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For Immediate
Release
10/15/12
Senator Vogel's Vehicle Emissions Bill Passes Senate
Vehicles ten years or newer and alternative fuel vehicles
would be exempt from testing
State Senator Elder Vogel announced today that his bill exempting light
passenger vehicles ten years old or newer and alternative fuel vehicles from
vehicle emissions inspections has passed the Senate. Known as
SB 1532, the bill now moves to the House of Representatives for
consideration.
"This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation," Vogel said.
"We need to help drivers avoid this costly and inherently unfair emissions
testing program, while also making sure our air remains clean."
The statewide emissions failure rate is less than 2.5% of all vehicles with
the newest vehicles failing at a rate of one quarter of one percent. Despite the
very low failure rate, the emissions testing program costs more than $250
million a year for consumers according to Drive Clean PA and millions of tax
dollars to administer by the Commonwealth.
Newer state and federal laws have done much to address vehicle emissions,
including requirements that cars sold in Pennsylvania have to meet more
stringent California emission standards. The Federal Government requires certain
areas in Pennsylvania to test emissions but gives the states wide latitude in
its implementation. All of the states required to check emissions from vehicles
provide for many exemptions from their testing, while Pennsylvania only exempts
light passenger diesel vehicles. Senate Bill 1532 would also add exemptions for
electric, hybrid electric or compressed natural gas vehicles from the
requirements of Pennsylvania's emissions testing program.
"The Federal Government needs to give serious consideration to ending these
testing requirements. There is no better example of how absurd this has become
than Ellwood City Borough in my district. The Borough is located in both Beaver
and Lawrence counties and some residents on one side of Division Street are
required to get tested while the residents on the other side are not," Vogel
added. "The goal of this legislation is to make this program more
consumer-friendly. It's clear that cleaner vehicles are helping the air and
environment we live in, but a costly annual emission test program is not."
CONTACT:
Mike Radar
(717) 787-3076
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