More Stations, More Convenient E-Check Announced by Ohio EPA

New ChoicePlus™ program adds 53 locations, kiosks and drive-by options

COLUMBUS, Ohio—July 10, 2012—Ohio EPA is introducing a new, decentralized program for Ohio E-Check vehicle emissions testing that will give most motorists in Northeast Ohio more choices and more convenience for having their vehicles tested. The changes to the E-Check program were passed by the Ohio Legislature in the last budget bill.

Designed to provide greater convenience to motorists in seven Northeast Ohio counties, the new Ohio E-Check ChoicePlus™ program adds 53 new E-Check testing stations to the current 23 high-volume, on-demand Ohio E-Check testing stations, bringing the total locations for emissions testing to 76.  The new stations include 37 Lube Stop stations, as well as 16 independent neighborhood stations. A full list of station locations can be found online at ohioecheck.org.    
 
In addition, for gasoline vehicles that are 1996 or newer and diesel vehicles 1997 or newer, the new program includes self-service on-board diagnostic testing kiosks at 16 select locations and RapidScreen remote sensing vans. 
 
“Ohio EPA is focused on making emissions testing more convenient for motorists,” said Ohio EPA Director Scott J. Nally.  “E-Check has been shown to improve the air quality in our communities, and now it is easier for drivers to get to an emissions testing station location and help clean the air we all breathe.”
 
The free-standing self-service kiosks will be added over the next few weeks at 16 of the full-service Ohio E-Check testing stations. At these locations, drivers may perform their own OBDII emissions test any time of the day or night, seven days a week, using the kiosks’ easy-to-follow touchscreen displays. The entire process takes less than 10 minutes and is especially helpful for motorists with difficult schedules.  Upon completion of the self-test, the kiosk prints a vehicle inspection certificate that can be used for vehicle registration or plate transfer.
 
RapidScreen vans will enable some motorists to drive their vehicle past a sensing van. Using infrared and ultraviolet beams of light, RapidScreen’s roadside testing equipment can analyze a vehicle’s plume of exhaust. If a vehicle is really clean and has passed RapidScreen’s emissions standards, the motorist will receive notification in the mail. This option is only available for about five percent of vehicles that are really clean. For the few vehicles that pass this, those motorists would not be required to go to an emissions testing facility. Two vans will be positioned at highway on-ramps at different times and locations throughout Northeast Ohio beginning this summer.  
 
Additional Conveniences
 
More information is available online, including:
 
Location Information – It is easy for motorists to find an emissions testing station near them. Two websites provide comprehensive lists of E-Check stations, self-serve kiosks and RapidScreen van locations.  Motorists may search for locations by county, city or zip code.  For each location, motorists will find important information that applies to that particular testing site, as well as information about the vehicles that can be tested there.  For location information visit: www.ohioecheck.org OR www.ohioecheck.info.
 
Vehicle History – Motorists may also get a vehicle’s E-Check testing history by visiting these websites. For motorists thinking of purchasing a vehicle, this can be valuable information.  A history may be obtained for any emissions check that has accessible electronic data. To retrieve a vehicle’s emissions testing history, motorists will need to find their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) located on the vehicle’s registration or title. For more information visit: www.ohioecheck.org OR www.ohioecheck.info.

 

About Ohio E-Check
Launched in 1996, the Ohio E-Check program improves air quality in Ohio and meets guidelines set by the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.  Tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks account for at least one-third of the air pollution in the United States and these emissions can cause serious health problems.  As a result, the Ohio E-Check program reduces these emissions by encouraging good vehicle maintenance in seven Ohio counties. The program removes approximately 74 tons of vehicle emissions per day, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), ensuring cleaner air for Ohioans.  Failure to address nonattainment of federal air standards can also result in losing federal highway funding for Ohio and prohibition of future industrial expansion in the region.  For more information on the program, call 1.800.CAR.TEST or visit either of these two websites: www.ohioecheck.org OR www.ohioecheck.info.