YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — The price for required emissions and safety inspections on personal vehicles will jump from $15 to $19.95 beginning April 1, officials said Tuesday, the second time in two days vehicle-related costs have been raised.
On Monday, Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials announced a 20 percent hike in taxi fares, citing rising fuel costs and a U.S. dollar that has lost ground steadily against the Korean won.
AAFES officials could not provide a reason Tuesday for the increase for emissions and safety inspections. But according to a “request for publicity” issued by the AAFES Korea office, the price will increase to $19.95 at on-base car care centers.
Emissions tests have been required since October 2003 for all personally owned vehicles of status of forces agreement personnel in South Korea; inspections have been required for several years. If a vehicle fails the emissions test, the owner has 15 days to correct the problem.
If the owner does not, the vehicle will not be issued a sticker allowing it to be driven on base.
In 2004, military officials estimated some 14,000 vehicles were registered to SOFA-status personnel in South Korea. About 8,000 of those vehicles are more than 10 years old and more likely to have difficulty passing an emissions test, officials said then.
Vehicles are tested for hydrocarbons, smoke and carbon monoxide levels. The tests, which take approximately five minutes, brought U.S. forces in line with South Korean environmental standards requiring periodic emissions testing.
Defense Department regulations require overseas bases to incorporate local environmental laws into their own regulations, called Environmental Governing Standards.
