Emissions Test (Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna: inspections, tax, live)

[VeeBee66]

Just had my car checked out and was giving a form. I wasn't told but do I need to mail that in to someone or does the place that did the testing responsible for notifying the proper authorities?

[benchfan]

Assuming your car passed, they send all that in for you and give you a receipt that shows you had the test done. Nothing else to do unless the form they gave you was instructions to have repairs done to re-test.

[VeeBee66]

Thanks benchfan!!! Yes, it passed. Great, glad I don't have to do anything else.

[msbean]

Are emission tests required throughout Idaho or just the larger cities?

[benchfan]

Not sure about N. Idaho but in our area it's all of Ada County, not Canyon County (Nampa, Caldwell). Not a big deal--$20.00 every two years.

[Lacerta]

Fingers crossed that Canyon County eventually requires it as well. Pretty much every time I get stuck behind a car belching out black smoke, it has 2C plates. We all share the valley, and we all share the dirty air during inversions.

[Tim in Hollywood]

Be careful what you wish for! The cars that "belch" the most exhaust are exempt from even being tested!

Make no mistake, this is another tax. Not to help us, but to grab more of our $$$.

If the goal were to reduce vehicle exhaust, the greatest polluters would not be exempt from the law. Which is more likely to cause the most harmful emissions? A 2007 vehicle or a 1973 vehicle? Only the 2007 vehicle is required to be tested.

[zoso1979]

Canyon County has already implemented emissions. Don't you remember the controversy? I sure do. That's when the charges went from $10 every year to $20 every 2 years.

On June 1, 2010, a new vehicle emissions testing program took effect in Canyon County and the city of Kuna within Ada County. The purpose of this program is to reduce ozone air pollution from vehicle emissions.

Idaho Vehicle Inspection Program

[ILI.EB]

Older vehicles are not exempt because the state wants to tax you on newer vehicles, they are exempt because they do not have the capability to pass modern emissions test requirements. They simply didn't have the regulations back then that are in place now and as such, they do not have emission related equipment in place. Also, my new cars do not require testing for several years - under the assumption that nothing has gone wrong yet; so clearly they aren't using this as a "tax"

The cars 'belching black smoke' are also exempt because they are usually diesel vehicles - which burn far cleaner than gasoline WHEN in a normal state of tune. They are not running cleaner when there is visible smoke, however.

If they really just wanted money, it would be similar to California where the test is usually $80+ and is "enhanced." Also if a vehicle fails for specific reasons in CA, it must be tested at state controlled offices at a higher charge and tested yearly. At $20 (and some places are still under $10) every 2 years, to ensure that the majority of cars are burning clean, I think it's fair.

Side note: I thought I read somewhere that Canyon county tried or did overturn the emissions testing requirement?

[VeeBee66]

I only paid $15 for the test and it's the first time I've ever had to do anything like that. I didn't really have a problem with it or even paying the $15. When we lived in Oklahoma they had vehicle inspections but since we were only there because of the military we didn't have to have the inspection done. From what I hear though you could get a passing result on those inspections by just passing some more cash IYKWIM.