[Gh0stRider]

Is Aircare on the verge of drawing its last breath?

Environment Minister Terry Lake will make an announcement on the future of the 20-year-old agency in Burnaby this afternoon.

A government news release notes a lot of things have changed since the program was launched, but it also mentions options for the future.

In March, lake told CKNW's Simi Sara he would like to see heavy duty vehicles included in aircare testing.

The agency has a 15 million dollar annual budget.

Local News Story (http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1709368)

[Glove]

stop testing old little cars in an attempt to scrap them,

start testing big semi's

the whole process is retarded anyway,

just dump pure ethanol in half your tank and you will pass everytime anyway

[hongy]

I understand the point of Aircare, or at least I think so, but why did my 6 year old toyota have to be tested for aircare? Every other car there with me were 90s/80s cars, just seemed odd that a car that is still fairly new would have to go through air care, pay 42$ and be done in less then a minute.

[A$AProcky]

I understand the point of Aircare, or at least I think so, but why did my 6 year old toyota have to be tested for aircare? Every other car there with me were 90s/80s cars, just seemed odd that a car that is still fairly new would have to go through air care, pay 42$ and be done in less then a minute.

thats why

[Spectre_Cdn]

I paid $45 yesterday, for a 98 Honda :suspicious: all they did was read via obdII, for 2 mins.

[tiger_handheld]

I understand the point of Aircare, or at least I think so, but why did my 6 year old toyota have to be tested for aircare? Every other car there with me were 90s/80s cars, just seemed odd that a car that is still fairly new would have to go through air care, pay 42$ and be done in less then a minute.

thats why


I thought A/C was for cars older than 7 years. Has that changed?

I personally think A/C is good - it's just there is no logic behind the execution. Rip off the poor sole making min wage delivering pizza on his 87 Civic. I'm sure if that person had the money, he'd be driving a 2007 civic and owning the pizza joint. I dont see how this is any different than writing up a bum jumping the skytrain. Maybe have a low income pass feature?

Also about semi's - are they not subject to A/C or is the agency too pussy to piss off industry?

[Gridlock]

I thought A/C was for cars older than 7 years. Has that changed?

I personally think A/C is good - it's just there is no logic behind the execution. Rip off the poor sole making min wage delivering pizza on his 87 Civic. I'm sure if that person had the money, he'd be driving a 2007 civic and owning the pizza joint. I dont see how this is any different than writing up a bum jumping the skytrain. Maybe have a low income pass feature?

Also about semi's - are they not subject to A/C or is the agency too pussy to piss off industry?

i have recently learned that you can bump the gvw of your truck to 5001 lbs(I assume) and its aircare exempt....but you pay more insurance, but can legally haul more weight.

[Gh0stRider]

CKNW has learned the provincial government will phase out emissions testing of cars and light trucks in the Aircare program.

Environment Minister Terry Lake will make an announcement in Burnaby this afternoon on the future of the 20-year-old agency.
Sources say the focus will be shifted to heavier vehicles like semi's and R-V's, but it's not clear yet whether Aircare itself will survive the change.

The agency employs about 140 people and claims it has helped reduce vehicle emissions in metro vancouver by 33 per-cent since 1992.

[iam_dan]

thank god.

goodbye aircare. not gonna miss you.

[Gh0stRider]

thank god.

goodbye aircare. not gonna miss you.

waiting for confirmation...but


not till 2014?

RT @jonathanfowlie: Expecting Air Care to be cancelled for cars and light trucks in 2014. Heavier vehicles still subject to some form of testing. #bcpoli

[Santofu]

If that's true...
Finally we can use that money to pay for gas instead. :fuckyea:

[tiger_handheld]

I would prefer if they kept A/C at $45 per year and got rid of the gas tax :D

here is to hoping

[Gh0stRider]

@CKNW: It's official: Aircare to end by Dec 31, 2014; in meantime #BCGov 2 consult on reducing diesel/partic emissions from trucks etc. #bcpoli
@CKNW: Also, Aircare fees 2 b cut, but news release doesn't mention figure.

[RE-Jo]

AirCare emissions testing program | About Us - FAQs (http://www.aircare.ca/aboutus-qa.php)

The current testing contract with Envirotest Canada to provide light-duty vehicle emissions testing in this region runs until December 31, 2012. The Province has not made a decision on the future of light-duty vehicle emissions testing beyond 2012.

[k20a]

They've been saying aircare is gonna be gone in so and so year, NOPE still around.

[optiblue]

They keep saying it'll be phased out, but then keeps coming back. What bugs me about air care is that only people within the Lower Mainland need to have it done ie. Squamish residents and all towns/cities further away are exempt. With the new OBDII plug and check, you might as well have it so that you can't insure your car with a CEL through ICBC. Why bother with having facilities for doing it.

[Gridlock]

One day after the election: BC NDP introduce comprehensive vehicle testing to take place once yearly for $50 dollars, in locations conveniently in the same building that housed aircare.

And then people can talk for years about how aircare was nothing compared to this shit. All I had to do was pour a bottle of methyl hydrate in the tank and off we go.

[noventa]

My 240 sx has waited 10 years for this moment!

[noventa]

Now if only they would stop doing vi's

[spoon.ek9]

I hope it's all true this time around. I had a hell of a time getting my previous motor (a 1.5L non-vtec D15B2) to fucking pass aircare. I sure as shit wasn't doing as much harm to the environment as the V6's, the V8's and the diesel vehicles spewing out huge clouds of black smoke. fucking aircare :rukidding:

[The_AK]

thank god.

goodbye aircare. not gonna miss you.

Good bye catalytic converter
:fullofwin:

(come at me)

[tofu1413]

didnt they renew the contract to run aircare a couple months ago?? im so confused now.... god, government, make up ur minds already!

[1exotic]

nutty brah now drive around with a 6" full straight pipe exhaust

[Volvo-brickster]

Good bye catalytic converter
:fullofwin:

(come at me)

I havent had one on in 4+ years

had to put it on for 2 weeks last year to pass, took it off the very same day :fullofwin:

[skittle]

Good bye catalytic converter
:fullofwin:

(come at me)

Same here, time for full catless!

[clowe]

I thought A/C was for cars older than 7 years. Has that changed?

Don't think so, mine is just about 7 years old I only got the A/C letter this year. The test took like a minute...and gotta do it again in 2014 :fuuuuu:

[falcon]

Just passed a few weeks ago and it's good for two years. Do the cancel insurance a day before it expires and re insure for a year trick and I'm good for 3. So if this happens looks like I won't have to go do aircare ever again!

[bcrdukes]

Do the cancel insurance a day before it expires and re insure for a year trick and I'm good for 3. So if this happens looks like I won't have to go do aircare ever again!

It doesn't work. ICBC will already know well in advance you have to do Aircare.

[fliptuner]

NEW BYLAW WILL IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

http://www.metrovancouver.org/mediaroom/Media%20Releases/2011-02-25-New_Bylaw_Will_Improve_Air_Quality_and_Public_Heal th.pdf

[belaud]

nutty brah now drive around with a 6" full straight pipe exhaust


way ahead of you.

[MK-EK]

i use a cat for about .... 2 hours a year ....

hopefully come 2015 it would b 0

:ilied:

[originalhypa]

It doesn't work. ICBC will already know well in advance you have to do Aircare.

They tried to stop me from doing that last spring. I cancelled with 2 weeks left, and wanted to buy another year. The insurance agent's ICBC computer said "no dice". I was like "WTF?!", so my agent called ICBC direct. It took a bit of nagging, but they allowed me to do another year. It had to be manually changed by ICBC.

Those cunts will try to stop you, but the law is the law. If your car is due for aircare on July 2nd, and you cancel on June 30th but buy another year on July 1st, you're still well within your legal right to do so. It's a loophole, and until it's closed they can't legally stop you.

But they will try..... :failed:

[fliptuner]

What's the point of having an expiration date if you can't insure within it? That's so fucking retarded.

If I can get 2years+364 days out of my Aircare, fuck you.

[RS_Pat]

Could try that changing address out of the GVRD and changing back. Worked for me before but the concern was not so much the cost as the ability to pass Aircare!

[bcrdukes]

Study to examine if AirCare should be used on diesel trucks - News1130 (http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/385437--study-to-examine-if-aircare-should-be-used-on-diesel-trucks)


Study to examine if AirCare should be used on diesel trucks
There is no consistent monitoring of pollutants pouring from diesel-powered trucks
Erin Loxam Jul 23, 2012 14:39:38 PM

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - At a time when AirCare is getting phased out, Metro Vancouver wants to bring it back for diesel trucks. A three month study may show we need it.

"Diesel is one of the most harmful forms of air pollution," explains Vancouver city councillor Heather Deal, chair of Metro Vancouver's Environment and Parks Committee. "Especially the very fine dust, the soot that comes from diesel, we know is a serious health concern."

Currently, Deal claims there is no consistent monitoring of pollutants pouring from diesel-powered trucks passing through the region, "The province currently stops trucks that have visible smoke billowing out of them and tests them. But there's no regular AirCare for them at this time and we think there should be in the future."

"We believe this should be regulated," she adds. "We believe it should come under the AirCare program. We have requested that from the province."

The three month study uses high tech Infrared and ultraviolet beams as sensors. As exhaust passes through them, they give a reading of the emissions from semi-trailer trucks, dump trucks, buses and other heavy duty vehicles. Similar technology has been used by the US Environmental Protection Agency over the last 20 years.

Deal says the $130,000 cost of the study is split among several jurisdictions.

Additionally, Deal and Metro Vancouver is calling for AirCare for regular cars to continue past 2014, extending it to 2020.

:pokerface: :suspicious: :fulloffuck: :failed:

[46_valentinor]

lol you guys must be dreaming. Aircare will never go away unless they replace it with something even more profitable.

[spoon.ek9]

well.... fuck :pokerface:

[spyker]

lol you guys must be dreaming. Aircare will never go away unless they replace it with something even more profitable.

Ever heard of the useless carbon tax?

[death_blossom]

let's just hope that this gets delayed and swept under the rug, in typical bureaucratic fashion.

[Acura604]

Should it be allowed to live? approx. 110 jobs on the line.


BCGEU makes last-gasp plea to save AirCare program (http://www.theprovince.com/business/BCGEU+trying+save+AirCare+program/9152600/story.html)

A union is appealing to Metro Vancouver in an attempt to save AirCare.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union is making a pitch to Metro’s environment and parks committee Thursday for support to maintain the emission-testing program for cars and light trucks — even though the provincial government has announced the Lower Mainland program will conclude in 2014.

The BCGEU’s contention is that ending AirCare will result in more pollution because about 12 per cent of all vehicles fail tests annually.

Without the required AirCare approval, those vehicles might not get repaired and would continue to produce harmful emissions.

A BCGEU study supporting AirCare, Renewing Our Commitment to Clean Air in B.C., has been endorsed by the Asthma Society of Canada, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Sierra Club of B.C., the Environmental Youth Alliance, the Hospital Employees Union and the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378.

But the study won’t get much support from Langley City councillor Gayle Martin, the vice-chairwoman of the Metro committee.

“Personally, I think AirCare has done its job and I’m happy to see it leave at the end of 2014,” said Martin Monday.

“The newer cars, they’re not polluting like they used to,” said Martin.

“What I’m concerned about is the trucks,” she said.

While Port Metro Vancouver is paying for television ads promoting the reduction of diesel emissions from vessels that now use shore-based power instead of running their engines, there are a significant number of tractor trailers and off-road equipment that only get periodic testing from mobile units.

Martin doesn’t think that’s sufficient.

“I would be happy if they had an AirCare for commercial trucks,” she said.

Jordan Bateman, the B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, didn’t know enough about truck emissions to address that issue but he agreed with Martin that AirCare for cars isn’t necessary anymore.

“AirCare is a program that has run its course,” he said. “The AirCare cut was the first good news for car-driving taxpayers we’ve probably had in 15 years.

“Air quality is better than ever,” said Bateman. “The problems we had in the 1990s when AirCare started, we don’t have anymore.”

AirCare’s own report about results and observations from 2011 and 2012 said emissions from light-duty vehicles decreased from 149,300 tonnes in 1992 when the program began to 18,500 tonnes in 2012 — an 89 per cent reduction.

The majority of that, 58 per cent, came from new vehicle technology but AirCare gave itself credit for 31 per cent of the reduction.

About 110 BCGEU jobs are also on the line as a result of the AirCare cancellation.

[snails]

only reason i boosted my car was because i thought aircare was ending... well... shit!

:ohgodwhy:

[sonick]

What frustrates me about this appeal, is that the BCGEU is wasting time and effort in appealing with these relatively weak arguments to save an obsolete program, instead of taking that time and trying to help find these employees positions in gov't programs that are actually useful.

[falcon]

Nobody has anything to worry about. It won't make a difference, AirCare is gone.

[kleensleper]

I will not miss Aircare. End the program already.

[jackal]

here's an idea: icbc needs to look at like a 5-10 year plan. they have all these testing facilities that will soon be a waste of space. they need to tear down the old buildings and construct drivers testing facilities. then you go out and create a bunch of jobs by training and hiring testers and all the people needed to staff the new facilities. then you implement a mandatory driver retest every 5 years. final result: more jobs, less shit drivers on the road, less accidents, lower insurance costs, less traffic, more people using public transit. holy shit i just solved a crap load of problems!!!

[dared3vil0]

No aircare? Catless mid pipe time! :troll:

[jpark]

kinda sucks as aircare was my primary source to check vehicle mileage when buying a car.
other than that, good

[wingies]

fk my aircare is up this year and I have to do it just to get licensed for 1 more year lol

[snails]

fk my aircare is up this year and I have to do it just to get licensed for 1 more year lol


uninsure then re insure before it runs out

you are welcome :badpokerface:

[vitaminG]

kinda sucks as aircare was my primary source to check vehicle mileage when buying a car.
other than that, good

Half the time the idiots working there don't even record it properly. They put my car 200k when it was 150k one year and and I didn't notice, then when I go to sell it everyone thought I rolled it back.
Posted via RS Mobile

[GS8]

Keeping Aircare reports helped me immensely when selling a vehicle privately.

[Puck Luck]

Should it be allowed to live? approx. 110 jobs on the line.

I think thats the only reason BCGEU is fighting for this. I think the majority of these 110 jobs are very little skills involved. Dead end jobs anyways. They could go to Mcdonald's and fit right in. Flippin a burger, flippin a gas cap, or go pick apples in an orchard.
I'm happy to see aircare is dead. At our dealer we might see 1 aircare every month or 2. Had my aircare ticket from 96 until last year. Chose not to renew it, rarely used it in the last couple years

[CL typeS]

uninsure then re insure before it runs out

you are welcome :badpokerface:

I dont think that works if your aircare is expired, it works if your aircare is still valid before your insurance expires.

[bcrdukes]

uninsure then re insure before it runs out

you are welcome :badpokerface:

It doesn't work. ICBC closed this loophole many years ago.

[RE-Jo]

Any updates anyone?

[phantom x]

There done, and they are dropping there fees 2$ a month until dec , it will be 14$ by december
Posted via RS Mobile

[raincouver]

I need to renew in October. Brought my car in for AC today and it failed due to what looks like failed O2 sensors (checked the codes). If I get 3 months insurance that will get till mid January 2015. Wondering if they will let me renew then without aircare (if I don't get my car fixed)?

[phantom x]

They have too , there will be no aircare .

[raincouver]

Yup....just called the ICBC hotline. Lady said just get the three months and then renew.

[flagella]

How much is aircare again? For temporary renewal for 3 months without aircare, I remember there's some extra fees you have to pay? Forgot how much.

[raincouver]

Inspection fee for cars 1992 and newer

September - $20
October - $18
November - $16
December - $14

[vancitylove]

The site on Charles and Boundary already has a for lease sign.

[BBMme]

I'm pretty happy about this

[jshen]

How much is aircare again? For temporary renewal for 3 months without aircare, I remember there's some extra fees you have to pay? Forgot how much.

If I recall correctly, it was $75 for 3 months. Please confirm if you find out.

[J____]

what about a 1978 car? So i can walk in to an insurance provider next year and just insure it without aircare even if it's spewing black smoke?

[flagella]

If I recall correctly, it was $75 for 3 months. Please confirm if you find out.

Hmm looks like it's way cheaper to just get air cared instead of getting a temp insurance to bypass it.

[RE-Jo]

We should have a get together to mourn the loss of Aircare :(
My FD is crying already

[BoostedBB6]

This is a great thing for those of us with cars that are problematic getting through AC but have many people thought what they will put in its place?

I don't see the government letting AirCare slip away without finding another way to take our money.
Would not be surprised if they bring back Vehicle Inspections in place of it in the near future. This, for many, will be far worse than AirCare ever could be. Lowered, to large of an exhaust, to much camber, wrong lights etc etc.
Just pray they don't go the way of places like Australia.

[6o4__boi]

i know there's probably gonna be shitty alternatives but they haven't been announced yet.

i'm just really happy cus my dd's ac expired in august but I have it insured until January 2015.

I'm pretty sure it was gonna fail cus it barely passed the last one, can't remember what the number was but it was razor thin and i'm pretty sure it was because of the cat.

Either way thank fucking god. I hate aircare with a passion. Lost my first car because it wouldn't pass and I just didn't wanna throw more money into it.
It's a piece of shit cash grab program.

[BoostedBB6]

My fear is they will have inspections come in place of it.

This will be a massive problem. Unlike with AirCare, if your car was to low for the rollers they will simply do an idle test. With a Vehicle Inspection they will make you return the car to factory ride height....fingers crossed they will not bring this back and will simply target problem vehicles rather than go for everyone.

[GLOW]

what happens to all the AC employees? do they get re-assigned within ICBC or laid off?

[BoostedBB6]

what about a 1978 car? So i can walk in to an insurance provider next year and just insure it without aircare even if it's spewing black smoke?

Basically. However you can and probably would get ticked for that and be forced to fix it by being issued a VI for the problem.

[brrrz]

Finally be able to put more then a permit on the old mans car!

[fliptuner]

Rumor's been that they're going to be inspecting commercial vehicles and equipment.

[cooke24]

rumor has it.....safety inspections.......

[Exocet]

Rumor's been that they're going to be inspecting commercial vehicles and equipment.

I'm amazed they don't do this already.

[Ford_Fanatic]

After almost a decade of driving my Cobra on daily permits, I'm finally gonna be able to get it a set of custom plates on Jan 1st. Can't wait!

[originalhypa]

I got a renewal notice yesterday that said if I don't renew my insurance by April 22, 2015 that I would need to Aircare again.

that made me a little nervous..... although it could very well be a leftover from the old renewal template.

[CA_FTW]

I can see then doing the Mandatory Safety inspections. this way they can have it applying to all cars in BC, unlike Aircare which just applys to people that insurance in the lower Mainland, this will bring in much much more revenue. :-)

[GabAlmighty]

^^And angry rednecks

[murd0c]

^^And angry rednecks

I heard all trucks with over 5100kg will require air care and inspections.. All of those diesel driving douchebags are going to be pissed :fuckyea:

[xpl0sive]

i guess now people will be lowering their GVW instead of bumping it up to avoid aircare...

[murd0c]

i guess now people will be lowering their GVW instead of bumping it up to avoid aircare...

once the GVW is raised I don't think you can lower it.

[BoostedBB6]

If safety inspections come in there will be a hell of a lot less "hellaflush" "stanced" and "lifted" vehicles on the roads.

There are already commercial vehicle inspections out there however I don't think its something they have to take there vehicles to, only get caught by.

[fliptuner]

once the GVW is raised I don't think you can lower it.
Since towing capacity is factored into the registered GVW, one should be able to lower it under 5001 and say they're not towing trailers any longer.


There are already commercial vehicle inspections out there however I don't think its something they have to take there vehicles to, only get caught by.

I forgot what the min. GVW is but my single axle flatdeck has to get inspected annually and my tandem goes in every 6 months - both 5T. The one good thing about gov't run, commercial safety inspection facilities is that at least it cuts out the shady shops that pass unsafe trucks.

There used to be annual safety inspections for cars in the early 80's but they scrapped it after less than 5 years.

[white rocket]

Further confirmation that AirCare is toast by Dec.31st. Got a call at the office yesterday from AirCare stating that they would buy back all coupons that were still in circulation for full face value. Score!! We had about 6 or so lying around that gets added to the beer fund!

Really hoping they don't implement annual safety inspections for all. There would be riots! The commercial stuff sounds reasonable as there have been so many cases of unsafe commercial vehicles being operated on public roads. Some causing major accidents.

[320icar]

If brakes are going to fail, I'd rather it happen on a civic then a logging rig

[RE-Jo]

This was taken from aircare.ca

"If the program is ending do I still have to fix my car?
repairprogram/policytop
Yes. All vehicles that fail an AirCare inspection must be repaired to comply with AirCare emissions standards. Vehicle owners have the option of performing the repairs themselves, having repairs performed by a non-certified repair technician or by one of the AirCare Certified Repair Centres. As long as the vehicle passes re-inspection, it doesn’t matter who did the repairs."

Does it mean if my car did not pass air care before, I still cannot just get insurance next year?

[murd0c]

My insurance is up on Nov4th and I'm so pissed off I need aircare for two fricken months... What a joke...

[Soundy]

Really hoping they don't implement annual safety inspections for all. There would be riots!
Funny thing is, this used to be the norm, some 30+ years ago...

[white rocket]

Funny thing is, this used to be the norm, some 30+ years ago...

Yeah, early to mid 80's I believe. Didn't last very long though IIRC.

[fliptuner]

Aircare coupons? Never heard of them.


My insurance is up on Nov4th and I'm so pissed off I need aircare for two fricken months... What a joke...

Cancel and reinsure?

[Lomac]

My insurance is up on Nov4th and I'm so pissed off I need aircare for two fricken months... What a joke...

I'm a little sad that one of the very few good things about living up here is now negated by Aircare going away.

:okay:

[Edison_Chen]

Aircare will be gone by Dec 31, 2015 as per their procedures, unless anything changes.

Any vehicle insurance renewal is effective Jan. 1, 2015 will not require an aircare. If the aircare already expired on the vehicle, you will need a pass aircare before you can renew or issue new plates on it (if effective date is before Dec. 31, 2014).

[Edison_Chen]

once the GVW is raised I don't think you can lower it.

You can increase or decrease the gvw on your type 2 commercial vehicle (pickup/crewcab trucks/delivery trucks/vans and etc..). The minimum gvw you can lower it down to 1.5 x the net weight of your vehicle. You can always increase the gvw, however depending on the use of the vehicle and the gvw, there are other things to consider: National safety code (NSC) and Commercial vehicle inspection (CVIP if over 8200 kg gvw).

[white rocket]

Aircare coupons? Never heard of them.

It's for dealerships so the lot guy doesn't have to carry cash or debit with him. I suppose voucher would have been a more appropriate term. We would buy like 20 at a time but then moved away from selling older vehicles that required AirCare so a bunch of them just sat around doing nothing.

[Soundy]

Yeah, early to mid 80's I believe. Didn't last very long though IIRC.

I remember going with my grandfather to an inspection station where the Burnaby AirCare station is now... that would have been in the mid-70s. I recall his car having a ton of inspection stickers on the windshield, too.

[white rocket]

I remember my dad dealing with it through the dealership he worked at in the early 80's. Perhaps it was around for longer than I originally thought.

[Gh0stRider]

my insurance expired in september, if i want to renew i need aircare inspection done.

What if i decide to insure the vehicle in january?

[Edison_Chen]

Aircare is done by dec 31. Insuring it in January will not require aircare, unless they pull something new out of their butts in the next 2 months.

[mb_]

My insurance is up on Nov4th and I'm so pissed off I need aircare for two fricken months... What a joke...

You can get 3 month insurance and you won't have to do aircare. But you'll have to pay up front, may or not be an issue for you

[i-vtecyo]

You can get 3 month insurance and you won't have to do aircare. But you'll have to pay up front, may or not be an issue for you

Nope, thats only if you fail.

[Y2K_o__o]

My insurance is up on Nov4th and I'm so pissed off I need aircare for two fricken months... What a joke...

Mine is due Nov 4 too!
arrrwwwwggggg..... pissing me off
do you have another car to commute?