Jalisco’s Programa de Verificación Vehicular Obligatoria (obligatory vehicle emissions testing program) is in a constant state of flux, no more so than in 2016. The year has started with several changes that will culminate with the launch of a completely revamped program, authorities say, later in the spring.
The program is designed to curb air pollution and obliges owners of cars with Jalisco plates to take their vehicles for a smog check to an authorized garage or taller once a year, at a designated time that is compliant on the final number of their license plates.
All private vehicles with plates ending in “1” should be tested in January. The sequence follows with the number “2” in February, “3” in March, “4” in April, “5” in May. June is a rest month. Cars with plates ending in “6” must be taken for checks in July, “7” in August, “8” in September, “9” in October and “0” in November.
This year, traffic cops identifying vehicles being driven without up-to-date verification stickers will be ticketed immediately. In the past, motorists were given a window of 14 days to take their vehicles for a check.
The fine has also increased to 1,460 pesos. There will be no discount for early payment.
The checks themselves, carried out at authorized garages, agencies and service outlets throughout Jalisco, have also changed. Cars will now be checked with their wheels in motion, instead of stationary as previously. Some garage owners have complained that upgrading their equipment to perform the new tests has been complicated and expensive. Quite a few have decided to exit the program for this reason.
Officials at the State Environment Agency (Semadet) say plans to revamp the program are moving forward quickly and could be ready as soon as April. Pre-announced changes including standardizing the cost of obtaining the verification sticker/hologram (currently between 250 and 450 pesos), making checks obligatory for motorcycles and possibly excluding late-model cars.
The majority of approved testing stations are in Guadalajara. While the program is mainly enforced in the metropolitan area, it does cover the entire state of Jalisco. To view a list of all the authorized testing locations in the state, go to semadet.jalisco.gob.mx.
Word from the State Transportation Department (Semov) suggests that teams of traffic cops are being sent out on to Guadalajara streets to specifically look for vehicles without Verificación stickers.