Bexar County drivers have just days left to renew their vehicle registrations before a new emissions testing requirement takes effect.
Starting Sunday, Nov. 1, vehicles registered in Bexar County will be required to pass an emissions test as part of the registration process.
San Antonio District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears shared Thursday that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) made legal objections on the Environmental Protection Agency’s pause for Bexar County drivers to avoid the emissions test.
Earlier this month, Spears, along with Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody traveled to Washington to work with the EPA to reconsider this requirement. Their argument centered on the Clean Air Act, which allows certain exemptions when pollution in an area comes from outside sources.
Spears previously told KENS 5 that pollution traveling from Mexico, combined with the region’s geography, contributes to the area’s air quality challenges. She also pointed to air quality trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that pollution levels did not improve even when fewer vehicles were on the road.
Spears believes an exemption could help working families and seniors avoid additional expenses, including vehicle repairs she says may be unnecessary.
For now, Bexar County drivers will need to account for the added emissions test when renewing their vehicle registrations beginning Sunday.