I can't just head down to the corner gas station to get a smog check done, because I drive an old car and two years ago I failed the test so spectacularly that my ride was labeled a Gross Polluting Vehicle. It's been fixed, but I'm still on a sort of smog probation, and I have to get my testing done at a special test-only station. Tracking one of these down was an enormous hassle, but I eventually found Jorge's Smog Shop. Jorge was helpful and friendly, and had me on my way minutes, and I'd certainly go back next year if I was still going to be in the area.
As I pulled out, I reflected on this. The point of test-only centers, as announced by signs proudly posted all over Jorge's shop, is that California drivers can do to one confident that unethical merchants won't make them fail the state-mandated tests in order to drum up more repair business. Test-only shops are forbidden by law do repairs or even recommend a repair shop. So far, so good. I was had just thinking about how solicitous customer service would make me a repeat customer twelve months down the line, so I immedaitely sthought of what else would bring someone like me back. Doesn't that give Jorge pervesre (from the regualtors' perspective) incentive to be especially lenient, so that customers with smoke-belching wrecks will keep coming back year after year? What keeps a test-only smog station from just rubber-stamping everyone that drives through? Are there spot inspections? Statistical tools?
Anyway, I'm just happy to see that I passed.
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