[Frondo]

I don't see at all how this makes the laws "total failures".

You're asking the emissions testing people to: believe that random guy X is going to keep his car, that he's only going to use it for one short trip a day, that the check engine light only means one thing, that it's within legal limits despite the check engine light being on, and on and on and on.

You're asking them to make an exemption--or somehow modify the laws to account for "Grampa says he will only drive short distances"--on a whole host of things they have no way of verifying or even knowing, and that makes the laws total failures?

I guess I can't see how you're proposing that vehicle emissions be regulated at all, if "this car hobbyist says..." and "grampa says..." are relevant factors in determining the road-worthiness of a car.

[alexanderstears]

There's an easier way to discourage pollution - fuel taxes.

If the law encourages someone to drive a pre-emissions car over a emissions compliant but not not emissions certified car, it encourages pollution.