Senate Bill 1532 (Vogel-R-Beaver) which would exempt vehicles never registered in the state or any other jurisdiction for ten years from the date of registration and hybrid and natural gas fueled vehicles from the vehicle emissions inspection program passed the Senate this week.

"This bill is a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation," Sen. Elder 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 percent 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 some 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," Sen. 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."

            NewsClip: Bill Would End Inspections For New Vehicles

10/22/2012