Study on ending Northwest Indiana vehicle emissions testing wins House approval

Brown explained the testing requirement, which has been place since 1984 and costs the state more than $5 million a year, no longer is needed because Region motorists are not the primary source of emissions.

He said air pollution in Illinois and vehicles traveling through Northwest Indiana put out more emissions than the cars and trucks registered in Lake and Porter counties — the only two Indiana counties where testing is required.

"This is a real pain in the neck in Northwest Indiana," said state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, a co-sponsor of the proposal.

If also approved by the Senate, the study committee would issue by Nov. 1 its recommendations for eliminating emissions testing.