FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

Hey guys...get this.

I stopped by one of the guys I'm cool w/ who does VA State Inspection, Emissions Inspection, and is a Certified Emissions Repair Facility. So we're talking (I had a few random ?s for him) and he tells me that on paper, by the end of this month (August), VA will become fully OBD-II compliant. He doesn't know how long it'll take effect for things to catch on, but it looks like they're right on schedule. So if you're car's a '96 and up, byebye dyno. Just a 3 min port scan, and you're done. If you fail, you CANNOT dyno and pass....it's gotta pass w/ the scanner.

But wait...there's more...

The story behind this all is, VA strives to meet very good air quality standards/very low emissions standards, which qualifies it for federal funding (ah...did I say "VA" ? Then $$ MUST follow in the same sentence... ). But what's the problem? VA's been tough of emissions for years...

Get this: while VA cars have been consistantly smogged and maintaining low emissions, the air quality hasn't been getting better. They realized that a large proportion of the high emissions from vehicles is actually coming from OUT OF STATE vehicles - specifically Maryland vehicles. MD has much less stringent emissions standards than VA, and so high-emissions vehicles come into VA on the way to work very morning, pollute our air, then go back home, only to repeat the cycle.

So what money making scheme did VA come up with??

They are now using roadside sniffers on exits, on-ramps etc, to detect the immediate emissions output of your vehicle while in use. Should your car be detected putting out too much emissions:

- A picture of the vehicle, exhaust, emissions levels, license plate, and speed will be taken
- You will receive a summons to repair your emissions system and reduce your vehicle's emissions - WHETHER OR NOT YOUR VEHICLE IS IN OR OUT OF STATE!! In effect, if you're from out of state, say MD, your vehicle will not be allowed back into the Commonwealth until an emissions repair has been performed - or it will be ticketed when in the Commonwealth.
- For 25 year old emissions-exempt vehicles (this applies to VA cars), if the vehicle is putting out high emissions, you will receive a summons to reduce the emissions to the emissions standards of that vehicle's year. So if you have an '84 FB, and the sniffer catches you, you'll have to reduce your vehicle's emissions output to 1984 levels.

I've already seen one of these sniffers before, but thought it was for survey purposes only. As a head's up, here's a pic of one in Cali, but they look VERY similar.

Happy driving
~Ramy

patfat

I hate this state. I have also seen that setup in Reston getting on to the FFX parkway

Mr rx-7 tt

iTrader: (5)

This state never stops to amaze me. The stupidity is endless...
I wonder if this is more a northern Va. exercise? They don't even sniff down here.

Mr rx-7 tt

iTrader: (5)

I would shut my car off and coast through that crap...

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

I thought of that myself... i've got a Maval full-manual rack in, is there a way to disable the steering column lock?

SlingShotRX7

won't be long before we start talking in Russian or German

1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

haha wow, thats amazing!!!

ramy, why dont you use your money and move out of that shithole of a state??!?!?!

i mean i know in the future, things like this will spread to other states as well but at least you get to live a little bit longer..

VA and CALI are the only states i know of that have stupid rules like this..you know cali is getting funded like 5 million to put out a task force to stop modified vehicles right??

i wouldnt be surprised if VA is right behind this, they make enough money catching people rolling down their windows while driving anyway..

i tell you man, this is some demolition man type of bullshit..

Brent 94

iTrader: (1)

Do you have to drive through the cones that they have set up?? Do you have to slow down to a surtain speed? and are there cops sitting at the location?? That's some scary stuff! I know my car can't pass emissions for the life of me, i just paid someone a month ago to pass me! Are there any ways to get around this if you were ticketed?? And would shutting down your car be a smart idea?? (couldn't they tell by all the "zeros" coming up on the scanners)

cosmicbang

It would be nice to get some accurate information about this. The laws are on the books, but there seem to be very few details about the implementation. Virginia was required to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the EPA, meeting 40 CFR 51.350. That plan included on-road testing for emissions; I don't know how much choice Virginia really had. Maybe someone with extra time on their hands can read the federal requirements and compare them with Virginia's plan. If it exceeds the federal requirements, then we can lobby our state legislators for a change.

The issue has been brewing since 1990, and is based on Federal regulations (Clean Air Act Amendments 1990). Northern Virginia was classified by EPA as a “serious” federal air quality standards non-attainment area. Among the programs it was required to implement was an enhanced version of the automobile emissions testing program. In 1994, George Allen successfully fought the EPA-mandated system in which a few government-run test-only stations would replace the privately owned gas stations and repair shops. In 1995, Senator John Warner, at the request of the Allen administration, inserted an amendment into the National Highway System Designation Act, essentially allowing Virginia, and other states, to pursue programs they devised in lieu of the EPA mandate.

93 R1

MD has had the obd2 **** for years.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Wait a sec... someone from NJ calling another state a shithole?!?1? j/k

Gotta love VA though, new for 2006 you can now pass inspection as long as you can open your hood with pliers lol.

Some other changes:

No longer reject for ABS light on
No longer reject for wheel cylinder leakage unless lining is contaminated
Reject if gearshift indicator does not indicate P or N

No longer inspect CV boots
Do not reject serpentine belts for surface cracks

Taping or gluing of cracks in taillight lenses no longer allowed

CHMSL (center high mount stop lamp...aka third brake light) must be steady burning and not flash with signals.
CHMSL on camper shells is no longer required
LED brake lights will pass if MAJORITY of the lamps are burning
Hazard lights no longer required to work if the flasher is removed.

Reject for large objects hanging from inside mirror. CB's, tachs, Gtocks, or anything deemed to interfere with drivers vision are rejectable (YESSS!!! die ricers!!!)
Reject if windshield wipers park within drivers vision (all you GM ****** with bad wiper modules are gonna get ghosbusters now)

Single wipers are allowed now, as long as it clears both sides of the windshield

Remote, push button, or door opening devices are allowed

inside hood latch that can be operated with pliers will pass now

Do not reject if seat will not adjust, if it allows safe operation and control of the vehicle.

Do not reject motorized seat belts if they are locked at the B pillar

inspection stations are required to inform a customer that a muffler is not required for inspection, but is required by state law if operated on the highway

a motorcycle may have one or more headlamps
rear tail lights may be clear with red diode bulbs (motorcycle)

reject commercial vehicles manufactured after 10-20-94 if it is not equipped with a proper functioning automatic brake adjuster and indicator.

93 R1

Va Is Gay

cosmicbang

Where are you getting this information? I am not aware of there ever being any law against remote or push-button door opening devices, or non-adjustable seats. This section of the Code has not changed since 1989:Also, how can a safety inspection sticker be issued for a vehicle without a muffler? § 46.2-116 states the inspection is for "equipment enumerated in this chapter in such a manner as to conform to specifications hereinbefore set forth." Since mufflers are required equipment, and under section § 46.2-1000 the registration can be suspended for lack of a muffler.If it were possible to get an inspection sticker without a muffler, then the preceeding would be invalidated with respect to mufflers.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

A friend in the state police, he was reading from the new VASP guidebook. I'll see if I can find anything online.

And I have been rejected for a non-adjusting seat before in the TR6. I couldn't take it to my normal inspection station, and the new place had a fat inspector who had a hard time fitting in the car lol. I guess it pissed him off enough to fail the car.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

The safety inspection criteria are in the Virginia administrative code and are different than the laws in the code of virginia.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...19VAC30-70-300

"2. A muffler or catalytic converter has been repaired in any manner. The exhaust pipe may be welded to the muffler or catalytic converter. Holes or cracks in the exhaust line have been repaired with a patch or caulking.

NOTE: If a vehicle is inspected that does not have a muffler, the inspector should explain to the customer that although the vehicle will pass inspection without a muffler, it is a violation of state law for the vehicle to be operated on the highway without it. "

1QWIK7

iTrader: (33)

haha i know new jersey aint all that better but it is def > va

granted that va is slightly larger than new jersey, more people populate in new jersey because its more prefered..

i think its slightly over 7 million poeple in va and like 8 and a half million people in nj..

but thats not the subject in hand, va laws are way out of control..

cosmicbang

Thanks, that is interesting. It seems strange for the administrative code to allow car without a muffler. There must be some reason; wonder what it is? Technically, a vehicle without a muffler is in violation of § 46.2 whether it is operated on the highway or not. A cop could theoretically write it a ticket for no muffler and confiscate the licence plate if it was parked on the curb, or even rolling out of the inspection station.That is totally bogus! It may be not uncommon for corrupt/greedy stations to make up excuses on a whim. A long time ago I got rejected for backup lights that supposedly were too bright, and once for some other stupid made-up excuse. I just went down the road and got the inspections somewhere else. Now, I only go to places I know and trust.

The official guide sure is different from the actual practice. None of the 4 different inspection stations I have used recently have gone into such depth. Typically, the inspector just checks all the lights, beeps the horn, and maybe turns on the wipers. Sometimes they just look at the brakes without pulling a wheel at all. One inspector even asked me if the rear brakes were ok rather than pull off the tire and drum. Occasionally they pop the hood and stare blankly into the engine bay. If it is an exotic car or even a rotary which they don't see often, they have little clue what they are looking at. The bright side is cars over 25 years old with antique registration don't need any inspection at all.

P.S. Yes, Virginia is a horrible place to live; all you NJ people stay out

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Fd3BOOST

iTrader: (7)

******* liberal tree huggers rule. I wouldn't sweat it. It would hold about as much water as a broken condom in court.

Tenacious

VA can ******* lick my nuts, even if my car is blowing out tons of smoke, I am an out of state car, plus whatever happened to "Free to travel any road by any means possible", if my car is passing inspection/emissions where my tags are from, they have no right to boot me out of any state for "their emissions" standard. WTF are they gonna do? arrest me for practicing my rights as a U.S citizen? I'll drive anywhere I want in my property. If I get a letter from VA for my emissions, I'll respond in a letter "**** Y)o)O)O)O)O""suck on my wenis!). I'm not committing any crime by passing through VA, they can suck on my little general! I have the right to travel anywhere the **** I want, in any vehicle of mine I want! If my car has tags/insurance, **** if they are gonna arrest me for driving my property, wtf do my taxes goto?state/federal, considering bush just gave 35billion to repave roads? U best believe I'm gonna drive those roads, w/ or w/out catalytic converters! GOD VA pisses me off!

patfat

^^^ please count to ten...

FDNewbie

iTrader: (10)

I have no idea. I didn't ask. The thing is, they're even booking emissions-exempt vehicles (25 years and older), so it wouldn't surprise me if they decided to "survey" a non-emissions county, and upon discovering high revenue potential -- whoops, I mean high emissions output levels (lol) they may decide to enact a "targeted enforcement" area as they do w/ those speed sensor lines on the road, then later setting up speed traps in that area.

Turning off the car is def. the thing to do. These machines are automated, so no you don't need to worry about someone scratching their head when they see zero emissions as you pass by. There's no one standing by checking it. You passing by w/ your engine off would be exactly like no car passing by whatsoever. The sensor is prob hooked up in such a way that high emissions level trigger the photo mechanism. No emissions = no photo.



LOL Rob, living here is great, but very expensive (federal, state, county, and town tax lol...plus informal taxes in the form of moving violations + court fees WHETHER OR NOT YOU GO TO COURT! ) but it's a great place to live nonetheless. Just SUCKS to drive around here. Esp. w/ the new plans to make my area (Tysons) a city within a city (like Georgetown or Old Town Alexandria) w/ all the shops within 7 feet of the street, trolleys, metro stops etc... I think it's taking a very quick turn for the worse.

I was gonna say the same. Two diff things. Go figure...

Doug, umm... seriously man that attitude's gonna get you bent over one night. Really. I was just talkin about this w/ a friend who's SWAT. A cop can give you HELL on the spot, because he CAN, even if it's unjustified, EVEN IF YOU'RE SWAT, and then basically just get chewed out later on. Point is, he'll get all the satisfaction of pulling you over, strip-searching you, calling for backup, making you wait, getting a K-9 unit to rummage through your car, impound it, take you to the station for a breathalizer or drug test, maybe even have you visit the slammer, while the tow truck damages your FD, then after you spend the night, he can take the day off so you don't have the paperwork to release your car the next day... and gotta wait another day, etc. Bottom line, cops OWN us as they please, so you have two choices: try and smooth it over, take it, and take it in stride, or put up a fight - in which case I hope you like the taste of dirt, cuz you'll be munching on a lot of it

~Ramy

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

I wonder if they publish where these traps will be in advance... sounds crazy, but actually, alot of the DWI checkpoints and speedtraps are actually published in advance.

cafcwest

i can believe that. where though, web? newspaper?

cosmicbang

Check out the DEQ web site; there are some interesting documents there. This only applies to Va-registered vehicles. Pardon the digression but DC is the only place I know of that tickets out-of-state vehicles for violations of local laws, and even laws outside their own jurisdiction. I have gotten tickets on Va-registered cars parked in DC, for supposedly having an invalid VA state inspection, or no VA front license plate. In both cases, the cars were perfectly legal under provisions of VA law, but DC of course does not know or care.

Back to the subject, which contains plenty of unsettling ideas. There seems to be an intention to enforce northern va emissions inspections on vehicles registered in parts of Virginia outside of emission inspection areas, if they regularly commute or drive in emissions inspections areas. For example if your car is registered in, say-Clarke county (non-emissions), but you drive past a remote sensor in Fairfax Co. (emissions) spewing clouds of emissions every day, it would be forced to comply with northern Va emissions testing. So far, there is no law to allow that. There are also suggestions to extend the remote sensing to other parts of the state which have ozone problems. Again, no laws yet to create any teeth. I did not find any plans to extend the program to vehicles over 25 years old.

Presumably after driving past a remote sensor, you would get a notice in the mail and you would have to go to an inspection station to get an emissions test (doubtless at your own expense). The results would clear you until the next time. Expect the state to put a positive spin on this by saying cars observed to be non-polluters would not need the regular annual (or whatever it is) emissions test. Also, believe it or not the state will not make any money on this.

According to the vendor, the remote sensing works best when vehicle is under a load, as on a slight uphill, and the van would presumably be manned by one person. I wonder if there would be police there as well? Another caution the remote sensing will record SPEED and acceleration! Can't you imagine that in court? "Your honour, it my car does not pollute". "Young man you were speeding, so you are obviously a bad-***. Just be glad it is only an emissions ticket, 'Guilty'".

Someone should call the DEQ and find out more about the program, including what phase it is actually in. It hasn't gotten much publicity.

http://www.deq.state.va.us/mobile/

The vendor web site is http://www.esp-global.com/