Moore administration halts Hogan attempt to scale back state’s vehicle emissions testing

As former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was heading out the door a few weeks ago, his administration attempted to push through changes to the state’s vehicle emissions inspection (VEIP) program — over the objections of environmentalists and a legislative panel that examines proposed state regulations. But now the new regulation — and an accompanying procurement process designed to execute the Hogan administration’s plan to scale back emissions inspections — has been put on hold. Although state agencies under Hogan had sought to limit the number of vehicles that required an emissions test, the decision by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the Department of the Environment to scotch the procurement and pause the implementation of the new regulation preserves the status quo for now: Vehicles that are 3 years old or older will continue to need $14 state emissions inspection every two years.