Motor vehicle safety inspection program; abolishes the state program. (HB130)

Introduced By

Del. Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Motor vehicle safety inspection program. Abolishes the state motor vehicle safety inspection program. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
12/17/2019Committee
12/17/2019Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20101215D
12/17/2019Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/15/2020Assigned Transportation sub: Motor Vehicles
01/27/2020Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 0-N)
02/11/2020Left in Transportation

Duplicate Bills

The following bills are identical to this one: SB125.

Comments

Fred Woehrle writes:

It makes sense to get rid of mandatory safety inspections of motor vehicles, because they do almost nothing to increase safety, while costing motorists a lot of lost time annually doing the inspections. The most recent study to show that is apparently by Alex Hoagland of Boston University and Trevor Woolley of BYU. They compared fatalities caused by car problems in New Jersey and DC (which have ditched their inspection requirements) to those in states that still mandate them. Ending the mandate, they found, brought "no significant increases in . . . traffic fatalities per capita, traffic fatalities due specifically to car failure per capita, or the frequency of accidents due to car failure."

Fred Woehrle writes:

The inspection program should be abolished, as this bill proposes, and as Governor Ralph Northam has also recommended. The program doesn't make cars less accident prone, and it is burdensome to poor people, like a regressive tax. Rules requiring safety inspections of motor vehicles do little or nothing to increase safety, while consuming a lot of motorists' time. That's what a study found. It compared fatalities caused by car problems in New Jersey and DC (which have repealed their inspection requirements) to those in states that still mandate them. Ending annual inspection requirements brought "no significant increases in . . . traffic fatalities per capita, traffic fatalities due specifically to car failure per capita, or the frequency of accidents due to car failure." That study was by researchers Hoagland and Woolley.

Ben Aminali writes:

Cars need to be inspected for safety of all of us on the roads. I want to feel safe on the road knowing that other cars Are in good working order. Knowing that they will not cause an accident on the road due to poor maintenance gives me a since of security. Not sure what the stated reason behind this is, but I don’t agree.
because saving 20 dollars a year and being tax up the wazoo saying your getting rid of my sticker doesn't work for me. Safety on the highways of the commonwealth should be his concern.
The proposal by Governor Northam is completely irresponsible. Virginia needs to continue vehicle inspections

Greg Richards writes:

State inspections allow VA residents to be charged less than Maryland residents on Auto Insurance Premiums, while I do not like the hassle of having to get an inspection Yearly, I enjoy the benefit of a lower premium. Look at vehicles in states that do not require Inspections, you see lights out, broken windshields.. Keep the inspection.. When it comes to Emissions, well that is another story.,

Dave Roberts writes:

Cars going in for scheduled oil changes at reputable garages/dealers are frequently given a free courtesy multi-point inspection. Same checks. If your concerned about the safety of your vehicle ask for the multi-inspection by your mechanic.

Clyde Fox writes:

The cars on the road today are safer than they have ever been before. This program is antiquated, burdensome, and no longer appropriate for our state citizens. It should be abolished.

betsie writes:

I support this bill State inspection is nothing more than a tax.

w hall writes:

state inspections in Virginia are a joke and a scam if you must have a state inspection if its what you want fix it so the inspection station are not allowed to do the repairs.

w hall writes:

if a state inspection is that important to some people make it voluntary make yourself feel good

Debbie writes:

The Virginia State Inspection needs to remain! Of the 8 million cars inspected in 2018, 1,634,740 had major defects, including suspension, tire, steering issues, etc. I feel safer knowing these cars must be repaired and that my children and grandchildren will be safer on the roads. One cannot compare DC and New Jersey with the speed at which vehicles travel in VA, the large number of interstates, the volume of traffic in many areas of the state, [not only at rush hour], and what happens to that trip/commute if there is a broken down vehicle or an accident? I have lived in other states with no inspection laws and the comparison is astounding! At least 16,000 people would lose their jobs, health insurance and ways to feed their families and pay their mortgages. VA is a more progressive state having these inspections! This proposal is just a smoke screen for Northam to justify an enormous gas tax over the next 3 years! He would also be taking away insurance discounts for 8 million drivers!!!! Give me a break... Everything has consequences. I will pay the $20 if it means other people have to repair major defects that we all know would NOT be repaired otherwise. My nephew was nearly killed in Tennessee because of a broken axle that caused a lost tire on a car going 70 miles an hour on a highway! Please think of these things and don't assume what is right for DC where the speed limits in most of the area do not exceed 35 miles per hour, is right for all of Virginia!

Nanny State Of Hypocracy writes:

A lot of people are being ripped off for work that's unnecessary.

Nanny State Of Hypocracy writes:

A lot of people are being ripped off for work that's unnecessary. Northrum gets an F for promising something he had no intentions of passing.

jimmie uzzle writes:

Abolish vehicle safety inspections now. Vehicle safety inspections are a scam several states have already abolished their state inspection programs. A vast majority of mechanics use state inspections to rip people off. Some places like military bases you cannot drive your vehicle on the base with a rejection sticker. you can buy a brand new vehicle 12 months later you required to get that new vehicle inspected again. I have talked to mechanics whom said that if the garage or shop has to many vehicles passing that station. The state police wants to know why so many vehicles are passing that station or garage. It is truly a scam to keep the mechanics profit margin up.

Donald turner writes:

State inspections are a rip off. Mechanics need to find issues with cars for shops to make a profit. The 20.00 goes to the shop and inspector. That is not much money to keep lights on.

If we need inspection the state should put up stations along the highways (drive throughs). If issues are found then you have at least 30 days to get repairs where you want. Also the inspector would not be profiting from the inspection and state would make a small profit for highways. What happened to the lottery money for highways?

If we had no inspection and you are pulled over by police for other reasons and it is obvious your tires are bald and windows are cracked then you should get an automatic fine and be made to mail in copy of receipt for repairs. More noney for state to maintain highways.

Tired of shops ripping people off.

Reasonable writes:

- Safety inspections should NOT be a jobs program.
- If insurance companies like them, there should be no reason you couldn’t get a discount for getting your car inspected just like you do for other things. The data showed no difference in equipment accidents between states with v states without. Insurance companies are data-driven.
- If it makes you feel better to have them, do it like NC.
It’s tied to your registration.
- There are a LOT of unnecessary repairs being done. (You know who you are.) Unnecessarily burdening low income Virginians.

Donald turner writes:

And any work the shop says you need you should have estimate in hand before they start. They charge for OEM parts when they put on aftermarket parts. Some people don't understand automobile parts and some are made to only last a short time. A lot of unnecessary maintenance is charged snd then done by an inspector that is sometimes not even a good mechanic and they know it.

Vince Stover writes:

I certainly hope our elected officials will reintroduce the bill next session. I think this year creates a great test-bed for good feedback. I was one that emailed my officials in Roanoke and the Governor to put a bill forward. I appreciate the ear from our elected folks.

Paul Arsenovic writes:

Does anyone know who killed this bill? Which lawmakers can be held accountable for the bill not passing? I'm looking for facts, no opinions. Thanks