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9VAC5-40-5670. Motor vehicles.

A. Emission control systems.

1. No owner or other person shall cause or permit the removal, disconnection or disabling of a crankcase emission control system or device, exhaust emission control system or device, fuel evaporative emission control system or device, or other air pollution control system or device which has been installed on a motor vehicle in accordance with federal laws and regulations while such motor vehicle is operating in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2. No owner or other person shall attempt to defeat the purpose of any such motor vehicle pollution control system or device by installing any part or component which is not a standard factory replacement part or component of the device.

3. No motor vehicle or engine shall be operated with the motor vehicle pollution control system or device removed or otherwise rendered inoperable.

4. The provisions of this section shall not prohibit or prevent shop adjustments or replacement of equipment for maintenance or repair, or the conversion of engines to low polluting fuels such as, but not limited to, natural gas or propane.

B. Visible emissions.

1. No owner or other person shall cause or permit the emission of visible air pollutants from gasoline-powered motor vehicles for longer than five consecutive seconds after the engine has been brought up to operating temperature.

2. No owner or other person shall cause or permit the emission of visible air pollutants from diesel-powered motor vehicles of a density equal to or greater than 20% opacity for longer than 10 consecutive seconds after the engine has been brought up to operating temperature.

C. In commercial or residential urban areas, propulsion engines of motor vehicles licensed for commercial or public service use shall not be left running for more than three minutes when the vehicle is parked, unless the propulsion engine is providing auxiliary power for other than heating or air conditioning; except that:

1. Tour buses may idle for up to 10 minutes during hot weather in order to maintain power to the air conditioning system; and

2. Diesel powered vehicles may idle for up to 10 minutes to minimize restart problems.

Statutory Authority

§§ 10.1-1307 and 10.1-1308 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR120-04-4103, eff. January 1, 1985.


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