Capitol ConnectionBy State Senator Joe Leibham
April 30, 2008
Emissions Testing Changes Prove Program Should Be Eliminated
As a vehicle owner and taxpayer in southeast Wisconsin, I have always questioned the necessity for and the benefit of the state government mandated Vehicle Emissions Inspection program (emissions program). As a legislator, I have continually tried to eliminate the emissions program or (when those efforts failed) make changes to it so that it at least made some sense environmentally and economically. Now, following some recent changes proposed by the state Department of Transportation (DOT), I am even more convinced that the entire mandate and program should be eliminated.
As readers from the Sheboygan area know, DOT administers the vehicle emissions program in seven counties in southeastern Wisconsin – including Sheboygan County – that are classified under federal EPA standards as moderate “non-attainment areas” with respect to ozone pollution. The state administers the emissions program under the federal Clean Air Act Amendments approved by congress in 1990.
The supposed goal of the emissions program is to test the emissions of certain classes of vehicles operating in southeast Wisconsin with the goal of identifying those that emit excessive amounts of ozone and other types of air pollution. Once identified, the owners of vehicles that fail the emissions test would be required to fix the emission problem. If the problem could not be fixed, the state would deny a registration and the vehicle could not operate in Wisconsin.
Under the current program any vehicle that is kept in one of the seven non-attainment counties and is of model year 1968 or newer; has a gross vehicle weight below 10,000 pounds; is powered by diesel fuel and is not a moped, motorcycle or registered as a farm truck must be tested. Based on an amendment to the program that I authored in 2003, new vehicles are now first subject to testing prior to renewal of registration in the fourth year after the model year. For example, a 2008 model year vehicle would be tested prior to registration renewal in 2011. Vehicles are then tested every two years thereafter, or upon transfer to a new owner.
Again, the supposed goal of and justification for the program is to get pollution emitting vehicles off our roads so that we can all breath cleaner air. Now, the DOT is proposing various changes to the emissions program, including exempting vehicles of model year 1995 or older. Vehicles of model year 1996 or newer would continue to be tested.
That’s right, older vehicles (1995 or older), those that would most likely emit some bad emissions will now be exempt from the test. How much sense does this make?
The DOT attempts to justify this change by suggesting that the older vehicles are more complicated and costly to test and therefore should be eliminated.
As your Senator, a vehicle owner and a taxpayer, I find this unacceptable and believe this move further demonstrates that the entire emissions program should be eliminated. How can our state justify funding and mandating a program created to get old, emission emitting vehicles off the road and then not test the vehicles most likely emit the bad emissions?
The emission testing is conducted by a private firm under contract with DOT. The cost of the testing contract is paid from a transportation fund appropriation and there is no cost to the vehicle owner (other than any required repairs). In 2006-07 it cost us as taxpayers $13,274,400 to run the emissions program.
I believe this program is a waste of valuable state tax dollars, especially after the recent changes, and I will again work to eliminate this questionable program.
As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you and I look forward to receiving your thoughts. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling 888-295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at www.leibhamsenate.com.
It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate!