DPS crackdown on vehicle emissions inspections leads to arrests in Houston area

Trying to get around a failed vehicle emissions inspection by cheating can be a road to jail, Texas law enforcement officials warn.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is arresting people involved in "clean scanning" during vehicle inspections, according to a news release Friday.

Clean scanning is a fraudulent practice in which a vehicle inspector bypasses the required emissions test for a vehicle by performing the test on a different vehicle or by using a simulator, the DPS said.

The department's most recent crackdown was conducted in the Houston area this month, resulting in 19 warrants for criminal activity related to the illegal practice, authorities said.

Officials said in the news release that in the past several months, the DPS Regulatory Services Division has conducted several operations on vehicle inspection stations throughout the state where authorities believed clean scanning was taking place.

After identifying the suspected inspection stations, DPS Regulatory Services Division personnel and members of the DPS' Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Highway Patrol and the Houston Police Department conducted surveillance and arrested several people.

The recent Houston-area operation ended Thursday, Nov. 7. As a result, five people were arrested, accused of engaging in organized criminal activity related to clean scanning. Also, warrants were secured for another 14 suspects allegedly tied to the organized criminal activity.

In all, from Feb. 13, 2023, through Nov. 7, 2024, the DPS has secured or served 88 arrest warrants tied to clean scanning, the news release said.

DPS officials warn the public that clean scanning is a serious crime. To report clean scanning, DPS officials ask that people call 512-424-0290.