Republican controlled Tex State Gov. to eliminate auto safety inspections. I don't get it?

[NowsTheTime]

It never bothered me, seemed like a good idea.

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/texas-car-safety-inspection-changes/

Cars registered in Texas after 2025 will no longer need to pass a safety inspection, but owners will still pay the fee

Most Texas drivers will no longer be required to have their cars pass an annual safety exam after state lawmakers removed the rule from Texas code.

Texas is one of 13 states that mandate annual inspections for cars. That will change in about 18 months now that the Texas Legislature has given final approval to House Bill 3297.

Supporters of the bill called the safety inspections time consuming and inconvenient. Opponents of the bill say it could set Texas drivers, and future Texans, on a dangerous path.

“The majority of our business is centered around making sure people’s vehicles are safe,” said Charissa Barnes, owner of the Official Inspection Station in San Antonio, to lawmakers earlier this year. “We need to make sure that their cars, the people joining us in Texas, are safe.”
What did the Legislature change?

The Legislature repealed provisions in state law that mandate annual vehicle inspections. However, the $7.50 fee remains intact under a new name: the inspection program replacement fee.

Almost a quarter of the people surveyed in the study were asked by a mechanic to fix slick or defective tires during an inspection, potentially preventing more accidents. Another report found that defective cars in Texas were more than three times as likely to be involved in a crash that resulted in a fatality.

Texas highways are notoriously dangerous. At least one person dies on a Texas highway each day. According to the most recent state data, 4,489 people were killed in auto crashes in Texas during 2021, or about 1.56 deaths per 100,000 miles traveled by drivers. That’s up from 1.36 deaths per 100,000 in 2017.

[samnsara]

1. ive never had to go thru one of these.....is it a long process?

[rokar]

3. Vehicle inspections

It takes between 20 and 30 minutes here in Houston. We will still have to pay the fee, but won't have to do the inspection.

[IHaveNoName]

7. I live SW of Houston in a small city

...and it takes about 10 minutes. I usually get it done at the same time and place as my oil change.

I also have a classic sports car (a '63 Corvette), that they don't even bother to take inside, just write me up the paperwork after I pay the $7.50.

[dalton99a]

2. Most states don't require safety inspections

It is an annual waste of time for most people in Texas

[bucolic_frolic]

4. They never found a way to link inspections to age or mileage driven

New cars don't need it much. Tires can wear out at 40K. Older cars have more safety issues.

Industry associations (the inspectors by various names) lobby state legislatures to have annual inspections. In the 1960s it was sometimes every 6 months.

I could see every 3-4 years being sufficient. If you drive 50,000 miles a year, you know you need maintenance. If you drive 15k you don't need an annual inspection.

Annual vehicle and emissions inspection here in PA can run $90-125. It's a racket with little flexibility.

Plus there are simply too few inspection stations and mechanics. At the end of the month it can take weeks to get an appointment. It's sort of known that the big chains are more rigorous - flag more issues so they can make more money. One small independent station I went to for years bragged to me - proudly - 'we don't damage your vehicle'. And it was true, he was a great guy but retired. I went to a big chain for an estimate and emerged with a $386 rotor estimate and a broken turn signal arm. Replaced the rotors myself - $28.

[yellowcanine]

22. Inspections will catch worn brake pads before the brake rotors are damaged.

That alone could cover the cost of the inspection. Here in Maryland we have no required inspection unless the car is sold - then the new owner must have a current inspection certificate to register the car. However most shops will include brake inspection in the cost of a tire rotation.

[tanyev]

5. Whoa, I didn't realize only 13 states required annual inspections.

I always thought they were a good idea.

[Fullduplexxx]

6. "but owners will still pay the fee" lol

[AllyCat]

13. This is what got me. That GOP loves them some taxes

(I mean user fees).

[Mad_Machine76]

24. It allows them to collect revenue

but not call them "taxes" Nice little shell game Republicans have going.

[GoneOffShore]

8. EU countries require a safety and emissions certificate when the vehicle is 4 years old

And then every two years.
In the UK it's every 12 months.

Inspections are carried out by state licensed facilities with no connection to garages. Costs run about 75$ for cars and light trucks.

[Joinfortmill]

9. I lived most of my life in a State that required annual inspections, then I moved

I lived in 2 States with no/limited auto inspections, SC and Fl. It appalled me at first, especially in FL where broken down cars can be seen everywhere, but in SC, not so much.

[WalkerinSC]

10. We had them in SC for years

You handed the mechanic cash and he put a sticker on your car. Probably took 30 seconds. Some would make you blow your horn once to at least look like they did something. Those took 32 seconds. Kind of a new take on the old Communist adage 'We pretended to comply, and they pretended to care".

[303squadron]

11. The explanation is a CYA

Florida got rid of inspections years ago because of lawsuits. Accidents due to safety devices failing after they were inspected and "certified" as being safe killed the idea.

But leave it to Texass to continue the revenue stream. Just another tax that hits the poor harder than the rich!

[Johnny2X2X]

12. Tough if you're poor right?

The inspections probably flag cars that are in disrepair and then require them to get expensive repairs to stay on the road. While safety is critical, I could see people getting forced to replace exhausts, tires, and brakes when they don't have the money to do so right away.

[eShirl]

14. TIL there are states that don't require annual vehicle inspections

[durablend]

17. TIL that *most* states don't require annual vehicle inspections

What could possibly go wrong?

[walkingman]

15. Good news - nothing but a waste of time.

[pwb]

16. Who needs brakes right?

Texans can drag their foot on the road to stop. Last I knew Democrats are for safety. The safety of others and our families.

[NowsTheTime]

18. Never had to wait very long....done the same time as emissions tests...

.....only rip-off I've found is windshield wipers ... they want to replace them at the slightest flaw.

[Ray Bruns]

19. I lived in Virginia who has them and in Illinois who doesn't.

Big waste of time and money in my opinion.

[UCmeNdc]

20. Who needs safe cars and trucks on the road anyway? Those Republicans are crazy!

[Wingus Dingus]

21. My parents always drove used/older cars in the great state of PA

and hated inspections. Just unnecessary stress and $$ every year.

[hamsterjill]

23. Oh hell, the highways are free for all's in Texas anyway.

What’s one more danger to contend with? The majority of the people who have the cars that would not pass an inspection just don’t bother getting one anyway. There is no enforcement at all unless the driver of the car is stopped for something else and the cop decides to add that violation to any charges. Same with the registration. People who don’t comply simply print out the paper “dealer type” license plates and don’t pay the fee.

I am much more concerned about being shot on the freeway than this although the fact that the fee is still being collected pisses me off.

[NowsTheTime]

25. Yes, what a joke! It's the "the inspection program replacement fee"

.........Absolutely right about the free for all's.......

.........courtesy hardly ever happens, and especially on the freeways.....

[jmowreader]

26. I'm going to take a wild stab here

Before repeal: $6.50 went to the mechanic, $1 to the state.

Afterward: all $7.50 goes to the state.

Besides, these inspections are pretty much bullshit anyway. Everyone knows that one mechanic who just sells stickers and doesn’t inspect, and all the people with old unsafe beaters just go to him.

[UTUSN]

27. Allow me to explain: tx wingnuts steal BIG stuff/ rid little stuff

Get it? Make it " convenient " on the little things

[NowISeetheLight]

28. I Remember

I remember in the 80s having to do these in Norfolk, VA. They were a pain. Now in CA I just have to deal with the smog checks.

[fescuerescue]

29. 13 states do it. 37 do not. That's ripe for statistical analysis

I would be curious to see if the 13 states that do, if they rank lower in highway accidents than the other 37.

I.e. Does this inspection actually payoff in better safety?

Common sense would say it would, but common sense never accounts for counter-intutive results that life sometimes give.

For example if people are less vigilant of their car safety upkeep because they assume the state would catch it, they might be less safe than states that require people to be vigilant on their own.