Connecticut: Registration, Inspection & Emissions

[Don]

RB:

I will make an attempt, but this topic is new to me over the past few months and continues to be a learning experience. I invite others to offer comments and/or corrections

The brief Technical version:

Sec. 35. Subsection (c) of section 14-164c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2007):

provision for a periodic inspection of air pollution control equipment and compliance with or waiver of exhaust emission standards or compliance with or waiver of on-board diagnostic standards or other standards defined by the Commissioner of Environment

Such regulations shall apply to all motor vehicles registered or which will be registered in this state except:

(12) vehicles that have met the inspection requirements of section 14-103a and are registered by the commissioner as composite vehicles.

The Governor signed Public Act No 07-167 containing Section 35 on June 25, 2007, Composites added to the Emission Testing Exemption effective as of 7-1-2007.

The Reader's Digest version:

Previously there were eleven ( 11 ) categories of vehicles that were exempt from emissions testing. SB 1400 aka Public Act 07-167 Section 35 added to the law/regulation stated above , a 12th category for emission exemptions which applies to all currently registered Composites and future Composite registrations., effective July 1, 2007. Adding the make designation of Composites is the significant change. When reviewing the DMV report of make by year, Composites are listed just like any other mass production make, such as Ford, Honda, Dodge, etc., etc

Nothing else changes as far as the safety inspection at Wethersfield, model year will continue to be the year first registered in CT and make is a Composite, same Tax Assessment method to establish value, designation as a kit car/replica for insurance purposes ( not all Agents are familiar with the term Composites ), maximum dB for the side pipes, registration fees are the same , standard issue plates ( vanity plates can be ordered ) etc., etc.,

Composites and other vehicles which have a model year of 20 years ago were already exempt from emissions, examples being my 1969 AMX and 1979 pick-up. Composites can also be street rods, not just kit cars

Other:

What you may be relating to is the model SEMA legislation, used as is or modified by other states, which was not being favorably received. Refer back to RENEW1's recent posting when the emission exemption for Composites was added to the DMV Bill.

I made an inquiry to the DMV Emissions Co-ordinator as to what action, if any, those that have received an emission test date reminder for July or later need to take, awaiting a reply which I will post

Just as an aside, there is a vast amount of information available on the Executive Branch and General Assembly web sites. Fortunetly, the DMV, Governor's staff and General Assembly staff were extremely helpful in identifing specific links.

Hope this helps, if not, let me know

Don