In the United States, vehicle safety inspections and emissions checks are regulated by individual states individually. 17 countries have periodic (annual or bi-annual) security inspections, while Maryland and Alabama require safety checks on the sale or transfer of vehicles previously registered in other states.
In 1977, the federal Clean Air Act was amended by Congress to require states to implement vehicle emission inspection programs, known as the I/M program (for Inspection and Maintenance), in all metropolitan areas The main air quality fails to meet certain federal standards. The New York program began in 1982, the California program ("Smog Check") began in 1984, and the Illinois program began in 1986. The Clean Air Act of 1990 requires several states to establish vehicle emission inspection programs. Affected countries are those in metropolitan areas where air quality does not meet federal standards. Several states, including Kentucky and Minnesota, have suspended their testing programs in recent years with the approval of the federal government.
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