Posted: | December 4, 2012 03:09 PM |
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From: | Senator Elder A. Vogel, Jr. |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Emissions Testing Exemption for Newer Vehicles |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would amend Title 75 (The Vehicle Code – Emissions Testing) to provide exemptions for newer and alternative fuel vehicles. In 2006, Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board adopted the California emissions standards for automobiles beginning in Model Year 2008. Since 2008, all new vehicles sold in Pennsylvania have greatly reduced our pollutant totals for Pennsylvania. The federal Environmental Protection Agency in 2006 required emission control warranties by vehicle manufacturers to protect consumers from the cost of repairs for certain emission - related failures. The EPA required that major emission control components are covered for the first 8 years or 80,000 miles. Manufacturers of these emissions control parts guarantee the performance of their products in reducing and controlling emissions for a long period of time, yet we continue to require costly annual tests for these new, environmentally friendly vehicles. My legislation with exempt all ten year old or newer vehicles from the requirements of emissions testing, but will require a visual anti-tampering inspection of emissions control components. It will also provide an exemption for electric, hybrid electric, or compressed natural gas vehicles from the requirements of Pennsylvania’s emissions testing program. |
Introduced as SB332