Our state smog check folks in action....

We have a statistical performance gauge that they use to see if we do our inspections correctly. "Similar vehicle failure rate" They say state average is 8.85 vehicles fail testing... I fell way below that # and called to see how I can get My ###S into compliance. Was basically told that I should test and fail lots of vehicles... I like to repair cars to pass, then test! People don't pay me to FAIL their cars... So now I HAVE to change the way I do business so that MORE vehicles fail...  Then he tells me, pretests count and I could do a pretest and not charge the customer... Wait a minute! I do work and will not get paid so my ###s can get to where you want them or I could LOSE my Star testing licence State blackmail at it's best... So now Free check engine light Checks, are going to include a pretest!?!?!!?  So, freebee check engine light checks have just become a free pretest... That I won't get paid for... Now I can't be nice and just check them... Sucks....

My dad was a smog technician for years (quit about 10 years ago).  I basically grew up in his shop and watched him go through exactly the same thing you are going through right now.  Every few months he would get a letter in the mail saying he was passing too many cars.  His philosophy was like yours, why test and label the vehicle as a "gross polluter" (that was terminology then) when you can identify and fix the problem before testing it.  The state went as far as constantly being on site to test his equipment.  The state would send in "undercover cars" with clear violations and he would turn them away within minutes at no charge instructing the owner to fix the problem and come back.  Eventually he received a letter stating that it was not his job to diagnose vehicles prior to testing them and he would be subject to a fine if he didn't comply.  Having people tell him how to do his job ending up being too much for him and he got out of the business.  Stay strong Ron, people need honest technicians like you out there who are willing to lend a helping hand rather than just take money and worry about the customer later.

Wow, what a giant pile of bullsh#t that is ! Not only are they urging the screwing over of the everyday customer, they're mandating the screwing over of mechanics and smog station owners. Not sure why I'm surprised though - seems about par.

Bummer. That sucks, especially for the reputable business owner such as yourself.

Total Beurocratic BullShat! (as u already know)
parr for the coarse = What is wrong with our government? 
 failing cars via smog makes more room in the "air" for Chevron and BP to pollute it(they actually use a point system). The more old cars the system can remove from the people, the less BigPetrol needs to clean their filters.

More money for the 1%ers!!   

I will just keep bring my failing crap to you.

Thanks Rob.... I'll be failing A LOT OF CARS this next 3 months...

They're doing this to make people buy new cars.

Nope, they are doing this to increase the corrected/repaired car statistics to show the fed EPA that they are reducing pollution so they can get FEDERAL money for the smog check program... By the way. BAR is a contracted private group like the IRS. They fund threw fines, Certificate sales, Smog credit sales (industry), federal money and state entitlements (contracts....) It's a Cash cow that the state can't even get their hands on! Blocked from absorption into the General fund by the FED EPA.... I should be working there. They all make bank!

Nope, they are doing this to increase the corrected/repaired car statistics to show the fed EPA that they are reducing pollution so they can get FEDERAL money for the smog check program... By the way. BAR is a contracted private group like the IRS. They fund threw fines, Certificate sales, Smog credit sales (industry), federal money and state entitlements (contracts....) It's a Cash cow that the state can't even get their hands on! Blocked from absorption into the General fund by the FED EPA.... I should be working there. They all make bank!

Now I know why they want to SMOG my 2011 clean diesel TDI every other year!

My 2001 Volvo XC 70 now has to go to the "Special" smog stations to "prove" that it is not a gross polluter.  Last time the tech was shocked that it was all OEM and was still within factory emissions spec.. Hell I maintain the damn thing although I got a check engine light last weekend...after 253,000 miles the OEM Cat was dying. And per regs a generic cat just will not do. So after $1700 in Parts, Tax and Labor I have a brand new OEM Volvo Cat in place.   Next smog in two months...

I feel like I do smog tests every year. It's rather irritating.

its all bullshit . Even the new DAD system in my opinion. Right before it was mandated and hadn't set mine up yet , a customer came in pissed because I had failed his vehicle a couple days before (high HC) and he had taken it somewhere else and it passed no problem  (On DAD). I've been wondering their reasoning for new system.

Cars with history codes pass too. Haven't had it fail one yet unless SES light was on... Polluters sliding right threw... Total crap produced by the lowest bidder... will be on the way out and something new will be forced upon us $$$ somebodies cousin Vinny got paid...

Yup,even doing diesel's a joke. Like you said, anyway to make money

What's the deal with Star smogs?  My guy told me it's the same test... yet Star shops charge way more.