New York Sets Up Smoke Testing

New York becomes the 15th state to authorize smoke testing for heavy vehicles, with roadside and annual inspections set to begin next year.

Gov. George Pataki last Thursday signed a law requiring annual emissions test for diesel-powered trucks and buses of 8,500 pounds or more that operate in New York City, Long Island, or Rockland and Westchester counties. Units that fail that fail will have to be repaired, but fines will not be issued.

The law also calls for statewide roadside inspections. Vehicles that fail the roadside tests or are found not to be properly inspected could draw fines of $700 for the first offense and $1,300 for subsequent violations. The penalties will be reduced if repairs are made and the vehicle passes the test within 30 days.

The New York State Motor Truck Assn., which had opposed earlier attempts at emissions testing, threw its support behind this effort and was involved in writing the law.

"To just oppose anything was not a smart move, because we felt that there was a genuine benefit to getting in on something, proposing it and shaping it into something we could live with," said Bill Joyce, president of the New York State Motor Truck Assn.

"I think its a good first step in environmental responsibility that's done in a make-sense way."

The law requires the state departments of Environmental Conservation and Transportation and the Thruway Authority to develop the regulations to start testing trucks by June 1, 1999.

According to Mr. Joyce, there should be a draft of the regulations available for public comment by December.