The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has made significant strides in combating clean scanning fraud, leading to the arrest of five individuals and the issuance of 14 warrants in a major operation in Houston earlier this month. This crackdown is part of an ongoing effort to address fraudulent activities at vehicle inspection stations statewide.
The investigation, spanning from February 2023 to November 2024, involved collaboration between DPS’ Regulatory Services Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, Texas Highway Patrol, and the Houston Police Department. Authorities targeted stations suspected of clean scanning—a practice where vehicles are falsely certified as having passed emissions and safety tests without actually undergoing proper checks.
The recent operation, which ended on November 7, resulted in several arrests linked to organized criminal activity. Since February 2023, 88 arrest warrants have been issued related to these fraudulent vehicle inspections.
DPS has pledged to continue its efforts, partnering with local, state, and federal agencies to eradicate these illegal activities. The public is encouraged to report any suspected clean scanning activities through the DPS hotline at (512) 424-0290.