Counties in Maryland imposing the Rain Tax (Annapolis, Berlin: car inspection, live)

[bufflove]

Most everyone does the emissions test at a self-serve station these days. It's $10 and you plug a cord into the car's computer for a minute. Having someone stick something to the end of a tailpipe isn't done except to cars from 25+ years ago. Unless OP has a marginally maintained vintage car, you don't need to worry about an emissions test. You'll pass it so long as the check engine light isn't on.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Most everyone does the emissions test at a self-serve station these days. It's $10 and you plug a cord into the car's computer for a minute. Having someone stick something to the end of a tailpipe isn't done except to cars from 25+ years ago. Unless OP has a marginally maintained vintage car, you don't need to worry about an emissions test. You'll pass it so long as the check engine light isn't on.

Most everyone you may know, but no one I know. Those "options" aren't available in most of the state, there are only 10 locations.

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/programs...kFlyer2016.pdf

[bufflove]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Most everyone you may know, but no one I know. Those "options" aren't available in most of the state, there are only 10 locations.

http://www.mva.maryland.gov/programs...kFlyer2016.pdf

Was the previous commenter incorrect about the requirements only being imposed on central counties?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Was the previous commenter incorrect about the requirements only being imposed on central counties?

Depends on how you define "central".

VEIP - General Requirements

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Most everyone does the emissions test at a self-serve station these days.
It's $10 and you plug a cord into the car's computer for a minute.

That's done as a part of the $35 'safety inspection' down here.
The rest of the wasted time there is mostly spent talking about fishing or dogs.
(barely even a cursory glance at the car otherwise)

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Most everyone does the emissions test at a self-serve station these days. It's $10 and you plug a cord into the car's computer for a minute. Having someone stick something to the end of a tailpipe isn't done except to cars from 25+ years ago. Unless OP has a marginally maintained vintage car, you don't need to worry about an emissions test. You'll pass it so long as the check engine light isn't on.

Not if your car is 2016 or newer. They haven't updated the kiosks to to handle them yet. We found that out when we took our 2017 to the kiosk and the system said it wasn't able to test it and to go to the regular VEIP station (This was the afternoon before they shut the VEIP stations down to convert them to drive thru COVID testing (Which they still haven't opened).


We were there half an hour before they closed (along with the three cars that had tried the kiosk before us). I mentioned that I thought the Kiosk might be broken so they could report it. He told me no they just haven't put in the new data det for the 2016 and newer cars yet! This is March of 2020. Some of these cars have been out for almost 5 years (fall of 2015).

[stank1964]

Don’t move to MD. Sure there are lots of jobs and the pay can be great, but the quality of life is bad and getting worse everyday. We’re crammed into a place that was not built to support this kind of population density. As the available land goes away in the Baltimore/DC corridor, we’re force to build up and pile the people on top of each other, think condos and stacked dwellings. The more congested things get the angrier the population is becoming, especially when the people are doing the most dangerous thing we do in our normal lives, drive. If you’re gonna die today, it’s likely in an auto accident. Marylanders largely do not behave like they realize this and stupidity of all sorts on the roads is the way it is. This is all not very good and no longer worth the money for our family.

The rain tax is the least of our problems around here.

[stank1964]

Originally Posted by bufflove

Most everyone does the emissions test at a self-serve station these days. It's $10 and you plug a cord into the car's computer for a minute. Having someone stick something to the end of a tailpipe isn't done except to cars from 25+ years ago. Unless OP has a marginally maintained vintage car, you don't need to worry about an emissions test. You'll pass it so long as the check engine light isn't on.

It’s not self service in Maryland. This work is being done by State employees with a tax payer funded pension plan.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by stank1964

It’s not self service in Maryland. This work is being done by State employees with a tax payer funded pension plan.

The electronic self test kiosks are unattended self service, pay by credit card. The one in Frederick is on the edge of the parking lot at the DMV. I was told they didn't put it at the VEIP station because the VEIP stations are run on a multiyear contract and NOT state property or state employees.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

The electronic self test kiosks are unattended self service, pay by credit card. The one in Frederick is on the edge of the parking lot at the DMV. I was told they didn't put it at the VEIP station because the VEIP stations are run on a multiyear contract and NOT state property or state employees.

That's correct. The VEIP stations are contracted out/privatized. Which, at the end of the day, always ends up costing more.