Rather than focusing on emissions from new vehicles, why don’t Delaware and the DMV concentrate on vehicles that are already on the road? Vehicles in California, Nevada and many other states are required to have emissions tests done at least every one or two years. Vehicles that fail their smog test must be fixed. Drivers who fail to have their car, truck or SUV smog-checked are not allowed to register their vehicle. Delaware’s approach to auto emissions is all smoke and mirrors.
The explanation I received from a DMV representative was that vehicles built in 2018 or newer do not have to have their vehicle emissions tested for seven years. The representative went on to say that vehicles built in 2017 or prior must have their emissions tested at least every two years.
The state of Nevada is only one example. With the exception extremely rural areas and cars built in 1968 or older, this state requires most vehicles to be tested before every yearly registration renewal. New motor vehicles are exempt for only three years. I lived there, so I know.
Why wait five or seven years before testing? You know as well as I how many people here alter their exhaust systems during this period to get around the regulations. If DMV subcontracted the work (drive-up kiosks) so testing could be done more often, it would make it harder and more expensive for people who skirt the system to do so. I won’t go into all the commercial vehicles belching their toxic filth.
Sorry, Delaware’s emissions-control policies don’t meet the smell test!
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