Passenger vehicles play a much smaller role in the battle to decrease ground ozone levels in the Front Range than one might think given the mandate that every car and light truck in the metro area pass biennial emissions tests.

Given that older cars will continue to find their way to the scrap yard, it’s reasonable to expect that in the near and extended future fighting ground ozone by targeting cars will be a less and less useful activity.

And by the way, cars built in 1996 and later actually know when they are polluting and they don’t keep the information a secret from you or your mechanic. Ever notice that “Check Engine” light?

Chuck is The Denver Post's political investigative reporter. He has been a professional journalist for more than 15 years, several of them doing investigative reporting. He covered Denver's preparation for the Democratic National Convention as the paper's lead convention writer and also covered the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. He most recently served on The Post's editorial board.