Ontario to give ‘grace period’ for truckers caught in Drive Clean time squeeze

TORONTO (Sept. 8, 1999) — Emissions testing for heavy-duty trucks and buses in Ontario will start on Sept. 30 as scheduled, but the province will give heavy-duty vehicles until Jan. 15, 2000, to have their registrations renewed without proof that the vehicle has passed the test.

The “transition period” was established because only 11 shops have been accredited to conduct the tests under the province’s Drive Clean emissions testing program. The grace period applies to registration renewal for all diesel vehicles registered in Ontario and non-diesel (powered by gasoline, propane, or natural gas) in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton-Wentworth Region that are more than three model-years old.

All affected heavy-duty vehicles must carry their emissions pass certificate from Jan. 15, 2000, until Jan. 14, 2001, or the operators could face prosecution under Ontario’s Environmental Protection Act. A heavy-duty emissions pass certificate will be valid for 12 months from its date of issue, and it is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to ensure its annual renewal.

The Ministry of Environment blamed the shortage of facilities on the lack of adequate test equipment. That equipment is now available, the MOE said, and heavy-duty emissions tests facilities are being accredited as quickly as possible.

The Ontario Trucking Association said it was told by MOE officials that there will be 150 certified inspection stations set up by the end of September and 250 by the end of October.

As of Jan. 15, 2000, compliance with the emissions testing requirement will be actively enforced, the province warned.