COVER STORY: Drive Clean Update

Phase II Ushered In, One Facility Kicked Out

In January 1 of 2001, Ontario’s emissions testing program, Drive Clean, expanded to more than a dozen new centers across Southern Ontario.

“We’re running 360 facilities (in Phase II),” said Charles Ross at Drive Clean’s offices. “There are some delays and lineups and some complaints, but there usually are when people are getting used to the program.”

The expansion of the program comes on the heels of one Toronto garage losing its accreditation as a Drive Clean facility for falsifying tests. Apparently, the facility was inputting vehicle data for the vehicle to be tested, but then actually testing another vehicle.

According to the Ministry of the Environment, Baha Car Care and Tyre Centre in Rexdale, Ont., and an employee were also fined a total of $16,500. According to the Drive Clean office, an investigation was launched after a complaint by a consumer. Data analysis revealed substantial discrepancies between the test results reported and what would have been expected for the vehicle indicated on the testing records.

In addition, two other facilities are due to appear on similar charges and an additional two firms voluntarily withdrew from the program after performance reviews.

While the fines are substantial, they aren’t the largest cost to the business. “They’ve got the testing equipment–perhaps up to $100,000 worth–and they’re left with that,” says Ross, adding that it might have other uses to the business, or that it could be sold “but they won’t be doing any more Drive Clean tests.”

While there are other facilities under investigation, the number of complaints isn’t considered a serious problem. “We don’t think we have a lot in light of the number of tests being done (2.25 million overall),” says Ross.