HARRISBURG – The Senate today approved legislation to provide Luzerne County drivers with relief from emissions testing, according to Sen. Dave Argall (R-29).
“We took bipartisan action today to remove an extra burden from the people of Luzerne County,” said Argall. “Drivers in one county should not have to pay for an unnecessary emissions test their neighbors down the street don’t have to do.”
Pennsylvania is mandated by the federal government to implement an emissions inspection and maintenance program to comply with federal 1990 Clean Air Act amendments. Luzerne County is one of 25 counties required to participate in an annual emissions test. Schuylkill and Carbon Counties are not required to participate.
As the usage of fuel-efficient cars has become more widespread, a vehicle emissions test has proven to be less effective at reducing air pollution.
By approving Senate Bill 562, Luzerne County would be exempted from the vehicle emissions test, as they have consistently met air quality standards. The Joint State Government Commission evaluated the impacts of removing counties from the vehicle emissions testing program, identifying Luzerne as a candidate for removal.
The Senate also passed Senate Bill 561, which would exempt the five newest model-year vehicles across Pennsylvania. Newer vehicles are consistently passing emissions tests due to newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. Between 2010-19, there were more than 21 million newer vehicles that passed the emissions test 99.65% of the time.
Other states have exempted newer models from emissions testing. California has the longest exemption in the country, at eight years. Delaware (five years) and New Jersey (five years) exempt newer models as well.
Both bills will now be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger, 717-787-2637