Jalisco’s revamped mandatory emissions testing program for privately owned vehicles, known as Verificacion Responsable (Responsible Verification), began its second year of operation this month.
The program, however, lacks teeth since fines for non-complaince are still being waived.
This week, Jalisco Environment Secretary Sergio Graf announced that fines will start to be applied as of January 2023 for vehicles corresponding to this year’s August-December testing schedule.
Graf said that in its first year of operation, only 12 percent of car owners in the Jalisco took their vehicles for an emissions check. Although he admitted that glitches in the appointments system caused a backlog, the absence of fines for non-compliance is regarded as the main reason for the low figure. In contrast, the program in Mexico City has 80 percent compliance, with automatic fines issued to people who fail to get their cars tested.
Checks in Jalisco are given at Centros de Verificación Responsable, or CVRs, and can be booked and paid for online at a cost of 500 pesos. There are seven CVRs in the Guadalajara metropolitan area, and two up and running outside the city, in Puerto Vallarta and Ocotlan. Car owners can choose the center they wish to use while making the booking.
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