DENVER—Drivers in parts of Weld and Larimer counties could have to participate in the Denver area’s car emissions program in two years.
The Senate gave initial backing to a measure (Senate Bill 3) Thursday requiring that cars in more populated parts of the counties pass emissions tests starting July 1, 2011.
Parts of Weld County have been turning more suburban, but it is still largely rural. Democratic Sen. Bob Bacon says that as a result, 85 percent of the county would be exempt.
Democratic Sen. Mary Hodge of Brighton argued that testing should only apply to people living in cities or towns, not unincorporated areas, even if they’re heavily populated. But Bacon said that would exclude about 20 percent of the cars targeted by his bill.
