The state of Washington contracts with a private company, Envirotest Systems, Inc., to operate motor vehicle emission check stations. The Emission Check Program has been successful in reducing air pollution levels in Washington by about 146,400 tons each year. However, newer cars now have much more efficient air pollution controls and don’t usually need to be tested, while cars more than 25 years old are often unable to meet emission standards without costly repairs. To address this issue, the 1998 Legislature reduced the number of vehicles tested by the Emission Check Program. Starting January 1, 2000, vehicles newer than five years and older than 25 years will no longer be tested. For example, in 2000, 1976 model year vehicles will be the oldest vehicles required to be tested, and 1996 models the newest.

As a result of this change to the program, Ecology estimates a 15-20 percent reduction in the number of paid tests conducted. This means there will be less revenue for running the program. State law requires that the funds Ecology uses to administer the Emission Check Program be recovered from the test fees collected. To offset the loss of test revenue, the test fee will need to be increased. The current test fee is $12, with about $8.42 going to the contractor and $3.58 going to the state. Ecology expects to increase the test fee to $15 effective December 31, 1999.

The contract with Envirotest allows the portion of the test fee retained by Envirotest to increase due to inflation. The total test fee can be no more than $15, according to a fee cap imposed by state law. (Note: Most states with similar Emission Check Programs have a higher test fee than Washington’s.) The additional money will help pay for wage increases for test station employees to help reduce staff turnover and improve customer service. However, the fee increase is not enough to cover all of the additional cost. As a result, it was necessary to reduce operating days and hours at the test stations, as well as the number of lanes available for testing. The contract has been amended to reflect this change, and was extended through June 2002.

Changes to the contract address the reduced number of tests and the need to increase the test fee, improve customer service, and ensure that air quality benefits from the Emission Check Program continue. The major contract changes are:

• Envirotest will retain $11.24 from each paid test. The State General Fund will receive the remainder.
• Test station hours will be reduced from 52 hours per week (Monday through Saturday) to 40 hours per week (Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).

• A faster, two-speed test will be used for all gasoline vehicles in the Puget Sound region and for gasoline vehicles in Spokane and Vancouver that are not tested on a dynamometer.
• The maximum number of test station lanes expected to be operating at any time will decrease from 86 to 62 lanes.
• Test equipment and stations will be repaired and upgraded.

The air quality benefit you receive from the Emission Check Program will not change. The program has been shown to reduce both carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions by about 20 percent from vehicles tested. In addition, better staff retention, replacement and repairs of testing equipment, and the use of fewer, faster tests will help assure prompt service.

However, you will be paying more for an emission check. Emission check stations will be open for fewer hours, and fewer lanes will be available for testing. The change in test station hours should not affect you too much, because the hours that were cut were those when the fewest vehicles were typically tested. Similarly, the decreased number of lanes should not result in longer wait times since the tests to be used will be quicker than those currently being used. The lanes no longer in general use will be kept as "spare" lanes, to be used as needed.

Ecology still recommends that you have your vehicle tested before the end of the month, when the demand for testing is heaviest. And remember to arrive at the test station with your vehicle fully warmed up.

Most of these changes will take effect December 31, 1999. The fee increase requires a rule change. Ecology will hold public hearings on the change in each affected county in October and November 1999. The quicker tests, test equipment upgrades, and pay raises for test station employees are already being implemented.

For more information please contact:

John Raymond at (360) 407-6856
Department of Ecology
Email: jray461@ecy.wa.gov

         -  or  -

Phyllis Baas at (360) 407-6822
Department of Ecology
Email: pbaa461@ecy.wa.gov

Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. If you require this document in alternative format, please call Tami Dahlgren, Air Quality Program, (360) 407-6830 (voice) or (306) 407-6006 (TDD only).