Well it finally happened. Although San Antonio is a huge and mostly flat city, thanks to our Moronic leadership who are probably being paid under the table for continuing to burn Coal! of all things, for electricity. And also the complete douche bags who go out of their way to make their 10″ exhaust diesel dually trucks spit out black smoke constantly. We are now being compelled to have our vehicles pass what is commonly known as a smog inspection. I have personally witnessed the yellow brown layer of airborne filth hovering over downtown seen from IH10 or while going South down Fredericksburg road after passing the medical center. I thought I would only ever experience that abhorrent shock from the hills overlooking LA. But no, we have defiled South TX.
Well I looked into what I am going to have to do to pass inspection. At this point it is not really an issue for two reasons. Firstly, no testing sites have been put in place, they will be up an operational by Nov 2026 according to law. Secondly, and possibly more importantly, none of my vehicle are currently running…. so there is that.
When I do get some running, I noticed that the air pump system was removed from Maggie the 72 MGB by the previous owner. The 74 blazer never had any emissions parts, Jen the ’74 Jensen Healey, I have no idea if it had anything other than the different carbs that its english counterpart. Betty, my 1998 Silverado has catalytic converters oxygen sensors and some type of .EGR on it as does the white 97 Expedition. But it turns out none of these vehicles will even be tested.
(e) Any vehicle not listed as an exempt vehicle that is capable of being powered by gasoline, from two years old up to and including 24 years old, presented for the annual vehicle safety inspection in affected counties will be presumed to be a designated vehicle and will be emissions tested as a part of the annual vehicle safety inspection.
Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Chapter 23, Subchapter E, Rule ยง23.51, sub rule (e)
According to my math since this will go into practice in 2026 non of the afore mentioned vehicles or even the 2001 Disco will have to take the test, which is good since the air pump on the Disco was removed by the previous owner. So at this point the only vehicles subject to this testing will be the 2004 Cadillac Escalade ESV and the 2006 Hummer H3 neither of which should not have an issue passing but will have to shell out for the extra test. Just something else to hand over money for.
