Posted on 12/13/2009 9:44:44 PM PST by Dubya
After five years of inspecting vehicles, Dallas mechanic Robert Garcia has seen cars with everything from whisper-thin tire treads to brakes ready to fall off.
Garcia – like many insurers, legislators and safety advocates – can't imagine how bad the disrepair would be without Texas' yearly required safety inspections. "It would cause a big dilemma on the road," said Garcia, who works at Adkison Tire and Service on Irving Boulevard.
But some states have dropped the basic safety review after driver complaints that they were annoying and unnecessary. And some automobile experts in Texas and across the country say more reliable cars and other safety improvements have rendered the inspections obsolete.
Texas is one of 19 states left that require a periodic safety review – down from a peak of 31 states in the 1970s. The District of Columbia recently disbanded its inspection program because of high costs and a lack of evidence that the inspections saved lives.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
And who would decide the “cop” is qualified to deem a vehicle unsafe?
I live in the DFW Metroplex, right between Dallas and Fort Worth, near the airport. The annual inspection is a hassle, but it does keep clunkers off the road.
My inspections are done at a Jiffy-Lube, which doesn’t sell parts other than oil and air filters, so they do not fake problems like a car dealership might just to sell parts.
It costs about $35 each year and without a current sticker on the windshield the owner will either get a hefty fine or impoundment of the vehicle.
The licensed inspector tests the tire tread depth, headlights, horn, tail lights, brake lights and then drives the auto to test the brakes. The vehicle, while running, is then subjected to an emission test, gas tank cap test and a computer is hooked into the vehicle’s computer to capture data such as actual mileage, etc. (as well as whatever else might be on the vehicle’s computer).
With regard to the question about a vehicle registration fee, the answer is YES. My auto is about 3600 pounds and our fees are based on weight, not value, so I pay about $57 a year for a registration sticker... which has to also be displayed on the windshield near the inspection sticker.
Inspections were initiated in Texas in the early 1960s, I think, but back then they were all due by a certain date in April (kinda like income tax). I recall being in a long line of cars for several hours to get the inspection and then being turned down because a minor fender bender had caused one headlight to not be aligned correctly. ...I had to go home and work at hammering metal and inserting wood shims to correct the aim of the headlight so I could pass the inspection the next day.
Sorry, everyone, for being so mouthy.
They will have to stop soon as it costs illegals too much money to drive their junk to take our jobs.
“I know if the state starting inspecting cars, it would cost more taxpayer money, but sometimes I wish they would do something to the cars and not just us, the big truck drivers.”
Used catalytic converters are not legal to install by Federal law.
Also, what car do you have?
Also, cat replacement at 100-150K is not that unusual on more modern heavily-controlled vehicles.
Do you only live in the Big Thicket in Southeast TX and just drive that old hoopie between your shack and the moonshine still? lol
I don’t see how you could have lived here in TX for 20 years and driven on major roads or cities without being stopped for not having an inspection sticker on your windshield.
I’m with you this brother;
When we movd to Memphis, TN in the summer of 61, my wife and I immediately saw the benefits of 3 times a year inspections (Done by the city).
There was hardly any vechicles on the streets with a burnt- out headlight,or no brake lights etc.
Most places we have lived since, have real old cars that have practically unused turn-signals, and as far as stopping at lights, and stop signs, most drive like “beat them if you can” without stopping, then turtle along when you get out front!
Driving would be a pleasure again if we all did two things: 1. Leave a little earlier.
2. Be courteous, the other driver may be your best customer, or friend, or family.
When I lived in Long Island NY they had car inspections and there was always a gas station around where you could purchase a sticker for $10. The company I worked for had there fleet inspected there so to prevent maybe losing the business he would on the sly hand over a sticker for the employees for $10. Did for years.
Come live in wonderful Virginia:
Vehicle Safety Inspection: $16
Vehicle Smog Check: $25 (every 2nd year only in certain areas (Carol Browner expanded these areas during her tenure with Clinton)).
Vehicle Personal Property Tax: Hundreds to Thousands of dollars depending on where you live and the make/model/year of your car..
When I lived in Texas, the hardest part was remembering to get the dang inspection done. No one ever tried to gig me for anything beyond the fee. But the game of licensing people to be inspectors seems to be quite profitable for the state, which might be a motive for some inspectors to make up the loss by finding phantom repairs.
In summary, anything done by the state for good reasons usually ends up thoroughly corrupt, so get rid of them.
Dodging those "Road gators" is a pain; especially when you are in traffic and have only a second to see them and act properly.
After some of the horror stories I've heard, I would NEVER EVER let a Jiffy Lube touch my car.
More annoying than safety inspections are emissions inspections.
I live in Texas. Auto inspection is a necessary pain, IMO. The only money the inspectors make off of me is the fee. I don’t know what people are talking about when they call it a “racket,” unless, of course, their cars never pass inspection and need repair. If my car needs something, I take it to my preferred auto shop. I don’t get rooked.
I have to say that is one thing I do not miss since moving to TN. Those stupid inspections were a waste of time and money.
More like Regulatory Taxes.
When the motorcycle cops are out, its what they look for, first.
I lived in Houston from '72 thru '85. You are ABSOLUTLELY CORRECT !!
It has nothing to do with safety...
Even though it is nice to have people who don’t give a frap about the mechanical condition of their vehicles, giving them heartburn at least once a year about how poorly they are keeping their vehicles in good working order...
It has everything to do with the state making some kind of money because of that fact...
I’m just surprised at how many nanny-states that drop this revenue generating scheme???
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