The Vehicle Safety Inspection (or Not) Thread

[two_bit_score]

For a while Florida had statewide safety inspections with state run inspection stations...there were almost always long lines and it was a real PITA to deal with...the majority of the employees were indignant and would not do anything to make it easier or let the tiniest crack in a tail light lens go etc...

Well...when Bob Graham (AKA Boob Graham) was elected he was working on a hobby car or maybe it was a pickup truck...at any rate he got so frustrated trying to get them to pass his vehicle (after repeated trips through the process) that he got the legislature to can the entire program and that ended inspections in FL...
However if you get cited for a moving or parking violation and there is bald tires, broken lights etc...they will add to a ticket...

That is a pretty dang good solution.



TBS

 

[Jstpssng]

For a while Florida had statewide safety inspections with state run inspection stations...there were almost always long lines and it was a real PITA to deal with...the majority of the employees were indignant and would not do anything to make it easier or let the tiniest crack in a tail light lens go etc...

Well...when Bob Graham (AKA Boob Graham) was elected he was working on a hobby car or maybe it was a pickup truck...at any rate he got so frustrated trying to get them to pass his vehicle (after repeated trips through the process) that he got the legislature to can the entire program and that ended inspections in FL...
However if you get cited for a moving or parking violation and there is bald tires, broken lights etc...they will add to a ticket...

No wonder people don't like them. We have auto repair garages which are licensed by the state, and who need a mechanic with an inspection license to do them; they aren't state employees. I know my truck so if there's a minor deficiency, inspection sticker time is good incentive to get it done. Front end and other work I can't or don't do myself I have done at the local Ford garage; they know my truck and how I take care of it so it isn't a big deal, they check lights, steering components, and anything else they are supposed to and I am out the door. If they find something wrong I still have to pay the fee; but if I fix any problems they've found within a certain number of days that's all they are allowed to check the next time. That way you don't keep going back and finding out that you need to spend even more money.

When I had my old '87 "toy truck" it was rusty up over the rear fenderwells. All that I had to do was run some duct tape across it so that if anybody brushed against it in the parking lot it wouldn't tear their clothes.

I've never really thought about it; getting an inspection is just something we do every year. like paying for insurance or buying a registration. It wasn't until this thread started that I learned how few states require them now; only about 1/3 of those in the nation.

 

[jaxs]

I've never really thought about it; getting an inspection is just something we do every year. like paying for insurance or buying a registration. It wasn't until this thread started that I learned how few states require them now; only about 1/3 of those in the nation.

It wasn't until this thread started that I learned people living in those states without mandatory annual inspections take such good care of their vehicles. I have always took pride with how responsible majority of Texans are but without inspections, some would drive on tires until they blew out or the government gave them new ones. The same is true for wipers,brakes and anything else,,,,,except cd player and boom box bass speakers. It's truly amazing how living in certain states will cause folks to be so responsible inspections become unnecessary.

 

[/pine]

No wonder people don't like them. We have auto repair garages which are licensed by the state, and who need a mechanic with an inspection license to do them; they aren't state employees. I know my truck so if there's a minor deficiency, inspection sticker time is good incentive to get it done. Front end and other work I can't or don't do myself I have done at the local Ford garage; they know my truck and how I take care of it so it isn't a big deal, they check lights, steering components, and anything else they are supposed to and I am out the door. If they find something wrong I still have to pay the fee; but if I fix any problems they've found within a certain number of days that's all they are allowed to check the next time. That way you don't keep going back and finding out that you need to spend even more money.

When I had my old '87 "toy truck" it was rusty up over the rear fenderwells. All that I had to do was run some duct tape across it so that if anybody brushed against it in the parking lot it wouldn't tear their clothes.

I've never really thought about it; getting an inspection is just something we do every year. like paying for insurance or buying a registration. It wasn't until this thread started that I learned how few states require them now; only about 1/3 of those in the nation.

What ultimately led to the demise of the inspections (convinced the legislature) was all the complaints of the long lines...The simple solution was to pay the inspectors on how many cars they processed and not BTH...!

There was supposed to be a new system where certified shops would do the inspections but it never materialized and the responsibility reverted back to street patrol officers...

 

[Jstpssng]

What ultimately led to the demise of the inspections (convinced the legislature) was all the complaints of the long lines...The simple solution was to pay the inspectors on how many cars they processed and not BTH...!

There was supposed to be a new system where certified shops would do the inspections but it never materialized and the responsibility reverted back to street patrol officers...

Ultimately it's the street patrol officers who have to deal with it anyways... among all of the other duties we expect of them. Even our annual inspections are only a snapshot; when a vehicle gets older, like my 2004 Ranger things start going to pieces. I always put it up for the winter after deer season but winter came early last year... you wouldn't believe how much it rusted just because I ran it for 3 weeks in last November's salt they put on the road.