§ 49-542 — Emissions inspection program; powers and duties of director; administration; periodic inspection; minimum standards and rules; exceptions; definition

(L25, Ch. 122, sec. 1)

A. The director shall administer a comprehensive annual or biennial emissions inspection program that shall require the inspection of vehicles in this state pursuant to this article and applicable administrative rules. Such inspection is required for vehicles that are registered in area A and area B, for those vehicles owned by a person who is subject to section 15-1444 or 15-1627 and for those vehicles registered outside of area A or area B but used to commute to the driver's principal place of employment located within area A or area B. Inspection in other counties of the state shall commence on the director's approval of an application by a county board of supervisors for participation in such inspection program. In all counties with a population of three hundred fifty thousand or fewer persons, except for the portion of counties that contain any portion of area A, the director shall as conditions dictate provide for testing to determine the effect of vehicle-related pollution on ambient air quality in all communities with a metropolitan area population of twenty thousand persons or more. If such testing detects the violation of state ambient air quality standards by vehicle-related pollution, the director shall forward a full report of such violation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the governor.

B. The state's annual or biennial emissions inspection program shall provide for vehicle inspections at official emissions inspection stations or at fleet emissions inspection stations or may provide for remote vehicle inspection. Each official inspection station in area A shall employ at least one technical assistant who is available during the station's hours of operation to provide assistance for persons who fail the emissions test. An official or fleet emissions inspection station permit shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed or removed to another location except on such terms and conditions as the director may prescribe. The director shall establish a pilot program to provide for remote vehicle inspections in area A and area B. The director shall operate the pilot program for at least three consecutive years and shall complete the pilot program before July 1, 2025. On completion of the pilot program, the director shall submit to the joint legislative budget committee and the office of the governor a report summarizing the results of the pilot program. The director shall submit the report before the department implements any full scale remote vehicle inspection program and shall include in the report a summary of the data collected during the pilot program and a certification by the director that, based on the data collected during the pilot program, a full scale implementation of a remote vehicle inspection program will increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of the vehicle emissions inspection program.

C. Vehicles required to be inspected and registered in this state, except those provided for in section 49-546, shall be inspected, for the purpose of complying with the registration requirement pursuant to subsection D of this section, in accordance with the provisions of this article not more than ninety days before each registration expiration date. A vehicle may be submitted voluntarily for inspection more than ninety days before the registration expiration date on payment of the prescribed inspection fee. That voluntary inspection may be considered as compliance with the registration requirement pursuant to subsection D of this section only on conditions prescribed by the director.

D. A vehicle shall not be registered until such vehicle has passed the emissions inspection and the tampering inspection prescribed in subsection G of this section or has been issued a certificate of waiver. A certificate of waiver shall only be issued one time to a vehicle after January 1, 1997. If any vehicle to be registered is being sold by a dealer licensed to sell motor vehicles pursuant to title 28, the cost of any inspection and any repairs necessary to pass the inspection shall be borne by the dealer. A dealer who is licensed to sell motor vehicles pursuant to title 28 and whose place of business is located in area A or area B shall not deliver any vehicle to the retail purchaser until the vehicle passes any inspection required by this article, except if the vehicle is a collectible vehicle and the retail purchaser obtains collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance coverage as prescribed in subsection Z of this section before delivery or the vehicle is otherwise exempt under subsection J of this section.

E. On the registration of a vehicle that has complied with the minimum emissions standards pursuant to this section or is otherwise exempt under this section, the registering officer shall issue an air quality compliance sticker to the registered owner that shall be placed on the vehicle as prescribed by rule adopted by the department of transportation or issue a modified year validating tab as prescribed by rule adopted by the department of transportation. Those persons who reside outside of area A or area B but who elect to test their vehicle or are required to test their vehicle pursuant to this section and who comply with the minimum emissions standards pursuant to this section or are otherwise exempt under this section shall remit a compliance form, as prescribed by the department of transportation, and proof of compliance issued at an official emissions inspection station to the department of transportation along with the appropriate fees. The department of transportation shall then issue the person an air quality compliance sticker that shall be placed on the vehicle as prescribed by rule adopted by the department of transportation. The registering officer or the department of transportation shall collect an air quality compliance fee of $.25. The registering officer or the department of transportation shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, the air quality compliance fee in the state highway fund established by section 28-6991. The department of transportation shall deposit, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, any emissions inspection fee in the emissions inspection fund. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to those vehicles registered pursuant to title 28, chapter 7, article 7 or 8, the sale of vehicles between motor vehicle dealers or vehicles leased to a person residing outside of area A or area B by a leasing company whose place of business is in area A or area B.

F. The director shall adopt minimum emissions standards pursuant to section 49-447 with which the various classes of vehicles shall be required to comply as follows:

1. For the purpose of determining compliance with minimum emissions standards in area B:

(a) A motor vehicle manufactured in or before the 1980 model year, other than a diesel powered vehicle, shall be required to take and pass the curb idle test. A diesel powered vehicle is subject to only a loaded test. The conditioning mode, at the option of the vehicle owner or owner's agent, shall be administered only after the vehicle has failed the curb idle test. On completion of such conditioning mode, a vehicle that has failed the curb idle test may be retested in the curb idle test. If the vehicle passes such retest, it is deemed in compliance with minimum emissions standards unless the vehicle fails the tampering inspection pursuant to subsection G of this section.

(b) A motor vehicle manufactured in or after the 1981 model year, other than a diesel powered vehicle, shall be required to take and pass the curb idle test and the loaded test or an onboard diagnostic check as may be required pursuant to title II of the clean air act.

2. For the purposes of determining compliance with minimum emissions standards and functional tests in area A:

(a) Motor vehicles manufactured in or after model year 1981 with a gross vehicle weight rating of eighty-five hundred pounds or less, other than diesel powered vehicles, shall be required to take and pass a transient loaded emissions test or an onboard diagnostic check as may be required pursuant to title II of the clean air act.

(b) Motor vehicles other than those prescribed by subdivision (a) of this paragraph and other than diesel powered vehicles shall be required to take and pass a steady state loaded test and a curb idle emissions test.

(c) A diesel powered motor vehicle applying for registration in area A shall be required to take and pass an annual emissions test conducted at an official emissions inspection station or a fleet emissions inspection station as follows:

(i) A loaded, transient or any other form of test as provided for in rules adopted by the director for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of eight thousand five hundred pounds or less.

(ii) A test that conforms with the society for automotive engineers standard J1667 for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than eight thousand five hundred pounds.

(d) Motor vehicles by specific class or model year shall be required to take and pass any of the following tests:

(i) An evaporative system purge test.

(ii) An evaporative system integrity test.

(e) An onboard diagnostic check may be required pursuant to title II of the clean air act.

3. Any constant four-wheel drive vehicle shall be required to take and pass a curb idle emissions test or an onboard diagnostic check as required pursuant to title II of the clean air act.

4. Fleet operators in area B must comply with this section, except that used vehicles sold by a motor vehicle dealer who is a fleet operator and who has been issued a permit under section 49-546 shall be tested as follows:

(a) A motor vehicle manufactured in or before the 1980 model year shall take and pass only the curb idle test, except that a diesel powered vehicle is subject to only a loaded test.

(b) A motor vehicle manufactured in or after the 1981 model year shall take and pass the curb idle test and a twenty-five hundred revolutions per minute unloaded test.

5. Vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this state or a political subdivision of this state shall comply with this subsection without regard to whether those vehicles are required to be registered in this state, except that alternative fuel vehicles of a school district that is located in area A shall be required to take and pass the curb idle test and the loaded test.

6. Fleet operators in area A shall comply with this section, except that used vehicles sold by a motor vehicle dealer who is a fleet operator and who has been issued a permit pursuant to section 49-546 for the purposes of determining compliance with minimum emission standards in area A shall be tested as follows:

(a) A motor vehicle manufactured in or before the 1980 model year shall take and pass the curb idle test, except that a diesel powered vehicle is subject to only a loaded test.

(b) A motor vehicle manufactured in or after the 1981 model year shall take and pass the curb idle test and a two thousand five hundred revolutions per minute unloaded test.

7. Except for any registered owner or lessee of a fleet of less than twenty-five vehicles, a diesel powered motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than twenty-six thousand pounds and for which gross weight fees are paid pursuant to title 28, chapter 15, article 2 in area A shall not be allowed to operate in area A unless it was manufactured in or after the 1988 model year or is powered by an engine that is certified to meet or surpass emissions standards contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 86.088-11 in effect on July 1, 1995. This paragraph does not apply to vehicles that are registered pursuant to title 28, chapter 7, article 7 or 8.

8. For any registered owner or lessee of a fleet of less than twenty-five vehicles, a diesel powered motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than twenty-six thousand pounds and for which gross weight fees are paid pursuant to title 28, chapter 15, article 2 in area A shall not be allowed to operate in area A unless it was manufactured in or after the 1988 model year or is powered by an engine that is certified to meet or surpass emissions standards contained in 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 86.088-11 in effect on July 1, 1995. This paragraph does not apply to vehicles that are registered pursuant to title 28, chapter 7, article 7 or 8.

G. In addition to an emissions inspection, a vehicle is subject to a tampering inspection as prescribed by rules adopted by the director if the vehicle was manufactured after the 1974 model year.

H. Vehicles required to be inspected shall undergo a functional test of the gas cap to determine if the cap holds pressure within limits prescribed by the director, except for any vehicle that is subject to an evaporative system integrity test.

I. Motor vehicles failing the initial or subsequent test are not subject to a penalty fee for late registration renewal if the original testing was accomplished before the expiration date and if the registration renewal is received by the motor vehicle division or the county assessor within thirty days after the original test.

J. The director may adopt rules for purposes of implementation, administration, regulation and enforcement of the provisions of this article including:

1. The submission of records relating to the emissions inspection of vehicles inspected by another jurisdiction in accordance with another inspection law and the acceptance of such inspection for compliance with the provisions of this article.

2. The exemption from inspection of:

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a motor vehicle manufactured in or before the 1966 model year. If the United States environmental protection agency issues a vehicle emissions testing exemption for motor vehicles manufactured in or before the 1974 model year for purposes of the state implementation or maintenance plan for air quality, a motor vehicle manufactured in or before the 1974 model year is exempt from inspection.

(b) New vehicles originally registered at the time of initial retail sale and titling in this state pursuant to section 28-2153 or 28-2154.

(c) Vehicles registered pursuant to title 28, chapter 7, article 7 or 8.

(d) New vehicles before the sixth registration year after initial purchase or lease.

(e) Vehicles that are outside of this state at the time of registration, except the director by rule may require testing of those vehicles within a reasonable period of time after those vehicles return to this state.

(f) Golf carts.

(g) Electrically-powered vehicles.

(h) Vehicles with an engine displacement of less than ninety cubic centimeters.

(i) The sale of vehicles between motor vehicle dealers.

(j) Vehicles leased to a person residing outside of area A or area B by a leasing company whose place of business is in area A or area B.

(k) Collectible vehicles.

(l) Motorcycles.

3. Compiling and maintaining records of emissions test results after servicing.

4. A procedure that allows the vehicle service and repair industry to compare the calibration accuracy of its emissions testing equipment with the department's calibration standards.

5. Training requirements for automotive repair personnel using emissions measuring equipment whose calibration accuracy has been compared with the department's calibration standards.

6. Any other rule that may be required to accomplish the provisions of this article.

K. The director, after consultation with automobile manufacturers and the vehicle service and repair industry, shall establish by rule a definition of "vehicle maintenance and repairs" for motor vehicles subject to inspection under this article. The definition shall specify repair procedures that, when implemented, will reduce vehicle emissions.

L. The director shall adopt rules that specify that the estimated retail cost of all recommended maintenance and repairs shall not exceed the amounts prescribed in this subsection, except that if a vehicle fails a tampering inspection there is no limit on the cost of recommended maintenance and repairs. The director shall issue a certificate of waiver for a vehicle if the director has determined that all recommended maintenance and repairs have been performed and that the vehicle has failed any reinspection that may be required by rule. If the director has determined that the vehicle is in compliance with minimum emissions standards or that all recommended maintenance and repairs for compliance with minimum emissions standards have been performed, but that tampering discovered at a tampering inspection has not been repaired, the director may issue a certificate of waiver if the owner of the vehicle provides to the director a written statement from an automobile parts or repair business that an emissions control device that is necessary to repair the tampering is not available and cannot be obtained from any usual source of supply before the vehicle's current registration expires. Rules adopted by the director for the purpose of establishing the estimated retail cost of all recommended maintenance and repairs pursuant to this subsection shall specify that:

1. In area A the cost shall not exceed:

(a) $500 for a diesel powered vehicle with a gross weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds.

(b) $500 for a diesel powered vehicle with tandem axles.

(c) For a vehicle other than a diesel powered vehicle with a gross weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds and other than a diesel powered vehicle with tandem axles:

(i) $200 for such a vehicle manufactured in or before the 1974 model year.

(ii) $300 for such a vehicle manufactured in the 1975 through 1979 model years.

(iii) $450 for such a vehicle manufactured in or after the 1980 model year.

2. In area B the cost shall not exceed:

(a) $300 for a diesel powered vehicle with a gross weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds.

(b) $300 for a diesel powered vehicle with tandem axles.

3. For a vehicle other than a diesel powered vehicle with a gross weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds and other than a diesel powered vehicle with tandem axles:

(a) $50 for such a vehicle manufactured in or before the 1974 model year.

(b) $200 for such a vehicle manufactured in the 1975 through 1979 model years.

(c) $300 for such a vehicle manufactured in or after the 1980 model year.

M. Each person whose vehicle has failed an emissions inspection shall be provided a list of those general recommended repair and maintenance procedures for vehicles that are designed to reduce vehicle emissions levels.

N. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the director may adopt rules allowing exemptions from the requirement that all vehicles must meet the minimum standards for registration.

O. The director of environmental quality shall establish, in cooperation with the assistant director for the motor vehicle division of the department of transportation:

1. An adequate method for identifying bona fide residents residing outside of area A or area B to ensure that such residents are exempt from compliance with the inspection program established by this article and rules adopted under this article.

2. A written notice that shall accompany the vehicle registration application forms that are sent to vehicle owners pursuant to section 28-2151 and that shall accompany or be included as part of the vehicle emissions test results that are provided to vehicle owners at the time of the vehicle emissions test. This written notice shall describe at least the following:

(a) The restriction of the waiver program to one time per vehicle and a brief description of the implications of this limit.

(b) The availability and a brief description of the voluntary vehicle repair program established pursuant to section 49-558.02.

(c) Notice that many vehicles carry extended warranties for vehicle emissions systems, and those warranties are described in the vehicle's owner's manual or other literature.

P. Notwithstanding any other law, if area A or area B is reclassified as an attainment area, emissions testing conducted pursuant to this article shall continue for vehicles registered inside that reclassified area, vehicles owned by a person who is subject to section 15-1444 or 15-1627 and vehicles registered outside of that reclassified area but used to commute to the driver's principal place of employment located within that reclassified area.

Q. A fleet operator who is issued a permit pursuant to section 49-546 may electronically transmit emissions inspection data to the department of transportation pursuant to rules adopted by the director of the department of transportation in consultation with the director of environmental quality.

R. The director shall prohibit a certificate of waiver pursuant to subsection L of this section for any vehicle that has failed inspection in area A or area B due to the catalytic converter system.

S. The director shall establish provisions for rapid testing of certain vehicles and to allow fleet operators, singly or in combination, to contract directly for vehicle emissions testing.

T. Each vehicle emissions inspection station in area A shall have a sign posted to be visible to persons who are having their vehicles tested. This sign shall state that enhanced testing procedures are a direct result of federal law.

U. The initial adoption of rules pursuant to this section shall be deemed emergency rules pursuant to section 41-1026.

V. The director of environmental quality and the director of the department of transportation shall implement a system to exchange information relating to the waiver program, including information relating to vehicle emissions test results and vehicle registration information.

W. Any person who sells a vehicle that has been issued a certificate of waiver pursuant to this section after January 1, 1997 and who knows that a certificate of waiver has been issued after January 1, 1997 for that vehicle shall disclose to the buyer before completion of the sale that a certificate of waiver has been issued for that vehicle.

X. Vehicles that fail the emissions test at emission levels higher than twice the standard established for that vehicle class by the department pursuant to section 49-447 are not eligible for a certificate of waiver pursuant to this section unless the vehicle is repaired sufficiently to achieve an emissions level below twice the standard for that class of vehicle.

Y. If an insurer notifies the department of transportation of the cancellation or nonrenewal of collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance coverage for a collectible vehicle, the department of transportation shall cancel the registration of the vehicle and the vehicle's exemption from emissions testing pursuant to this section unless evidence of coverage is presented to the department of transportation within sixty days.

Z. For the purposes of this section, "collectible vehicle" means a vehicle that complies with both of the following:

1. Either:

(a) Bears a model year date of original manufacture that is at least fifteen years old.

(b) Is of unique or rare design, of limited production and an object of curiosity.

2. Meets both of the following criteria:

(a) Is maintained primarily for use in car club activities, exhibitions, parades or other functions of public interest or for a private collection and is used only infrequently for other purposes.

(b) Has a collectible vehicle or classic automobile insurance coverage that restricts the collectible vehicle mileage or use, or both, and requires the owner to have another vehicle for personal use.