While tripping merrily through the mail, Alexander Bilan was overheard
 AB> Definately.  Last I heard, private garages will be able to do the
 AB> checks. Which is a better option than those drive-in smog check horror
 AB> story places I heard some of the U.S. has.
Actually, our inspection stations in Wisconsin are owned by the State, and
operated by a private contractor.  There's no charge for the annual 
inspection,
which consists of sniffing the tailpipe, a mirror under the car to see that
the cat is there, a check of the fuel filler that the "unleaded" hole 
hasn't been enlarged, and a perfunctory check under the hood to see that 
here
are no major obvious modifications.
Recently they changed the procedure so cars less than 10 years old are only
checked every two years, but I drive a beater '83 skylark that's seen many
a better mile, and I've always passed free and clear.  (My '83 Cordoba
with the "lean burn" 318 after 140,000 miles used to test cleaner than
most new cars on the road.
Two additional nice things (if there can be anything at all nice about
smog tests ), cars older than 1968 are exempt, and even newer cars do
not have to meet current standards, but rather, must meet the standard that
was in effect when the car was new.
Don
... He then left in a Huff (A small German sportscar).
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