§ 12-9-45 — Certificate of emission inspection

(a) In each county to which this article applies, there is required a valid certificate of emission inspection issued by an emission inspection station certified under this article for each responsible motor vehicle registered pursuant to or subject to the requirements of Chapter 2 of Title 40 in such county. A valid certificate of emission inspection is also required for each responsible motor vehicle owned by any federal agency, state agency, municipality, or other political subdivision registered pursuant to Code Section 40-2-34 or 40-2-35 , whichever is applicable, and assigned for use to any federal agency, state agency, municipality, or other political subdivision located in such county and for each responsible motor vehicle which is operated 60 days or more in any calendar year on a federal installation located in whole or in part in any such county. (b) A certificate of emission inspection shall be valid for one inspection term. The owner of each responsible motor vehicle subject to subsection (a) of this Code section is required to obtain a new certificate of emission inspection on or before the date the current certificate of emission inspection expires or prior to the vehicle registration date in the year following the expiration of the certificate, as determined by the board. (c) Such certificate of emission inspection must certify that: (1) An inspection of exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide and evaporative emissions of hydrocarbons, as required by Code Section 12-9-48 , has been performed; (2) The responsible motor vehicle complies, as required by Code Section 12-9-48 , with applicable emission standards or emission limitations for hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide specified for such vehicle by the board pursuant to Code Section 12-9-46 ; (3) An inspection, as required by Code Section 12-9-48 , of emission control equipment which was required to be installed on such motor vehicle when new by the federal Clean Air Act and is required to be inspected by the board in the regulations promulgated pursuant to this article has been performed and that such equipment is present and has been maintained as required by Code Section 12-9-48 ; and (4) An inspection, as required by Code Section 12-9-48 , of on-board diagnostic equipment which was required to be installed on such motor vehicle when new by the federal Clean Air Act and is required to be inspected by the board in the regulations promulgated pursuant to this article has been performed, as required by Code Section 12-9-48 . (d) In any county or area not designated by the USEPA as a nonattainment area as of November 1, 1990, which is subsequently designated by the board as a nonattainment area subject to this article, the department shall have 12 months from the date such designation occurs to establish a program for emission inspection of responsible motor vehicles in such county or area; provided, however, that for purposes of this article, the earliest date such county or area shall be considered as having been designated as a nonattainment area shall be July 1, 1992. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section, in such counties or areas a certificate of emission inspection shall not be required during this initial 12 month period. Following such initial 12 month period, owners of responsible motor vehicles in such counties or areas shall obtain a valid certificate of emission inspection no later than the date established by the board. (e) In each county or area subject to this article on July 1, 1992, owners of responsible motor vehicles shall obtain a valid certificate of emission inspection issued pursuant to this article not later than June 30, 1993. (f) The requirements of paragraphs (1) through (4) of subsection (c) of this Code section shall remain in effect in each county or area either during such time as such county or any part of the county continues to be designated by the USEPA pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act as a nonattainment area or during such time as the emission program for each such county is contained in the state's air quality maintenance plan. (g) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Code section, the requirements of this article shall not apply to vehicles registered as specified in subsection (a) of this Code section where the owner of such vehicle certifies, under oath and subject to the monetary penalty provided in Code Section 16-10-71 upon conviction for false swearing therein, which certification may be made either by mail and accompanied by a photocopy of the person's military identification card or in person, that: (1) Such vehicle is so registered by a Georgia resident on active duty in the armed services of the United States then residing outside the State of Georgia; (2) At the time the provisions of this article are being or are sought to be enforced with respect to such vehicle, the owner's domicile or, if such vehicle is primarily used in connection with some established business enterprise, such established business enterprise is not located in any county wherein any responsible motor vehicle is subject to the requirements of this article; or (3) Such vehicle is or will be, during the inspection term for which the provisions of this article are being or are sought to be enforced with respect to such motor vehicle, permanently assigned or let for use to a person not domiciled or an established business enterprise not located in any county wherein any responsible motor vehicle is subject to the requirements of this article. The director shall provide the forms for any such certification. (h) Vehicles that are driven less than 5,000 miles per year and are ten years old or older will be exempted from testing, provided that the owner of such vehicle is 65 years old or older. (i) Antique and collector cars and trucks 25 years old or older will be exempted from testing.

Legislative History

Amended by 2001 Ga. Laws 2, § 12, eff. 2/12/2001.