• killeronthecorner@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’m the city centre where I live, I’m allowed to drive a gigantic petrol 4x4 because it was made in 2021. A friend ours can’t take their 2010 petrol Polo in because they’ll be charged a congestion charge for their emissions.

    A lot of so called environmental legislation is just hidden taxes on the poor masquerading as progressiveness.

    Fuck congestion charges and fuck anyone who thinks that the average person can make a dent on this shit when companies and governments around the world continue to funnel more toxic and permanent chemicals into our environment every day than 1000 individuals will in their lifetime.

    • xthexder@l.sw0.com
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      1 year ago

      What is a congestion charge in this case? It sounds more like a traffic/road maintenance thing than related to emissions?
      Most places I’ve lived (US and Canada) only require emissions testing if the vehicle is old enough not to have modern emissions control sensors. The test costs maybe $20 every couple years, which is nothing compared to all the other costs of owning a vehicle.
      Presumably your 2010 Polo doesn’t have a check-engine light if the catalytic converter has a hole in it, but your 2021 4x4 most certainly does.

      Edit: (See comments below about emissions systems).

      Specifically Washington State only required emissions testing (tailpipe test on a Dyno) on model years 2008 and older, after which the only requirement is California’s “CARB certified” with no testing other than at the factory. And as of 2020 they don’t even do emissions testing anymore.