PA Lawmakers Look To Change Annual Car Emissions Test Rules

HARRISBURG, PA — Annual emissions tests in Pennsylvania would be waived for the five newest model year vehicles under pending legislation in the state Senate.

State Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr. of Bedford County, who heads the Senate Transportation Committee, is poised to introduce a bill that would exempt newer vehicles from what he called "the outdated emissions test."

Currently, 25 of the state's 67 counties are required to participate in the approximately $40 emissions test to comply with the 1990 federal Clean Air Act Amendment.

"A vehicle emissions test has become less effective at reducing air pollution, particularly due to newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles entering the fleet," Langerholc wrote in a recent memo to colleagues. "If Pennsylvania is successful in meeting or exceeding federal air quality standards, then our constituents should be rewarded for purchasing environmentally-friendly vehicles."

Pennsylvania is a member of the federally-mandated Northeast Ozone Transport Region, which sets air quality requirements for a dozen states and the District of Columbia. Langerholc noted that five of the 12 states received approval to exempt newer vehicles from the emissions test:

• Delaware: 5 years
• New Jersey: 5 years
• Connecticut: 4 years
• Virginia: 4 years
• Rhode Island: 2 years

"If other states can exempt newer vehicles, then I believe Pennsylvania can as well," Langerholc wrote in the memo.

Currently, gas-powered passenger cars, vans and light-duty trucks are subject to the emissions test. Electric vehicles and diesel-powered vehicles are federally exempt, and other vehicles such as motorcycles are also exempt in Pennsylvania.

Langerholc noted that even more vehicles will become exempt from the test as auto manufacturers have pledged that at least a portion of their vehicles will be electric between 2022 and 2035.

"With the heightened focus on manufacturing and supporting fuel-efficient vehicles, we will continue to see improvements to our air quality," he wrote. " As such, reforming our inspection and maintenance program is timely and will actually encourage more constituents to buy fuel-efficient vehicles."