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Lehigh and Northampton County I/M Program Changes

Safety Bulletin
BI99-9
October 1999

Subject: Changes in the I/M Program in the Lehigh and Northampton Counties

To: All Official Inspection Stations, Quality Assurance Officers, and Pennsylvania State Police

The basic emissions inspection program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, which has been in effect since 1984, will expire in November 1999 for motorists registered in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Although this program only exists in portions of Lehigh and Northampton Counties, the expiration of basic emissions inspections may affect safety and emissions stations outside these counties. The following questions and answers are designed to provide you with information regarding the expiration of the basic emissions program and how it may affect your business and your customers.

Q. Why is the basic emissions program expiring in Lehigh and Northampton Counties?

A. By regulation, the basic emissions inspection program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties will end on November 15, 1999. Stakeholders' Meetings are underway to recommend appropriate future air quality improvement measures for these counties. The Stakeholders' Group consists of private citizens and representatives of the business community who have a vested interest in Pennsylvania's air quality improvement programs. Until the Stakeholders' process is completed and their recommendations are considered, emissions inspections will not be required in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. Their recommendations may or may not include future emissions inspections.

Q. What will happen to stations that currently perform basic emissions inspections?

A. In January 2000, Quality Assurance Officers will begin visiting each basic emissions inspection station. If the station does not offer enhanced emissions testing, the emissions records and stickers will be audited and closed out by the Quality Assurance Officer. Until that time, stations may continue to perform basic emissions testing for customers who require it.

Q. Will there be an enhanced emissions inspection program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties?

A. As mentioned above, the Stakeholders' Group is currently determining whether an enhanced emissions program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties is recommended.

Q. How will the expiration of the basic emissions inspection program affect vehicle owners with November 1999 inspection expiration on their current emissions sticker?

A. Since a November 1999 inspection expiration is valid through the end of November, a vehicle registered in Lehigh and Northampton County does not have to be emissions tested before the basic program expires. Only vehicles registered in Lehigh or Northampton County with inspection expirations of October 1999 or earlier are required to receive a basic emissions test.

Q. How will the expiration of the basic emissions inspection program affect vehicle owners with an October 1999 or earlier inspection expiration on their current emissions sticker?

A. Vehicles currently subject to the basic emissions inspection program that have a registration expiration of October 1999 or earlier will need to have the basic emissions test done.

Q. Does law enforcement know about the change in the emissions inspection requirements?

A. Yes. Law Enforcement agencies received notification of this matter through the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Association Network (CLEAN) message system and through a direct mail.

Q. Does this mean emissions inspections will never be required in Lehigh or Northampton County after November 1999?

A. No. The expiration of the old basic emissions inspection program does not in any way mean there will never be emissions testing in Lehigh or Northampton County in the future.

Q. Does the expiration of the basic emissions inspection program in Lehigh and Northampton Counties affect the emissions program in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas?

A. No. The enhanced emissions inspection program for vehicles registered in Allegheny, Beaver, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Washington and Westmoreland Counties is not affected by the expiration of the basic emissions program.

Q. Can the emissions sticker be removed from vehicles registered in Lehigh or Northampton County?

A. Inspection stations may remove an expired emissions inspection sticker from vehicles registered to addresses in Lehigh or Northampton County upon request of the vehicle owner. Otherwise, the emissions inspection sticker should remain on the vehicle windshield until the next periodic safety inspection is performed. At that time, the expiring emissions sticker may be removed if the vehicle is no longer subject to an emissions inspection.

Q. What if customers with vehicles subject to the basic emissions inspection and an October 1999 or earlier inspection expiration refuse the emissions test?

A. You may perform a safety inspection on customers' vehicles registered in an emissions-affected area of Lehigh or Northampton County (using an I/M insert). However, you should inform them they are required to have a basic emissions test and may be cited by a police officer if they operate their vehicles on Pennsylvania roadways.

If you have any questions regarding this bulletin, please call the Vehicle Inspection Division at (717) 787-2895.

Kurt J. Myers, Director
Bureau of Motor Vehicles