Nov. 18, 2005. 11:40 AM
CANADIAN PRESS
Ontario's Drive Clean emissions-testing program is being changed to exempt new cars and trucks for five years instead of three.
Environment Minister Laurel Broten says the changes, starting in January, are being made because newer vehicles are passing Drive Clean "more than 99 per cent of the time."
Vehicles 12 years and older will have to be tested every year, while light-duty trucks more than 20 years old will no longer be exempt.
Broten says owners will now have to pay up to $600 for repairs on a vehicle that fails its test, up from the current $450 maximum.
However, vehicles transferred between family members will no longer need testing.
It will also be an offence to create, distribute or use false Drive Clean passes.
CANADIAN PRESS
Ontario's Drive Clean emissions-testing program is being changed to exempt new cars and trucks for five years instead of three.
Environment Minister Laurel Broten says the changes, starting in January, are being made because newer vehicles are passing Drive Clean "more than 99 per cent of the time."
Vehicles 12 years and older will have to be tested every year, while light-duty trucks more than 20 years old will no longer be exempt.
Broten says owners will now have to pay up to $600 for repairs on a vehicle that fails its test, up from the current $450 maximum.
However, vehicles transferred between family members will no longer need testing.
It will also be an offence to create, distribute or use false Drive Clean passes.