Vehicle CARB Certification Fiasco

[Colleton]

In South Dakota, a car legally can operate with a half-assed brake system. In New York, they can't. Inspections absolutely do ensure safety.

Living in a state with no vehicle safety inspections, I can attest to the FACT that the public roads are deathtraps, littered with the shattered remains of unsafe, uninspected vehicles.

Let's not even discuss the retirees and snow birds on the road. /shudder

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[jgibo]

In Oklahoma they did away with inspections. Small businesses complained about the cost of all the emissions equipment. Congress agreed and away it went.
Here in Texas where I live now you have to get your drivers license, and tags if staying more than 30 days. (Unless student or military I think)
Would love to not have a front plate.

 

[Trackaholic]

I'm 99% certain all Mustangs are built to the same emissions standards. Sounds like they may not be documented the same way.

In CA, if you get a car out of state you may need to take it to a smog station and get it tested. Once you pass the test you can register it (and of course pay the sales tax to the DMV).

Does your state have emissions testing stations? Maybe there is a way to get it tested and get the sticker that way.

There has got to be a way to bring in an out-of-state vehicle; after all, people move between states all the time. The trick when dealing with government bureaucracy is finding someone who knows what the hell they are talking about (kinda like dealing with people on the internet....so, maybe don't listen to me either).

-T

 

[rj67]

A lot of states don't have inspections since they really do nothing for safety. As for CARB, I'm pretty sure Florida never actually adopted it.

Strongly disagree with you on the inspections and safety. I am a State Inspector in VA. If average Joe didn't have to get an annual inspection, he would drive it until the wheels fall off (literally.)

 

[Wblv17]

Strongly disagree with you on the inspections and safety. I am a State Inspector in VA. If average Joe didn't have to get an annual inspection, he would drive it until the wheels fall off (literally.)

other Joes just take an extra 20 and don't care like you do. Sad part of the world is 15% of people don't take pride in their work anymore and just care about the $$$$

 

[Qwkynuf]

Strongly disagree with you on the inspections and safety. I am a State Inspector in VA. If average Joe didn't have to get an annual inspection, he would drive it until the wheels fall off (literally.)

Must be an East Coast thing. I just glanced through AAA's "Digest of Motor Laws (Safety Inspection) http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/safety-inspection/, and can only find a couple of states West of the Mississippi that require annual safety inspections.

Most states allow for spontaneous safety inspections by State Patrol, etc, but according to that list, only these states require some sort of annual inspection.

• Delaware (cars more than 5 model years old)
• Hawaii
• Mississippi
• Missouri (every other year for cars more than 5 model years old)
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Utah (every 4 years till 10 years old, then annual)
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

So, just under 1/3 of the states require some sort of annual safety inspection, with roughly 3/4 of them being in the East.

Seems like an unusual distribution to me. It doesn't even seem to be population, or even population density based - Delaware Pennsylvania and New York do, while Connecticut, New Jersey, DC, and Maryland don't. California doesn't, that one really surprises me.

Seems kind of random.....

 

[mkenny28]

Must be an East Coast thing. I just glanced through AAA's "Digest of Motor Laws (Safety Inspection) http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/safety-inspection/, and can only find a couple of states West of the Mississippi that require annual safety inspections.

Most states allow for spontaneous safety inspections by State Patrol, etc, but according to that list, only these states require some sort of annual inspection.

• Delaware (cars more than 5 model years old)
• Hawaii
• Mississippi
• Missouri (every other year for cars more than 5 model years old)
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Utah (every 4 years till 10 years old, then annual)
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

So, just under 1/3 of the states require some sort of annual safety inspection, with roughly 3/4 of them being in the East.

Seems like an unusual distribution to me. It doesn't even seem to be population, or even population density based - Delaware Pennsylvania and New York do, while Connecticut, New Jersey, DC, and Maryland don't. California doesn't, that one really surprises me.

Seems kind of random.....

Forgot Louisiana from that list. We are required to have an annual inspection for a Brake Tag.

 

[Greg15]

Yep, I've lived in a lot of states and none have had mandatory safety inspections. Wheels must be falling off the death traps in 3/4 of the country.

 

[Qwkynuf]

Forgot Louisiana from that list. We are required to have an annual inspection for a Brake Tag.

I didn't forget, I just left them off because the description doesn't indicate that an inspection is required every year. Some states seem to require one only at initial registration, and that is the way that this web site reads:

Every motor vehicle, trailer (exempting boat trailers effective August 1, 2014), semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in Louisiana must have a valid safety inspection certificate issued in the state.

The Commissioner of the Department, any person that the Commissioner designates, or the state police can require the driver of an unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle to stop the vehicle and have it submitted to an inspection.

If the vehicle is found to be unsafe, or in need of repair, the officer will give the driver a notice requiring the driver to have the vehicle repaired so that it is in compliance. This notice will also be sent to the Department.

The notice will require that a certificate of inspection and approval be obtained within 5 days of the citation. The driver must keep 1 copy of the official certificate of inspection and approval and send the other official certificate to the Department.


Wasn't trying to mislead.... Just thought it was interesting information.

 

[mkenny28]

I didn't forget, I just left them off because the description doesn't indicate that an inspection is required every year. Some states seem to require one only at initial registration, and that is the way that this web site reads:

Every motor vehicle, trailer (exempting boat trailers effective August 1, 2014), semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in Louisiana must have a valid safety inspection certificate issued in the state.

The Commissioner of the Department, any person that the Commissioner designates, or the state police can require the driver of an unsafe or improperly equipped vehicle to stop the vehicle and have it submitted to an inspection.

If the vehicle is found to be unsafe, or in need of repair, the officer will give the driver a notice requiring the driver to have the vehicle repaired so that it is in compliance. This notice will also be sent to the Department.

The notice will require that a certificate of inspection and approval be obtained within 5 days of the citation. The driver must keep 1 copy of the official certificate of inspection and approval and send the other official certificate to the Department.


Wasn't trying to mislead.... Just thought it was interesting information.

Gotcha, whelp one is required every year. They post Brake Tag Traps and issue tickets for no brake tag or expired brake tag; Basically just an added revenue stream for parishes/the state.

 

[stoli]

Strongly disagree with you on the inspections and safety. I am a State Inspector in VA. If average Joe didn't have to get an annual inspection, he would drive it until the wheels fall off (literally.)

other Joes just take an extra 20 and don't care like you do. Sad part of the world is 15% of people don't take pride in their work anymore and just care about the $$$$

Payoffs are huge in many states, many people get a car 'right' just enough to pass inspection... I remember people swapping wheels just to go get inspected because they didn't have tread. An hour later they were back on slicks. Meanwhile the State and inspection station just made money and no one was safer.

Just check accident stats in states that don't have inspections; faulty equipment isn't a higher percentage of root cause.

 

[Tamadrummer88]

Must be an East Coast thing. I just glanced through AAA's "Digest of Motor Laws (Safety Inspection) http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/safety-inspection/, and can only find a couple of states West of the Mississippi that require annual safety inspections.

Most states allow for spontaneous safety inspections by State Patrol, etc, but according to that list, only these states require some sort of annual inspection.

• Delaware (cars more than 5 model years old)
• Hawaii
• Mississippi
• Missouri (every other year for cars more than 5 model years old)
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• Texas
• Utah (every 4 years till 10 years old, then annual)
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

So, just under 1/3 of the states require some sort of annual safety inspection, with roughly 3/4 of them being in the East.

Seems like an unusual distribution to me. It doesn't even seem to be population, or even population density based - Delaware Pennsylvania and New York do, while Connecticut, New Jersey, DC, and Maryland don't. California doesn't, that one really surprises me.

Seems kind of random.....

Yep, here in hawaii we have annual safety inspections. They only check visible "safety" items. Brake lights, headlights, turn signals, tire tread wear, chips or cracks in glass, windshield wipers, and some other stuff. they really don't test brakes or emissions systems, nor do they check for drivetrain leaks. Now, all stations have to submit a photo of the car to the state DMV. Some "under the radar" inspection stations will just test your lighting and thats it, slip em 20 bucks and they pass you. If your car has visible performance modifications, like lowered suspension, etc, the safety inspection station will fail you and send you to the Vehicle Reconstruction station, where they will inspect ALL of your mods and pass or fail you based on their standards (don't even wanna get into that, just another way for the state to make money)

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