From the Chicago Dispatcher, June 25, 2008
Inspection Brakedown?
Owners and drivers question new brake-testing machine’s accuracy
By: Jonathan Bullington
Back in April, the Department of Consumer Services (DCS) finished upgrades to its inspection facility on 39th Street. Chief among the improvements was the addition of two new mechanical lifts, two new electronic meter-testing machines and a new brake-testing machine.
Despite these changes, meant to improve service and expedite the taxi-inspection process, some owners and drivers have taken issue with one of the new additions to inspection: the brake machine.
Both drivers and owners have expressed concern with the machine's accuracy, citing instances when cars have been failed even after having brake work done; they've called into question the standards by which a vehicle can pass or fail the brake test and whether or not the machine is capable of testing high-performance brakes such as those found on a police package Ford Crown Victoria.
“Why are these standards not made available?” questioned veteran cabdriver Arnie Kast. “They should not be kept as a hidden secret. [DCS] can publish anything they want at any time. Why don't they publish this so we can know what constitutes pass or fail?”
In an effort to answer some of these questions, the Chicago Dispatcher met with DCS Deputy Commissioner Shellie Riedle at the inspection facility for a first-hand look at the new machine making all the commotion.
The Basics
DCS uses the Hunter B-400T Computerized Brake Balance Tester for Heavy Duty Vehicles. The machine was purchased brand new and installed by the manufacturer, with input from the City's Fleet Management Department. It is capable of testing large trucks and ambulances, according to Riedle, and is therefore well equipped to handle police package vehicles.
When a cab arrives for inspection, a DCS inspector will pull the taxi into lane one for the brake test. According to Dennis, a DCS inspector, this is done because the cab must pull through the test at exactly the right speed (between 5 and 10 mph) in order for the results to be accurate. Even if a cab goes through at 10.2 mph, the machine's digital screen will read, “Retest required.” Another factor taken into account is deceleration. If an inspector applies the brakes too fast and hard, or not fast and hard enough, the machine will require a retest. (Dennis had another inspector take a cab through the test twice - once going too fast and once applying the brakes too hard to show how the machine will read, “retest required”). According to Dennis, retests are usually done even if a cab fails the first time, just so accuracy is assured.
The Hunter brake machine checks both the front and rear axles as well as wheel alignment. If a vehicle does not pass the wheel alignment test, Dennis said it will not be failed at the brake station. Instead, that vehicle's alignment will be manually checked while on the lift.
According to Riedle, vehicles are being tested on the safety of their brakes. Standards for what constitutes pass or fail are based on industry standards developed by the Federal Highway Administration and coded into the testing machine.
The Numbers
February was the first complete month of brake testing using the new machine. According to Riedle, 183 failures were issued in that first month at the brake-testing station. Of those 183, 13 were for both front and rear brakes and 4 were issued for problems with the gearshift. In March 89 failures were issued for brakes, three of which were for both front and rear brakes and three for a faulty gearshift. Failures at the brake station accounted for almost six percent of all failed items at inspection in March.
What You Can Do
The Chicago Dispatcher asked Jeff Brown, head supervisor at the inspection facility, what drivers and owners can do to ensure their vehicles passed the brake test, particularly when some drivers and owners say their cars failed after having brake work done.
“Most of the receipts I see [for brake work] are not complete brake jobs,” Brown said. “It's more than just replacing brake pads. Dirt can collect in the o-ring of the piston, freezing it. A caliber can get stuck. If a rotor has been on the shelf too long, it can be warped.”
Brown suggests owners and drivers look for ASC certified mechanics before having their brakes fixed or replaced.
“A qualified mechanic is going to make the appropriate repairs,” Brown said.
According to Riedle, drivers and owners who feel their vehicles have failed inspection after having work done should bring receipts of that work to her office or to Jeff Brown directly, who will go over what they paid for and what the inspection results show. Riedle said drivers and owners could file a consumer complaint against a repair shop and seek restitution if the receipt shows that the work done was what their vehicle failed.
Sounds, like the city just wants to keep ripping use for for stupid crap at the inspection facilty. They need better machines and nicer inspectors at that place.
Notice how a certain industry tabloid white-washed the scandalous inspection process?
Let's see how these facts sink in to the lame of brain (no offense to Mister Brain Damage):
Hundreds of drivers and/or owners have been CHARGED the $50.00 RE-INSPECTION FEE based on the FAKE results the testing equipment produces.
They have admitted that it is so jittery and sensitive that it is as likely to give an adverse reading as a good reading.
Adverse reading means failure and %50.00 re-inspection fee, not to mention the extra (and often unnecessary costs the driver/owner has to pay at a brake or alignment shop. (There is plenty of money-making time lost, too!)
My good friend had his car re-aligned, before inspection and after failing. He brought in his shop bill for re-inspection and you know how they verified if the car was aligned? With a a tape measure by that little old Latino-looking man who is always grumbling like he hates the whole planet.
These people are definitely related to the Long Eared Father of Fools. Maybe the Long-Eared Mother of Fools is Chief Corruption Officer of the DCS.
When any person, business or government entity charge some one for something that shouldn't have happened in the first place (and they know this problem exists, yet continue) that is FRAUD. Fraud. Fraud by any other ame is still F R A U D.
Dirty Mayor! Dirty Commissioner! Dirty Mister Brown!
Da Mare would never fire the Commissioner of Consuming Dis-service, Bribery and Official Fraud (CDB&OF).
People who aid and assist the Da Mare in his corrupt political money-grabbing machine get rewarded by getting promoted to higher and more powerful positions with bigger pay checks.
It's historically verifiable! But a certain so-called publisher and a certain so-called editor/ so-called writer turned a blid eye and deaf ear (long ear?) to this official robbery that is perpetrated every day of the inspection week, hundreds of times per week, thousands of times per year.
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Replying to:
Sounds, like the city just wants to keep ripping use for for stupid crap at the inspection facilty. They need better machines and nicer inspectors at that place.
Subject: How is Jeff doing at the City's Inspection?
Name: Mr. Tang
Date Posted: Jun 11, 07 - 9:20 AM
Message: Heard about the city is charging $50 reinspection fee, and continuing to issue "unsafe" vehicle tickets.
Have you just received a ticket, or just paid the $50 fee? Are you afraid of saying something about it because the city may do something bad to you in the future?
I really would like to hearing from you!
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Replying to:
Notice how a certain industry tabloid white-washed the scandalous inspection process?
Let's see how these facts sink in to the lame of brain (no offense to Mister Brain Damage):
Hundreds of drivers and/or owners have been CHARGED the $50.00 RE-INSPECTION FEE based on the FAKE results the testing equipment produces.
They have admitted that it is so jittery and sensitive that it is as likely to give an adverse reading as a good reading.
Adverse reading means failure and %50.00 re-inspection fee, not to mention the extra (and often unnecessary costs the driver/owner has to pay at a brake or alignment shop. (There is plenty of money-making time lost, too!)
My good friend had his car re-aligned, before inspection and after failing. He brought in his shop bill for re-inspection and you know how they verified if the car was aligned? With a a tape measure by that little old Latino-looking man who is always grumbling like he hates the whole planet.
These people are definitely related to the Long Eared Father of Fools. Maybe the Long-Eared Mother of Fools is Chief Corruption Officer of the DCS.
When any person, business or government entity charge some one for something that shouldn't have happened in the first place (and they know this problem exists, yet continue) that is FRAUD. Fraud. Fraud by any other ame is still F R A U D.
Dirty Mayor! Dirty Commissioner! Dirty Mister Brown!
Da Mare would never fire the Commissioner of Consuming Dis-service, Bribery and Official Fraud (CDB&OF).
People who aid and assist the Da Mare in his corrupt political money-grabbing machine get rewarded by getting promoted to higher and more powerful positions with bigger pay checks.
It's historically verifiable! But a certain so-called publisher and a certain so-called editor/ so-called writer turned a blid eye and deaf ear (long ear?) to this official robbery that is perpetrated every day of the inspection week, hundreds of times per week, thousands of times per year.
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Replying to:
Sounds, like the city just wants to keep ripping use for for stupid crap at the inspection facilty. They need better machines and nicer inspectors at that place.
How's this for an abuse. My fellow driver went to inspection earlier this month with a new vehicle. He was failed and told to go to the trailer due to a non functioning window. He had checked his windows five times before the inspection. He was also told this was the only failure.
He refused to go to the trailer, went back to the vehicle, and pulled it back up in front of the doors. He worked the window up and down until the inspector came out and said he passed. When the new medallion was applied he was also handed something else, a 50.00 retest fee for the retest of the window. How's this for robbery? My friend has the documents to prove this. Does this answer how Jeff is doing? One appointment, a passed vehicle and still a 50.00 retest fee.
Jeff is a FRAUD. Jeff is a thief for the City of Thieves.
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Replying to:
How's this for an abuse. My fellow driver went to inspection earlier this month with a new vehicle. He was failed and told to go to the trailer due to a non functioning window. He had checked his windows five times before the inspection. He was also told this was the only failure.
He refused to go to the trailer, went back to the vehicle, and pulled it back up in front of the doors. He worked the window up and down until the inspector came out and said he passed. When the new medallion was applied he was also handed something else, a 50.00 retest fee for the retest of the window. How's this for robbery? My friend has the documents to prove this. Does this answer how Jeff is doing? One appointment, a passed vehicle and still a 50.00 retest fee.
I know lawery cost lots to much money. I would call a lawery for that. That is against the law for them to do that crap. You had perfect new car. Jeff needs to be fired. I am glad. I sold my taxi last month. To many headaces with them inspetors
Those inspectors needed to be fired. They don't know how to do there job.
No, you are wrong Ahmed. They do the job city hall wants. The job of shaking us down!
