Officials OK wording of referendum question on auto exhaust testing law

AUGUSTA (AP) — A petition drive aimed at repealing Maine’s auto emission testing law can go forward, state elections officials decided last week.

Elections officials approved Thursday the wording of the proposed referendum question, and the leader of the effort said 200 petition circulators will be ready to hit the streets, malls and shopping centers on Sunday.

“We’re deadly serious,” said Roger Compagna of Saco, leader of Citizens for Sensible Emission Laws.

Although the tests are only required in Maine’s seven southern counties, the campaign will collect signatures statewide. Compagna said the effort has already drawn volunteers from Bangor, Bar Harbor and other areas of northern and eastern Maine.

“I asked them why they’re interested, and they said they’re next on the list,” he said.

Other petition drives showing opposition to the vehicle tests have sprung up in parts of the state, but Compagna’s is the only one with official status.

Under state law, the group would have to submit the requisite number of signatures by late January — 50 days after the early December opening of the legislative session — in order to force a vote in November 1995.

At least 50,000 signatures will likely be needed. The Constitution requires at least one-tenth of the number of votes in the most recent gubernatorial election before the petitions are turned in.

The question, as approved by Secretary of State Bill Diamond on Thursday, reads: “Do you favor repealing the motor vehicle emission inspection program law as proposed by citizen petition?”

Considering that the testing program has triggered an explosion of complaints — even though it’s been running for less than a month — lawmakers could decide to call a special session before December to suspend or change the program.

The Legislature could also advance its own referendum proposal, so voters could choose between outright repeal and perhaps a modified inspection plan.

Lawmakers could also follow the routine practice of killing the initiative, which would automatically send it to referendum in November 1995.

“It’s too early” to speculate what action the Legislature might take, said Rep. Marge Kilkelly, a member of a special committee scrutinizing the emission testing program.

Kilkelly, D-Wiscasset, said members still need to find answers to fundamental questions about the program, including whether such a stringent testing procedure is required under federal law.

The committee was ordered by legislative leaders Thursday to hold hearings during the weeks of Aug. 8 and 15, and to submit its recommendations by Aug. 29.

Compagna said he believes the government could achieve its clean-air goals by incorporating a check of vehicle emission equipment in regular annual vehicle inspections.

Compagna, who owns an auto service center, said garages have difficulty making repairs now because the new test centers don’t say what is wrong with vehicles that fail.

“Basically, the law is unfair and people are spending millions of dollars in repairs that are unnecessary,” Compagna said.

The federal law mandating the once-every-two-years emission checks is aimed at reducing emissions that cause ground-level ozone, which causes health problems.