Emissions Testing Sites: Traffic, Waiting And Sometimes Disappointing Results

(CBS) – The wait and aggravation builds on 70th Place.

Constantly there are cars coming down the wrong side of the street. Anger grows as the line grows outside the Bedford Park emissions testing station.

CBS 2's Jeremy Ross found Joe Emmenegger at the beginning of the gridlock.

"Is it going to be a long time? I might have to come back," he said.

For a four-month stretch, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency did not send emission testing notifications because of budget issues.

Drivers, for a time, didn't have to get their car's emissions examined. Then the Illinois Secetrary of State once again required the testing to renew license plates. Some drivers have until June 1 to get it done.

The EPA says they are properly staffed at 14 Chicago area stations, but the pre-holiday rush and the high end-of-the-month demand are pushing these lines to unusual levels.

After an hour and forty minute wait, Emmenegger got his results. There were not good.

"I didn't pass the test on top of it all," he said.

He was issued a temporary sticker and will need to get his emissions problem fixed sometime in the next year.

The state EPA expects lines to decrease at the end of this month. Some facilities allow motorists to make appointments.