Texas Politicians Saving Consumers Money: This is why we pay politicians the big bucks: to save us money. If Texas politicians have their way, car owners will save about $130 million a...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This is why we pay politicians the big bucks: to save us money. If Texas politicians have their way, car owners will save about $130 million a year by not having to bring their cars for an annual safety inspection. Safety is overrated.

http://jalopnik.com/texas-might-ditch-its-mandatory-vehicle-safety-inspecti-1794969567/

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

The geniuses in Ct pretty much did away with them years ago,but we do have the emissions tests.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

The inspections in Texas are worthless anyway. Driving a car around a parking lot doesn't tell you much.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

jerryc41 wrote:

This is why we pay politicians the big bucks: to save us money. If Texas politicians have their way, car owners will save about $130 million a year by not having to bring their cars for an annual safety inspection. Safety is overrated.

http://jalopnik.com/texas-might-ditch-its-mandatory-vehicle-safety-inspecti-1794969567/

First let me say I have been a mechanic 60+yrs, and a state safety lic. Inspector since 1965 in the State of Missouri
I have always disagreed with the tolerances allowed for a vehicle to pass 1/32" on bonded brake pads or shoes , will this let a someone safely drive until the next inspection?, tires with a visible tread pattern across the full tread width and the full circumference will pass, A 19,000 lb School bus will pass with a tread depth of 4/32" on the steer and 2/32" on the drive. There is no min. thickness set for rotors or max dia. of brake drums. This Auto/ Truck inspection is a sad joke.
However I will say that the School bus maintenance shop I worked in we replaced the pads between 5/16" & 1/4", allowed zero play in the wheel bearings and play of no more than 1/4" in the kingpins.
I guess this is better than no inspection at all, I have seen the condition of school buses in a state where there was no Inspection.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

In Michigan everyone used to have to have emissions tested- unless your vehicle was more than 10 years old. What a joke- all the oil burners were exempted from testing and maintenance! The rest was just a legislative grab into our pockets!
There are lots of those.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Our examination usually takes 2 people about 20 minutes and costs around £55.00, though there are places that'll knock them out as a discount. We get a pass or a failure, but a pass might have one or more advisories. This year I have an 'advisory' suggesting the first section of the exhaust is short on life expectancy. My local garage doesn't do exhausts so they're not going to make anything out of suggesting this. Generally, I believe them but I also accept that the test is pretty much an of the moment assessment.

We have increasing use of A.P.N.R. here so any car spotted without Insurance, test certificate, and tax can be picked up immediately.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

John N wrote:

Our examination usually takes 2 people about 20 mi... (show quote)

What is A.P.N.R.?

Jolly Roger Loc: Dorset. UK

Manglesphoto wrote:

What is A.P.N.R.?

A.N.P.R. Automatic Number Plate Recognition.
All vehicle details are kept on a national database. Many police vehicles are fitted with cameras, in addition cameras are fixed along many roads. If a car is detected without current documents it is likely to be pulled over.

When I was a young guy I worked and was also a part-time fireman. Having attended some horrific accidents on the road, some of which were caused by poor maintenance and badly worn parts I really cannot see the gripe against safety checks being carried out. Better to lose some money out of your pocket than losing your life or killing someone else through neglect of your car.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Jolly Roger wrote:

A.N.P.R. Automatic Number Plate Recognition.
All vehicle details are kept on a national database. Many police vehicles are fitted with cameras, in addition cameras are fixed along many roads. If a car is detected without current documents it is likely to be pulled over.

We have that as well,plus it checks for outstanding warrants.

jm76237

They make sure your turn signals all work - they always do, no one burns the bulbs out because they never use them!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Manglesphoto wrote:

First let me say I have been a mechanic 60+yrs, an... (show quote)

Minimums rule! And there must be a lot of pressure to keep lowering those minimums.

ghill42 Loc: Colorado

The "car owners will save $130 million" statement is your typical political smokescreen to hide the real purpose. Which is, to eliminate regulations of any kind at any opportunity. Doesn't matter whether safety is involved or not. Just eliminate them altogether. Of course, the public always buys the smokescreen and the politicians know that. Austin and Wash, D.C. are probably the most effective with hidden agendas, though many state govs deserve second place.

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Manglesphoto wrote:

What is A.P.N.R.?

I should have said A.N.P.R. (Automatic number plate recognition). Sometimes mounted on over bridges but also in roving vans and most specialised traffic police vehicles. It reads the number plate and checks validity of road tax, vehicle test, and Insurance. Your only escape is if you've recently changed something and the database has not been updated.