Peter, you're right...a lot of this stuff IS published. Something about them requiring to disclose to the public the methods they use to enforce the law or something like that?? If you keep your eyes open, it's usually pretty clear on the roadway too. They put up the huge "Speed limit enforced by aircraft" signs right before speedtraps on the highways. They have "Photo Radar In Use" signs one or two lights before traffic lights w/ cameras. They have "Speed Limit Enforced By Radar" signs before targeted enforcement areas and speedtraps. But then again, there are a few other dirty things they do like in my area (Rt 7, past Tysons, heading out toward the Reston/Sterling area) where cops will sit in a turn lane at night WITH ALL THEIR LIGHTS OFF. I mean, not even dim lights. I SWEAR I'm so freakin tempted to jump in the junk car we have at home, and just PLOW into the copcar from behind. And you KNOW I wouldn't be at fault since he's got no lights on at all while being ON the roadway. Too bad the judge would never believe it...

I'm only reporting what the guy informed me. He's a straight-up guy from what I've seen, and being that he's not only an emissions station, but also a certified emissions repair facility, I think he knows what he's talking about.

Directly, maybe not. Indirectly, they absolutely will, by meeting more stringent air quality standards, and requalifying for federal funding.

LOL well said. That's why I'm having trouble fighting the redlight cameras...cuz they show a certain car doing 63 in a 45 LOL.

 

wow... yeah, I'm never going to virginia ever again. I hated that state before because the roads don't make any sense. but now this... I'm just bypassing the whole state.

 

I have not found much information about this program, and no "official" news of its current status and scope. Has this actually started or is it still in a test or prototype phase? Your guy may know better what is happening now, but he may be confusing out-of-state cars vs. out-of-emissions-area in-state cars. That is nevertheless almost as bad. As far as Maryland, Wyoming, or Florida cars being forced to conform, they don't want carloads of tourists turned away at the borders due to not passing an exhaust sniffer test. Furthermore, the Oct 2003 DEQ Remote Sensing Report to the General Assembly explicitly states on p. 11 the program would select only vehicles registered in Virginia. The only way I could see out-of-state cars affected is if there was new legislation directing vehicles operated "substantially in Virginia" to get some kind of Virginia emissions certificate--which would be compared to a "commuter tax."

I'm sure they are recording and reporting all vehicles regardless of age and jurisdiction of registration. I have not read of any suggestion to require older cars to meet current standards. Doesn't a 1984 vehicle registered in northern VA already have to meet 1984 emissions standards? (I wouldn't know ) The law currently says cars over 25 years old and older are exempt. There is nothing they can legally do to a 25+ year old car except send a notice saying it has excessive emissions. Likewise, the current law does not extend emissions inspection requirements or penalties beyond cars registered in northern Va. But beware the next legislative session


Correct, the federal extortion factor is the bottom line. My point was this is not being undertaken to make money through ticket revenues and court fees.

 

Possible. I gotta see him again soon for emissions repairs on the Camry so I'll ask for a clarification.

No. It has to meet CURRENT emissions standards. I'm pretty sure of that. My '84 FB is not 25 years old yet, so the standards on it passing are pretty high for it's age.

 

Ramy,
What's to stop you from driving down to Richmond etc. and getting your car inspected where there is no smog required...Then just drive back up to D.C. with the new sticker?

 

reading all this makes me cringe

cause i know sooner or later, everywhere else will do the same thing..

 

Chris, Thank God, I don't have a problem w/ my RX7 re: inspection or emissions. It's taken care of But that's not to say i'm not worried about the crazy laws they're continually passing...

 

wow that laws pretty gay

 

The emissions inspection is a separate requirement from the safety inspection, although they are done at the same locations. Cars <25 years old and registered in northern virginia jurisdictions need an emissions inspection before the DMV will renew or issue licence plates.

If the car is registered in a different county outside the emissions area, it does not need an emissions inspection ('nuff said).

Mine are all taken care of also, no problems.

 

I'm gonna drive up to one of those remote sensing stations and start dumping oil down the intake of my truck! Let em photograph a huge cloud, or just catch everyone in the general vicinity.

 

afterburn27, I just remembered. In addition to the changes you mentioned, there's one you missed. VA will now allow airbag-equipped vehicles to pass state inspection even if the airbag is not operational or even missing completely - as long as the airbag light is off lol.

 

haha awesome. I still want the '99 spec nardi wheel though... with airbag

 

Oh hell no. An FB would not pass '05 emissions numbers straight off the factory floor, much less after twenty years of abuse.

Sniffer tests are based on the emissions standards of the model year it was manufactured. If that wasn't the case, cars would only have a five to ten year lifespan.

On a sidenote, I just had to register my daily in Richmond so it wouldn't have to pass the sniffer.

I've been passing one of those mobile sniffer vans every day on the way to work, there is one on a 95N onramp in the mixing bowl.

 

Which ramp, specifically?

 

It's marked as a survey crew, but I figured something weird was going on... my daily Stealth blows out lots of smoke at WOT (which I tend to be on that ramp.)

 

My bad. I didn't know that. That makes sense.

Oh and thanks for the head's up. I'm keeping an eye out for 'em in this area too...

 

Yeah, sorry if I came across harsh in my post, didn't mean to.

DEQ sent around a few fliers to all the emissions testing locations (including my work) that gave me the heads-up on these new laws a couple monthes ago, what a pile. I'm thinking that the 25 year exemption is going to disappear soon considering.

Testing on OBD-II equipped cars is much faster now, the inspectors like that. I've witnessed a few of the first runs at our place... unfortunately the failure rate was high for the first couple days because the cars weren't warmed up enough. We can't charge the customer in that case, so no big deal, it's just an inconvenience.

I'm hoping these roadside checks are going to be easy to fight, like stoplight cameras. I don't need a ticket in the mail telling me my 7 is killing the rain forest and I have to pay for another E-test. Once I get the new engine and Haltech in there, i doubt it will ever be legal again. I can see it now:

Emissions tester: Son, your EGR system is gone.
Me: Yeah, well, the non-turbo EGR valve doesn't fit under the turbo intake manifold, so it obviously couldn't stay.