Roemer Announces Step Forward to End E-Check in Ohio

COLUMBUS—State Representative Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) is pleased to announce that the Ohio EPA submitted a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the U.S. EPA as a result of the E-Check Ease Act that was incorporated into the state’s transportation budget earlier this year. This marks another step closer to ending the federal E-Check program in Ohio.

Currently, residents of Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties must comply with E-Check, undergoing mandatory emissions testing every two years.

“We are one step closer to relieving northeast Ohioans of the unfair burden of E-Check—a burden we have been carrying for 30 years,” said Roemer.

The E-Check Ease Act, championed by Roemer, aims to reduce administrative and financial burden on Ohio drivers by creating an alternative, parallel system where an owner of a motor vehicle may comply with the E-Check program by obtaining an alternative emissions certificate. The program would also not commence until a car is 6 years old rather than the current 4 years, exempting many additional vehicles.

The revision currently awaits review and approval by the U.S. EPA.