Emissions Program Set To Begin In Fall

HARTFORD (AP) –– The state is still working to determine which service stations will provide emissions testing when the revamped program begins this fall, a Department of Motor Vehicles spokesman said.

The decentralized program will be available at an estimated 300 private service stations statewide.

“We’re in the process of reviewing the applications and the site visits to determine qualifications and ability to participate in the program,” said DMV spokesman Bill Seymour.

The state is scheduled to fully open the new testing program in mid-September or October, Mr Seymour said. Some motorists will be targeted for August test dates as the service stations get the program up and running.

“We’re going to start slowly and methodically in August to test the equipment and the garages’ ability to perform the tests,” he said.

Motorists who failed a test in June 2002, just prior to the centralized program’s suspension, will be scheduled for an August test. Drivers who were not tested because of the suspension, and vehicles never tested before June 2002, will also be scheduled for an early test.

The state has been without an emissions testing program since last June, when its contract with East Granby-based Envirotest Systems Corp expired.

The state refused to extend Envirotest’s contract after more than a dozen of its employees were convicted of accepting bribes for passing cars with failing emission standards.

The new system will replace the 25 state testing stations that were shut down with a network of service stations, dealerships, and repair shops that will use equipment provided by Agbar Technologies of Chicago.