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You make it sound like it's a good thing that dangerous cars are running around all over your state...?
Actually, I think the point is, you don't have to be rich to run a car there.
And the real question is, are they ACTUALLY dangerous (i.e known accident rates increased for those car) or are they merely percieved to be dangerous. If old cars are still reguarly used on the roads there, then they obviously haven't caused or been in any accidents, so maybe there's something to the notion that they aren't actually dangerous. Merely ugly and beat up. Though I'd think in MI, there'd be a lot worse rust than out on the west coast (where what would be considered horribly rusty to west coasters would be considered clean, showroom fresh cars out east... )
And the real question is, are they ACTUALLY dangerous (i.e known accident rates increased for those car) or are they merely percieved to be dangerous. If old cars are still reguarly used on the roads there, then they obviously haven't caused or been in any accidents, so maybe there's something to the notion that they aren't actually dangerous. Merely ugly and beat up.
What I've seen in the local junkyard are a lot of suspension and brake issues on older vehicles. Maybe front end crackups from bad brakes or destroyed bodies from when the tie rod snapped and threw the tire back into the fender, fires from gas leaks. It isn't hard to find an "easy" inspection and heaven knows the low budget lots slap stickers on without too much fuss.
No, older and ugly doesn't mean dangerous. But I would say they require a much closer look than they get come inspection time. The inspection mechanic who slaps a sticker on "as a favor" is doing no favor to anyone.
NC requires inspections (annual, I think), but I don't think it includes a SMOG check. Can't remember. If it is required, I don't worry about it since I haven't messed with the car I have now (amazingly enough).
Slight rant, but just about the only thing I don't miss about CA is CARB. You could be driving around with no working lights, bald tires, no wipers, a cracked windshield, and no brakes but so long as you pass their sniffer test you're A-OK. Yet if you have a car in perfect working order with an intake made by a company that hasn't greased CARB's palms for the exempt sticker (a cost directly passed through the company to the consumer), you're fined out the wazoo. Great logic.
Virginia has a safety inspection every year. The state requires some areas (mainly larger metro areas) to have emissions done every two years.
The number of stations performing inspections seems to be dwindling as they get rid of service bays and focus on having the convenience stores, so the lines keep getting longer.
NJ is one of the strictest in the country. NJ has State Inspection Centers so you don't have to pay a private shop. You can also go to a Private shop and pay. Word is they are doing with inspections within the next year except for emissions.
In NJ if your check engine light is on you automatically fail inspections and need documented proof of what was fixed.
I know, I mentioned with a bit of pride how junky the cars in MI can be, now that I look at it. However, I'm not interested in paying to fix all that crap that's wrong with my '02 (already has body rust, too) like the check engine light. That's why I seem so excited about it.
NC requires inspections (annual, I think), but I don't think it includes a SMOG check. Can't remember. If it is required, I don't worry about it since I haven't messed with the car I have now (amazingly enough).
Charlotte requires an emissions test. I'm not sure about the rest of the state
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