Today could be called emissions testing freedom day.
According to the Hamilton County Clerk’s website and related news and media reports, emissions testing will finally become nothing more or less than an unfortunate memory as of Jan. 14, 2022.
According to the County Clerk’s office, a vehicle owner has the privilege of renewing a vehicle registration online for up to 90 days following the renewal due date. Thereafter, renewal must be in person.
Do the math. If your tag is soon coming up for renewal, based on the information that has been released, it appears that a vehicle owner could avoid emissions testing until sunrise on Jan. 14, 2022. Then, tag renewal could be accomplished online, with no forced, face-to-face (mask-to-mask) emissions testing result required.
You might briefly risk a citation for driving on an expired tag, but at least you can choose to skip the forced testing process and the associated, forced face-to-face human exposure during a pandemic.
Thanks to our elected officials for removing this ridiculous nine dollar inconvenience from our already complicated daily responsibilities.
Michael Mallen