Demetriou, Roemer Introduce Legislation to Ease Vehicle Emissions Testing in Ohio

COLUMBUS –State Representatives Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) have introduced legislation to ease the federal emissions testing standards on Northeast Ohio drivers.

The E-Check Ease Act will create an alternative emissions certification to reduce the burden on Northeast Ohio vehicle owners by allowing drivers to file a form with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency attesting that their vehicle complies with all Ohio emissions standards without having to drive to an E-Check facility. Currently, only owners with vehicles registered in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit are required to test their vehicle’s emissions. 

“My constituents have, for decades, faced the burden of a mandate imposed on Ohio by the federal bureaucracy called E-check,” Demetriou said. “Since Ohio cannot get rid of E-check, we will do the next best thing and make it as easy as possible for those in Northeast Ohio to comply.”

Vehicle owners can only be denied an alternative emissions certification from the Ohio EPA if:

• Their vehicle was involved in a major collision within two years prior to the submission of a form that caused substantial structural damage to the vehicle;
• They have received a citation within two years prior to the submission of a form for tampering with their vehicles exhaust system in violation of Ohio law;
• If the information on the form has been determined by the Ohio EPA to be falsified.

The E-Check Ease Act will also adjust what vehicles are required to have their vehicle’s emissions tested. Current regulations require vehicles that are between four to 25 years old to have their vehicle emissions tested every other year. Demetriou and Roemer’s legislation will change the regulation to vehicles that are six to 25 years old and hybrid vehicles that are seven to 25 years old. 

“We want all Ohioans to have clean air, but expanding the E-Check program isn’t the answer,” Roemer said. “The improvement in air quality in Northeast Ohio is thanks to advances in fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and electric vehicles, not because of this burdensome EPA program, but because of advances from the private sector.”

The legislation now awaits assignment to a House committee.