Repeal of VET Possible!

 by George Baumler

The much-loathed VET (Vehicle Emissions Test) may become history if a bill, Senate bill 48 introduced into the Kentucky Senate by Senator Dan Seum, gets the support it deserves.  Senator Seum’s bill would put an end to the VET program in Jefferson County and other counties that now require automobile owners to submit to an annual inspection.  The Vet has been criticized lately as being ineffective, due to the fact that newer cars have such low failure rates.  In fact, cars 13 years old or less pass at a rate of over 90% and account for over 80% of the automobiles tested.  Older vehicles are becoming less of a problem each year, as they are replaced due to age.  The VET may have served a useful purpose at one time, but advances automotive technology and cleaner fuels have made the tests obsolete. 

Some argue that the test is still necessary in order to receive pollution credits from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).  These so called credits are basically licenses to emit polluting gasses and are measured in tons.  The “Pollution Credits”, generated by automobile owners testing at the local VET station, are given to local industries so that they may continue to operate in a manner that would otherwise be unacceptable.  A hypothetical example: an industry in Louisville that would find it expensive to renovate and meet modern guidelines is given “Pollution Credits”, generated and paid for by automobile owners, that allows it to continue polluting.  The basis for awarding such “credits” to industries is not clear, and an industry may purchase “credits” on the open market if no local “free (paid for by motorists) credits” are available.  The going price for such credits can be found on the Cantor-Fitzgerald website (http://www.cantor.com/ebs/home.htm)

If you would like to help Senator Seum’s bill become law, contact your state Senators and Representatives and tell them you want them to support Senate Bill 48.  Tell your representatives that VET, once useful, has served its purpose, and it is now time for it to go.

See also an interesting article on free market approaches to automobile transportation problems: http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/moody4.html