Are emission standards stricter?
Emission standards are still based on those in effect in the vehicle’s year of manufacture. New cars must still meet more stringent standards than old cars. How likely am I to fail? State officials estimate that 30 percent of all vehicles tested will fail, due to the more accurate and representative test. Without a pre-test, 18 percent of all vehicles tested failed under the old program. What happens if I fail? To be registered, failing vehicles must be repaired to meet the standards applicable to the vehicle. They may also be stored or otherwise lawfully disposed of. Eventually motorists will be able to sell their failing vehicles to the state under the “buy-back” provisions of the program. A subsidy program to assist low-income owners of failing vehicles is being developed. What is a gross polluter? Vehicles that fail by a wide margin are considered “gross polluters.” (10 percent of vehicles produce about half the auto-related emissions or 12 percent of emissions from all sources.) A
