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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80818</law_id><section_number>46.2-1176</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>10.1-1307</reference><reference>46.2-1150</reference><reference>46.2-1176</reference><reference>46.2-1177.1</reference><reference>46.2-1178</reference><reference>46.2-602.1</reference><reference>46.2-602.3</reference><reference>46.2-730</reference><reference>46.2-908.3</reference><reference>58.1-438.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="10">Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="22">Emissions Inspections</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the following meanings except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Basic, <span class="dictionary">test and repair</span> program</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> emissions inspection system established by regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> which shall designate the use of an OBD-II (on-<span class="dictionary">board</span> diagnostic system) with wireless capability, and a two-speed idle analyzer as the only authorized testing equipment. Only those computer software programs and emissions testing procedures necessary to comply with the applicable provisions of Title I of the federal Clean Air Act shall be included. Such testing equipment shall be approvable for <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> manufacturers&#x2019; warranty repairs.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the State Air Pollution Control <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Certificate of emissions inspection</span>&#x201D; means a document, device, or symbol, prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> and issued pursuant to this article, which indicates that (i) a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> has satisfactorily complied with the emissions standards and passed the emissions inspection provided for in this article; (ii) the requirement of compliance with such emissions standards has been waived; or (iii) the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> has failed such emissions inspection.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Director</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Emissions inspection station</span>&#x201D; means any facility or portion of a facility that has obtained an <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span> permit from the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> authorizing the facility to perform emissions inspections in accordance with this article.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Enhanced emissions inspection program</span>&#x201D; means a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> emissions inspection system established by regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that shall designate, as the only authorized testing equipment for <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection stations</span>, (i) the use of the ASM 50-15 (acceleration simulation mode or method) together with an OBD-II (on-<span class="dictionary">board</span> diagnostic system) with wireless capability, (ii) the use of the ASM 50-15 together with the use of a dynamometer, and (iii) two-speed tailpipe testing equipment. <span class="dictionary">Possession</span> and availability of a dynamometer shall be required for enhanced <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection stations</span>. Only those computer software programs and emissions testing procedures necessary to comply with applicable provisions of Title I of the federal Clean Air Act shall be included. Such testing equipment shall be approvable for <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> manufacturers&#x2019; warranty repairs. An <span class="dictionary">enhanced emissions inspection program</span> shall include <span class="dictionary">remote sensing</span> and an <span class="dictionary">on-road clean screen program</span> as provided in this article.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fleet <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span></span>&#x201D; means any inspection facility operated under a permit issued to a qualified fleet <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or lessee as determined by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Motor vehicle</span>&#x201D; means any vehicle that:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Is designed for the transportation of persons or property; and <a id="paragraph-289702" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1176/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Is powered by an internal combustion engine.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">On-road clean screen program</span>&#x201D; means a program that allows a motor vehicle <span class="dictionary">owner</span> to voluntarily certify compliance with emissions standards by means of on-road <span class="dictionary">remote sensing</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">On-road emissions inspector</span>&#x201D; means the entity or entities authorized by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality to perform <span class="dictionary">on-road testing</span>, including <span class="dictionary">on-road testing</span> in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">on-road clean screen program</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">On-road testing</span>&#x201D; <span class="dictionary">means tests</span> of motor vehicle emissions or emissions control devices by means of roadside pullovers or <span class="dictionary">remote sensing</span> devices.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Program coordinator</span>&#x201D; means any person or corporation that has entered into a <span class="dictionary">contract</span> with the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> to provide services in accordance with this article.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Qualified hybrid motor vehicle</span>&#x201D; means a motor vehicle that (i) meets or exceeds all applicable regulatory requirements, (ii) meets or exceeds the applicable federal motor vehicle emissions standards for gasoline-powered <span class="dictionary">passenger cars</span>, and (iii) can draw propulsion energy both from gasoline or diesel fuel and a rechargeable energy storage system.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Referee station</span>&#x201D; means an inspection facility operated or used by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Environmental Quality (i) to determine program effectiveness, (ii) to resolve emissions inspection conflicts between motor vehicle <span class="dictionary">owners</span> and <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection stations</span>, and (iii) to provide such other technical support and information, as appropriate, to <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection stations</span> and vehicle <span class="dictionary">owners</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Remote sensing</span>&#x201D; means the measurement of motor vehicle emissions through electronic or <span class="dictionary">light</span>-sensing equipment from a remote location such as the roadside. <span class="dictionary">Remote sensing</span> equipment may include devices to detect and record the vehicle&#x2019;s registration or other identification numbers.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Test and repair</span>&#x201D; means motor vehicle emissions inspection facilities that perform official motor vehicle emissions inspections and may also perform vehicle repairs. No regulation of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pertaining to <span class="dictionary">test and repair</span> shall bar inspection facilities from also performing vehicle repairs. Emissions inspections and vehicle safety inspections may be performed in the same service bay, provided that the facility is both an <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span> and an official safety inspection station pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Official inspection stations; safety inspection approval stickers; actions of Superintendent subject to the Administrative Process Act" href="/46.2-1163/">46.2-1163</a> and <a class="law" title="Minimum standards required for inspection stations; appointments" href="/46.2-1166/">46.2-1166</a>. Emissions inspections may be performed in any service bay of the <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span> or, if by wireless means, in any other area on the premises of the <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Validation program</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">program validation</span>&#x201D; means a program approved by the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> by which <span class="dictionary">vehicles</span> are randomly identified and provided a free emissions inspection for the purpose of monitoring the effectiveness of the emissions inspection program. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">validation program</span>&#x201D; may be conducted at an <span class="dictionary">emissions inspection station</span>, as defined by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-1176/">46.2-1176</a>, in conjunction with a state safety inspection or using <span class="dictionary">on-road testing</span>. <a id="paragraph-289703" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1176/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1980, c. 469, &#xA7; 46.1-326.2; 1982, c. 92; 1984, c. 256; 1988, cc. 81, 806; 1989, c. 727; 1993, cc. 995, 998; 1993, Sp. Sess., c. 2; 1994, c. 838; 1995, cc. 836, 851; 2000, c. 311; 2002, c. 710; 2004, c. 915; 2012, cc. 216, 824.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
