Governor's budget proposal would eliminate vehicle safety inspections (appointed, vehicle registration)

[LM117]

As well as cutting vehicle registration fees by half.

https://wtvr.com/2019/12/17/governor-northam-budget/

[Va83]

I don't know how to feel about this. Yes I get to keep some money but how safe will cars on the road be? Plus what will the people who h as ve free inspections tied into their car note do? Pay more for nothing?

[Flamingo13]

Torn about this as well - I haven't been able to find info. on it but I really thought that for yrs. OH didn't require (and you see some real rust buckets driving around, or at least you used to). I think for personal safety and reassurance it would/is be a good thing to have it checked out.

[mpier015]

I think its a good thing. As the link shows, there is no correlation between state inspections and increased highway safety. Also, there are already buckets on the road. People who drive cars with problems simply find someone to give them a safety sticker for a cost or go to a mechanic that does lax inspections. Its one of those things where we tell ourselves it must be safer but deep down we know it isn't preventing much...which is the reason that 35 states already don't have them. Our inspections are already lax tbh. They really only check your tires, lights and horn. I hardly think it keeps us safer more so than it just makes us feel safer.

[16 Acres]

My opinion:

At first I said "great", I like that, but...

I have proved over and over through the years that yearly inspections make people fix things that they would otherwise let slide.

Then most female drivers and non-car people who know just about nothing about cars, will not even know when something is worn, needs replacing, repairing, etc. I have witnessed this many times. In my own "friendly" inspection of said cars, while I was watching other cars get inspected, etc.

But the main thing I would dread, it periodic Road Side Safety Checks. It seems like the states that don't have an official yearly inspection, usually have these Road Side Checks.

I don't know about you all, but I would much rather have my vehicle inspection by the garage of my choice in comparison to some appointed Road Side Inspector. The hassle of a surprise stop alone would kill any benefit we would gain. And you know it, it would always be when you are in a hurry to get somewhere, late for work and who knows what else.

Therefore, I'm against it.

[tgbwc]

I wonder if the cutting of registration fees includes the extra electric vehicle fee.

[VA Yankee]

I may be by myself but I like the state inspection not just for myself, many times over the year it has given me a heads up that work may be needed or needed soon. Yes I am a responsible adult who keeps an eye on the car but how many people have a regular mechanic anymore who points things out when you get an oil change? Most don't and its not until something fails that we know we need something especially tires and brakes.

Having lived in locations with no state inspection you would be amazed at the rolling wrecks that are on the roads, scary...

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

I may be by myself but I like the state inspection not just for myself, many times over the year it has given me a heads up that work may be needed or needed soon. Yes I am a responsible adult who keeps an eye on the car but how many people have a regular mechanic anymore who points things out when you get an oil change? Most don't and its not until something fails that we know we need something especially tires and brakes.

Having lived in locations with no state inspection you would be amazed at the rolling wrecks that are on the roads, scary...

I agree. I don't see any harm in the safety inspection and the current cost is what...$16? That's a small price to pay.

[16 Acres]

It's actually up to $20 now, what I heard anyway.

Still a small price as you have mentioned.

[NJBoy3]

The state of NJ stopped yearly inspections years ago. To save money. More junk on the road. Stop lights out. I wonder about brakes..