2 charged for 'clean scanning' of car emissions tests

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Two men have been charged with inspection sticker fraud for using a technique called "clean scanning."

Alonzo Tillery and Joe Reyna both face second-degree felony charges for tampering with governmental record, harm or defraud.

The fraud was occurring at a shop on Wells Branch Parkway that is now under new ownership.

"Clean scanning" involves running an emissions test on a vehicle that will pass, while entering into the state database the information of another vehicle that would not be able to pass the emissions test.
 
That enables inspectors to put a legitimate inspection sticker on a car that did not legitimately pass inspection.

Precinct 3 Travis County Constable Richard McCain says money is usually the motivation for inspectors willing to issue the stickers for extra cash or a bribe.

"It is about greed," said McCain. "They do not care about the environment or the community."

McCain says inspection sticker fraud is an industry that reaches into millions of dollars in Travis County alone.

Clean scanning and counterfeit stickers are two very popular methods used to make money illegally off inspections.