slaying 6:33 p.m.
- Working on new HIV/AIDS vaccine 6:32 p.m.
- BSA to host audiocast over Internet 5:47 p.m.
- Garbage trucks to trash teen drinking 5:47 p.m.
- Court seeks judicial candidates 5:29 p.m.
- Simple candies for the holidays 5:15 p.m.
- Latkes from frozen hash browns 5:14 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- MWC '09 season in review
- Jazz win 6th in 7 games
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
901 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
401 - Max Hall issues apology
387 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
343 - Utes won't respond to Hall
273 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
224 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
152 - BYU is champion of the state
142 - Religion in politics is tiresome
128
My husband was teaching his 6th-grade class in Salt Lake last year when...
To re: Jessica & Hamlet | 6:25 p.m., I just can't explain it, but this...
Hope Emery is feeling better, should be a good game tomorrow with or with out...
The laws on what clergy is and is not required to report varry by state....
pathetic that Brems says he can not tell his side of the story without making...
LDS ecclesiastical authorities are required to report criminal sexual...
Biggest concern.....I never know when he is being honest. This sounded like...
You are incorrect, Grandfamilies is an excellent program but Children's...
Region 4 will get 3 teams into the playoffs and their #4 & #5 teams will have...
It is a Utah law for cleergy to report child abuse to the police.
Did Mitchell sing when he went out to the Smart home to do some handyman...

You can be the first to comment on this story.