What occurs if a vehicle is found to have tampered emissions equipment during testing?

When a vehicle is found to have tampered emissions equipment during testing, it will fail the emissions inspection. This is because tampering with emissions systems undermines the vehicle's ability to meet the required emissions standards, which are in place to protect air quality and public health. Emissions systems are designed to reduce harmful pollutants released into the atmosphere, and any modifications or removal of these components can lead to increased emissions and environmental harm.

Since the primary goal of emissions inspections is to ensure that vehicles are compliant with environmental regulations, the presence of tampered equipment directly results in a failure. The inspection process is designed to be thorough, and any discrepancies found during the test indicate that the vehicle is not operating within the legal limits allowed for emissions. As a result, the owner typically must address the tampering issue to bring the vehicle back into compliance before it can pass inspection.