Washington Vehicle Emissions Testing To End In 2020

The state Department of Ecology announced Friday that it's getting out of the emissions-testing business, reasoning that the program has done its job.

"The air quality has improved considerably since the program started, and the vehicles are much cleaner than they used to be," said John Raymond, who's worked on the state's emission program since it started in 1981. "The Legislature, believe it or not, does not want to keep irritating people forever."

Raymond added that the testing was never intended to go on indefinitely.

Drivers will be spared the $15 fee that comes with the testing, which had some people KIRO 7 Reporter Deborah Horne talked to breathing a sigh of relief.

"It's a waste of time; it's a waste of money, too," Maurice Marion said, as he drove out of an emissions test Friday. "Times are hard as it is, anyway. Nobody (has any) money for this."

About 1 million vehicles are tested each year in the state's five most populous counties, including King, Pierce and Snohomish.

Others were less sure of the plan to scuttle the tests.

"I think it's kind of necessary," Jason Nguyen said. "If (your car passes the test) it's running better and you get better gas mileage."

Emissions testing will end in phases. Drivers will know they're off the hook for testing when they stop getting notices in the mail.

More information is available on the Ecology Department's website.