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
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