Utah
New requirement could mean higher prices for emissions testing at some Utah sites
A brand new automobile emissions testing requirement in Salt Lake and Weber counties might imply elevated costs at some places, well being division officers mentioned. (Damiangretka, Shutterstock)
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SALT LAKE CITY — New necessities in Salt Lake and Weber counties might imply motorists pays extra for automobile emissions testing at some places, well being division officers say.
An improve to the automobile testing community final week now requires technicians to doc a automobile’s VIN, automobile emissions management label and catalytic converter with a digital photograph taken from a workstation-integrated digital camera, mentioned Nicholas Rupp, spokesman for the Salt Lake County Well being Division.
“They’re additionally required to seize a picture of any emissions management gadgets which might be tampered with or lacking,” he mentioned, including that technicians aren’t required to take away any covers or enclosures of gadgets initially put in by automobile producers.
The change was not carried out as a part of a requirement in state or county code. The one counties that require emissions testing for some automobiles based mostly on mannequin yr are Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Cache and Utah counties.
Weber County, which can be affected by the change, caps its emissions testing value at $30. However in Salt Lake County, costs are self-regulated and the typical charge is $25, in accordance with the Division of Motor Autos.
One Salt Lake County automobile dealership charged a buyer $75 for an emissions check Saturday, explaining that the value improve was tied to the brand new photograph necessities.
“Stations have been speculated to visually confirm this stuff anyway, earlier than the improve, and the photograph requirement simply ensures they are surely doing that visible verification that has existed all alongside,” Rupp mentioned. “Packages in different states which have included this course of into their emissions inspection/testing have realized higher standardization and integrity of their applications.”
Rupp mentioned an evaluation of the testing because the county started requiring photographs reveals a rise within the time it takes to carry out an inspection of two to 3 minutes.
“Some emissions stations have determined that further time warrants a worth improve, so we encourage automobile homeowners to buy round for one of the best worth for his or her emissions check,” he mentioned.