ST. LOUIS – The emissions test you need to drive in Missouri has some major problems. Glitches and outages are causing big delays for motorists, and big losses for businesses.
Missouri switched contractors almost a year ago, and the problems have been going on ever since.
So why would the state still support this failing program?
It was hailed as cutting edge tech but retired house painter Phil Gonzalez said it is a thief.
"I got there at 8 a.m. They didn't get it done until 7 o'clock p.m.," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said that's time he can never get back. It was a big change from the five-minute testing he's had done all his life.
"I kept calling them out and they told me why. They're having trouble with the computers reacting with the state's computers," said Gonzalez.
But if you want to drive in this state, you need to get this state test. So Gonzalez soldiered on, but he knew more bad news waited for him the next day.
"I had to take my wife's vehicle in. Another day wasted," said Gonzalez.
It's a problem that was supposed to be fixed. That's what the state of Missouri promised when the I-Team uncovered similar problems nearly a year ago.
Introduced last year, officials touted the new emission testing system as a "one of a kind." Its a computerized approach to getting your emissions test.
The tablet-based system was created by California company Worldwide Environmental Products. WEP runs emission testing in at least 12 states, including MIssouri.
Some auto shops told the I-Team they're dropping out of the Emission testing system because the delays hurt their bottom line.
One auto shop owner estimates he's lost $100,000 since August, when his WEP system became plagued with router issues.
"I'm losing money, I'm losing customers you know," said Shannon Schindler, manager at Speed Emissions.
The I-Team spoke with Schindler last June when the system was rolled out to a rocky start.
"It's doing the same thing it did when we talked last June. It's still freezing up. It will actually kick us out in the middle of an emissions test, or an inspection," said Schindler.
In fact, the I-Team has discovered this wireless system has also crashed, shutting down across the state for several days at a time.
"This is our business. It is a priority for us to be up and running because that's all we do. That's our moneymaker," said Schindler.
We decided to take these frustrations to the top: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
who backed this 'improved' system.
I-Team: There have been issues since last June. Almost a year later, still issues. When does the time come where you fix this?
"We do need to make sure we're getting what we paid for, and the citizens are getting what we paid for," said Darcy Bybee, program director for the air pollution program with the Department of Natural Resources.
I-Team: The system has been down for days at a time. Is that acceptable?
"No that is not acceptable. It's not acceptable that people can't test or get their vehicles registered," said Bybee.
The I-Team found the contract between Missouri and world environmental products pledged that the company would "...Ensure a seamless transition" into the new emissions testing method by "no more than one hundred twenty days".
I-Team: Is there any talk about switching contractors because it appears they're not following your own contract?
"We need to move forward with conversations about what appropriate remedy there is," said Bybee.
But for Gonzalez, the answer is simple.
"We already had a system, right? If it ain't broke don't; fix it!" said Gonzalez.
The company behind the new program, Worldwide Environmental Products, told us they've had issues with Windows 10.
But they also said they have four field technicians working to solve issues when they arise.
We are still working to learn whether the state will continue in its contract with WEP or find a new vendor for the emissions program altogether.
