Emissions-testing Elimination Gains Favor

The Minnesota House Transportation Policy Committee advanced a bill on Feb.2 that would discard the state's annual auto-emissions testing by July 1, 2000.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, according to the Associated Press, story supports the bill.

The agency and other supporters of the bill were of a mind that the time has come to move on.

The testing program began in 1991 because the Twin Cities had violated federal air-quality standards for carbon monoxide. According to it, all vehicles either passed the annual test for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons or their license plate tabs were not renewed.

In 1995, the Legislature exempted cars five-years old and newer because few of them failed.

One opponent of testing, testifying before the committee, said vehicles can be made to pass the test with a few adjustments but that the problem returns within days.

Governor Jesse Ventura wants to eliminate the program.