An emissions technician collects and measures a vehicles' exhaust fumes

State will study vehicle emissions testing program

Contributed By:The 411 News

Describing it a victory, State Rep. Charlie Brown is encouraged that the Indiana Legislature will study the states’ vehicle emissions testing program in Lake and Porter Counties.

“I have argued for many years that the vehicle inspection program is responsible for an unfair expense for Lake County motorists, often resulting in bills of $200 or more to take care of an engine problem that is not ultimately responsible for the air pollution in our region,” Brown said, “and this is the first time we’ve gotten this far.”

Brown filed legislation in the 2017 session of the Indiana General Assembly (House Bill 1317) that called for a legislative interim study of the motor vehicle inspection requirements in Lake and Porter counties, while calling for an investigation of other measures that might be taken to address the air pollution problem more fairly and effectively.

Provisions of that bill were included in House Enrolled Act 1491.

“Quarterly reports from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have repeatedly demonstrated the fact that the actual emissions creating our region’s environmental problems are not actually generated by local motor vehicles,” Brown said. The causes, IDEM says, are the diesel trucks and auto traffic on the interstate highway routes that cross both counties.

“Anyone who has had to take their car or truck to a certified repair shop for expensive work on their engine or emissions system knows how frustrating this can be,” Brown said. “And then they have to pay the registration fee.” Many municipalities have adopted the wheel tax that adds another expense at registration time.

The study of the vehicle emissions program was assigned by the Indiana Legislative Council to the Interim Study Committee on Roads and Transportation.

“I look forward to the work of this study committee and will be in attendance whenever that panel decides to discuss this topic. I encourage motorists in Lake and Porter counties to stay informed about the committee’s work and to contact my Statehouse office with their own experiences by calling 1 (800) 382-9842,” Brown said.

Lake and Porter are the only counties in the state with a vehicle emissions testing program.

Story Posted:06/20/2017