The Nation : Smog Control Abuse Cited

Nearly one in four Americans drives a vehicle with altered pollution-control devices, and one in six drivers pumps leaded gasoline into vehicles designed for unleaded fuel only, the Environmental Protection Agency said. Results of an EPA survey of 1975-84 cars and light trucks being driven in 14 cities showed obvious tampering with emission controls in 22% of the 4,426 vehicles. The EPA classified another 29% as “arguably tampered,” meaning that inspectors could not determine whether damage was inflicted intentionally, and 4% as “malfunctioning.” Fourteen percent were fueled with leaded gasoline instead of the required unleaded fuel.