Renewed Illinois emissions testing causes hours-long backup in Crystal Lake

CRYSTAL LAKE – A line of 150 vehicles snaked through a Crystal Lake parking lot Tuesday as some drivers waited for more than two hours for an emission test that is once again required for receiving a new license plate sticker from the state.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White in December suspended the emission test requirement for drivers to renew their registration after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency stopped mailing notices to motorists because of the state budget crisis. He recently announced the test would be required for anyone seeking a license plate sticker as of June 1 because the IEPA again was mailing out notices.

Emissions testing is required of vehicles registered in southeastern McHenry County, as well as all of Cook, DuPage and Lake counties and parts of Kane, Kendall and Will counties.

Veronica Horist of McHenry arrived about noon Tuesday thinking she would be one of a handful of drivers waiting for the test. However, she had to be directed away from the testing site itself at 195 Liberty Road and sent to the former Wal-Mart parking lot a block away.

“I was thinking I'd go in, get it done and get it over with,” Horist said. “But, oh well.”

Crystal Lake Police Sgt. Dan Hulata said there were drivers waiting when he arrived at 6 a.m., two hours before the emissions testing center opened. After long lines caused backups and congestion in the area last week, he set up cones and signs that would direct motorists aiming to get their test done after the holiday weekend.

By noon, the line had stretched down Liberty Road and was starting to overflow.

“It snakes back and forth as we set this up,” Hulata said, pointing to a line of cars weaving between aisles. “We were fortunate to have the old Wal-Mart lot.”

IEPA officials posted notices on its website letting motorists know they were experiencing a high volume of vehicles because of the end of the month and Memorial Day weekend. Spokeswoman Kim Biggs said the agency had tested 1,800 more vehicles between May 1 and 26 of this year than it had during the same period last year.

She expected lines to shorten with the start of a new month and notices going out.

“We expect it will spread out more as those motorists get back on a regular schedule,” Biggs said.

Lilo Hoeper of Fox Lake said she had been in line for nearly two hours by the time she was within view of the testing site. She was unaware of the line she would encounter.

"I need to have the test done by June 30," she said. "I want to get it done in case something happens."

As she approached the testing site property, she was met by a sign letting her know she would have to wait an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

Drivers can schedule an appointment at one of the 40 emissions testing facilities by calling 1-877-927-7587. Approximate wait times from the time a driver arrives at the site can be found at http://www.epa.illinois.gov/topics/air-quality/mobile-sources/vehicle-emissions-testing/index.

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