Automobile emission inspection tests are important because it is very hard for the driver to tell when there is a problem with the pollution control system. Modern emissions testing, combined with required auto repair programs, is so effective that these measures are required in all states with serious smog problems.
States have plenty of flexibility to design an inspection and repair program that fits their needs.
That protects the consumer. And it makes the air cleaner for all of us. Polluted air can shorten your life and make you sick. It can cause coughing, chest pains and shortness of breath. Some chemicals found in polluted air cause cancer, birth defects, nerve damage and long-term injury to lungs and breathing passages.