The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is partnering with the Illinois EPA to make the emissions testing process easier for drivers.
Sec. of State Alexi Giannoulias pulled up to a mobile emissions testing van at the DMV facility at 99th and King Drive in his personal vehicle, a Volvo wagon.
The test took no time.
“First of all, did you pass,” he was asked.
“Passed, yes, I knew you were going to ask that question,” he said. “Good news for my wife and I.”
To be clear, this is not a Secretary of State requirement.
It's a state EPA requirement.
It was pointed out, this is something people love to hate.
“Yes, everyone hates it, unequivocally," Giannoulias said.
He said when he was first elected, someone on the street yelled at him about emissions testing.
At the time, he said, he told them he was “pretty sure” his office has nothing to do with it.
Now, it does.
He said, "we're trying to make it easier.”
Complaints followed the closing of testing facilities a decade ago.
This is Philip Millar, with the EPA.
"The EPA had gotten feedback from the motoring public, you know, 'where are the locations in Chicago?,'” he said.
The mobile site in the parking lot at the south side DMV facility is a month-long pilot program.
And its expected to spread to other DMV locations.