A Camera to register emissions !
 

What's next! Northern, Va. now has a "camera" that measures emissions in traffic, they take a photo of your license and your tail pipe, if you fail you have to take an emissions test. We have to have our emissions tested every two years, now this? I think it's just a ploy to collect more fees. What's your take on this?

How does it work? If thermal emission, is there an optimal temp range for the catalytic convertor or something? Maybe it's a spectrograph of some sort tuned for some particular molecule at some concentration? In either case I'm having a hard time imagining something so sophisticated being used effectively by any-old cop. But then, I guess folks probably said that about Radar and Lidar, too.

Oh yeah, it's a hidden-tax funding gimmick.

B

I am surprised. This is the same jurisdiction that outlawed red light cameras not too long ago.

That's why I'm thinking it must be more than just a cloud. If it has a temp associated with it then you could discount the cloud below some temp.

In its favor, I have seen some gawdawful clouds of nasty smoke coming out of some poorly maintained POS. I'd love for them to get a citation. And for a question of unanswerable cosmic significance, why do they always stop near me in a traffic light?

B

Bot- I apoligize, when I first heard this on the news tonight I was so flabergasted I didn't pay attention as to how they were measuring said particles. After I mop up the foam I have spewed forth, I'll get the rest of the details. How in the name of god can they measure the crap coming out of your tailpipe when your in traffic surrounded by everyone elses tailpipe! Traffic Nazis.

It's the ghost of Mrs. Fallingham's pussy.

Aren't radar detectors in cars illegal in that state also?

They did?
 

They're still there and still in use as far as I know. They're buying film from me for something. Where did you hear this, Raymr?

As for the technology behind this new governmental invasion of privacy, I read about it in the Post this morning, but don't recall how it's supposed to work. I probably felt too outraged to concentrate after I read the first couple of sentences.

Hey, here's an idea: just ride around with me and breathe the crap half the cars on the road are spewing and then arrest them right on the spot. No equipment reuired other than a working pair of eyes and working nose. Can't understand why changing your oil occassionally is so hard.

Say whaaaa?
 

Siduri, why must you always turn every conversation towards sex? Okay, now tell me about this pussy you're referring to. It sounds far more interesting tha tailpipe emmissions.:D

Yes, Jim. You are correct, sir.
 

Radar detectors, not wearing seat belts, helments, individual thought, nose-picking, farting, bad breath, fresh ideas, . . . .

Oh, wait. Farting and nose-picking are allowed. Apparently.

Well thank goodness for that.

See the ESP (Environmental Sensing Products) web site.

(Some of the buttons on the flash animation lead to other flash animations.)

Some reports indicate that ESP has been contracted for this testing.

Now that the Cold War is over . . .
 

All those Beltway Bandits had to find something to do. I guess this is it.

From the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/02/AR2005070201054.html

Run all the red lights you want in Virginia.

well i guess my buddy with his 510 hp 1200 ft lbs cummins is screwed.. hes running dual 6" stacks our of the bed