The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is proposing changes to eliminate vehicle emissions inspections in 18 counties and limit inspections in Mecklenburg County. The program was started in 1982 to ensure air pollution controls on cars and trucks were functioning correctly, but advances in technology have led to cleaner vehicles. The proposed changes must be approved by the US EPA to ensure federal air quality standards are still met.
Jon Sanders from the John Locke Foundation believes these mandated inspections are a waste of time and money for many drivers as vehicles become cleaner and more efficient. The growing adoption of electric cars and improvements in OBD technology have made emissions inspections less necessary.
It was last year that the General Assembly authorized the removal of the emissions inspection program from 18 of the 19 counties currently requiring them. Despite the changes to emissions inspections, annual vehicle safety inspections will remain a requirement statewide.
DEQ is seeking public comments on these proposed changes until September 4th. The Environmental Kuznets Curve theory suggests that cleaner environments are a byproduct of a freer economy as technological advancements and changes in industry produce more efficient outcomes. Sanders also suggests that safety inspections could be repealed given the increased safety features in newer vehicles.
The DEQ’s changes aim to reflect the advancements in vehicle technology and reduce unnecessary inspections for drivers in North Carolina.
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