The state Senate is considering legislation that would exempt vehicles five years and newer from emissions inspections requirements. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) opposes the bill and is urging repair shops to contact senators.
“This legislation would decimate the Commonwealth’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance program, adversely impact hundreds of Pennsylvania small business owners, and threaten compliance with the federal Clean Air Act,” Ross Colket, president of ASA Pennsylvania, said in a letter to the Senate. “The proposed changes in SB 777 not only put the health, safety, and welfare of all Commonwealth residents at risk but likewise jeopardizes hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funds for violating federal law.”
According to ASA, Senate Bill 777 would hurt the approximately 7,000 emissions stations statewide, many of which are small, independent businesses.
Drivers would suffer also, ASA contends, because they may be unaware their vehicle is malfunctioning without the annual check.
If the bill passes, it would create one of the longest exemptions of any inspection program in the country. Other states have exemptions for up to four years.
After four years, the need for repair grows substantially, according to automotive repair industry data.
The industry believes the state’s program should be improved and modernized.