6/15/04-Gov. Phil Bredesen signed legislation June 8 giving the Tennessee Air Board power to require counties to conduct vehicle exhaust inspections by mid-2005.
Under the new law, previously HB3498, an inspection would be required before an owner can renew the vehicle registration. Motor vehicles failing the smog check would have to receive needed repairs to reduce emissions before going back on the road.
The new rule follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s declaration in April that all or part of 18 Tennessee counties failed to meet federal standards for ozone pollution.
Small counties with fewer than 50,000 registered vehicles wouldn’t be required to set up a smog testing program.