Texas Senate passes bill to eliminate most vehicle safety inspections

[Elderberry]

texastribune.org by Julián Aguilar May 4, 2017

The Texas Senate on Thursday gave its blessing to a bill that would eliminate the state’s vehicle safety inspection requirement for most vehicles. It would still apply for commercial vehicles.

The Texas Senate on Thursday gave its blessing to a bill that would eliminate the state’s vehicle safety inspection requirement for most vehicles.

Under Senate Bill 1588 by state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, safety inspections would still be required for commercial vehicles, and a portion of the money currently collected from annual inspections would be allocated to the Texas Mobility Fund for road repairs and construction.

“Vehicle inspections do not make our roads safer — it’s just a tax,” Huffines said during debate.

Huffines said his measure, which passed 27 to 4, would bring Texas on board with most other states in the country that have opted out of vehicle inspections. Texas is one of only 15 states that still requires the test. The requirement has been in effect since 1951, according to the bill analysis.

More: https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/04/senate-passes-bill-would-eliminate-vehicle-inspection-requirement/

[geronl]

only 15 states still do inspections?

[thackney]

only 15 states still do inspections?

Most of those 35 are "No periodic statewide safety inspection requirement".  Situations still exist where Police can do inspection or required at sales.

http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/safety-inspection/

[Sanguine]

Wow! 

[Oceander]

Seems to me that requiring a professional to give a cars mechanicals the once-over every year, particularly things like brakes that you can't easily see, is not such a bad idea, even if you cannot conclusively tie those inspections to a determinative reduction in collisions. 

[Cripplecreek]

only 15 states still do inspections?

I think they only lasted for a year or 2 in Michigan when I was a kid.

[roamer_1]

Wow!

Montana's never had them, and never had emissions tests either.

Suits me fine

[roamer_1]

Seems to me that requiring a professional to give a cars mechanicals the once-over every year, particularly things like brakes that you can't easily see, is not such a bad idea, even if you cannot conclusively tie those inspections to a determinative reduction in collisions.

Yeah. It's a bad idea.
You can keep it.

[Cripplecreek]

Yeah. It's a bad idea.
You can keep it.

But if it saves just one life.......

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-segment---grumpy-old-man/n9860?snl=1

[roamer_1]

But if it saves just one life.......

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-segment---grumpy-old-man/n9860?snl=1

Meh. That an entire generation grew up never having rode in the back of a pickup truck is a crying shame.

[Cripplecreek]

Meh. That an entire generation grew up never having rode in the back of a pickup truck is a crying shame.

My now liberal sister has declared that that was one of the horrifying forms of abuse we suffered as children.

I like to point out that the only time she ever got hurt riding somewhere other than in the passenger compartment of a vehicle was when SHE chose to ride on the hood of a car in the high school parking lot.

We used to ride from far southern Michigan all the way to the upper peninsula in the back of the pickup truck.

[geronl]

Meh. That an entire generation grew up never having rode in the back of a pickup truck is a crying shame.

Do you remember the Cowboys Ice Bowl with "No Leon, No!"?

I actually got in the back when my dad decided to go to the beer store. I wasn't wearing a coat. By the time we  got back, my hair was an ice helmet. lol

[Cripplecreek]

Do you remember the Cowboys Ice Bowl with "No Leon, No!"?

I actually got in the back when my dad decided to go to the beer store. I wasn't wearing a coat. By the time we  got back, my hair was an ice helmet. lol

In my hometown we did a lot of bumper dragging on the icy streets. With a pickup truck I could hook my elbows over the tailgate and do it standing up.

[roamer_1]

We used to ride from far southern Michigan all the way to the upper peninsula in the back of the pickup truck.

I don't think I ever rode in the front, until/unless I was driving... Well, that can't be exactly true... but it is true I spent way more time in the back than in the front.

[roamer_1]

Do you remember the Cowboys Ice Bowl with "No Leon, No!"?

I actually got in the back when my dad decided to go to the beer store. I wasn't wearing a coat. By the time we  got back, my hair was an ice helmet. lol

I rode back and forth to logging camp every day, about 3 hrs one way, all winter long, for several winters, in the back of the truck. Of course, full winter kit, and a Hudson Bay 5 star wool blanket, but at the time, I considered it comfy as can be... Shoot, half the time I slept the whole way, WAY better than being up in the cab.

[roamer_1]

In my hometown we did a lot of bumper dragging on the icy streets. With a pickup truck I could hook my elbows over the tailgate and do it standing up.

It's called hookey-bobbin' out here... Great way to get around... at least, once all the chuck holes are packed in...

[Smokin Joe]

Seems to me that requiring a professional to give a cars mechanicals the once-over every year, particularly things like brakes that you can't easily see, is not such a bad idea, even if you cannot conclusively tie those inspections to a determinative reduction in collisions.

Any vehicle suffering from a serious and dangerous mechanical deficit either acquires it suddenly or it has developed over time and the driver should be aware of it.

The vast majority of automobile "accidents" are pilot error, inattention, or incapacitation.

[Smokin Joe]

Montana's never had them, and never had emissions tests either.

Suits me fine

The only vehicle inspection I have ever had in North Dakota was for a custom motorcycle. No emissions inspections, and only one disabling mechanical failure, which I repaired in half an hour. Every 4 wheeled vehicle accident I have been in was driver error (the other guy's), but that made me a very defensive driver.
I dumped the bike three times over the years, once for improper braking technique for conditions, once I hung a tab on the primary cover on a ridiculously high road crown making a turn, and the other as a result of avoiding a collision with a car (the ditch looked far softer).

[roamer_1]

The only vehicle inspection I have ever had in North Dakota was for a custom motorcycle. No emissions inspections, and only one disabling mechanical failure, which I repaired in half an hour.

I HAVE had several vehicle inspections, ordered by citation, or rather, judicial order... Usually for pipes... compliance with volume decibel laws.

Oddly enough leg pipes comply. Technically, even 2 1/2" dual exhaust, cherry bombs, dumped behind the mufflers (kicked out in front of the rear wheels) won't be 'legal', but officers don't pay that no mind... Open headers, or straight pipes will turn their head... In all cases, I was on header-flanged glass-packs with every intention of adding pipe... Just having a little fun before taking it up to the muffler shop...

The one particular time that actually involved safety was a custom scratch-built rat-rod 4x4 pickup I built. A young sheriff deputy pulled me over on a bumper height technicality, cited me for the noise db and bumper, deigned it an unsafe vehicle, and I either had to trailer it home or he would impound it. The judge I pulled upheld the deputy, and it looked like trouble. But I go shooting with another judge, who is also a performance car freak... He understands things well, and he had the other judge come out to watch me put 'Bessie' through her paces. By his explanation, and my demonstration, the judge reversed himself... As he should. That truck far exceeded anything you can get from the factory.

Every 4 wheeled vehicle accident I have been in was driver error (the other guy's), but that made me a very defensive driver.

I hear that.

(the ditch looked far softer).

I hear that too.

[Wingnut]

Meh. That an entire generation grew up never having rode in the back of a pickup truck is a crying shame.

On a lawn chair with a cooler full of Coors Beer  next to you.   Man I remember when In texas if you said open carry it meant a beer can between your legs going 85 on the Stemmis Freeway and a side arm on your hip..

I could be wrong but I though TX was the last state to succumb to those Nasi bastards MADD and pass a law against Open Containers.

[Rivergirl]

NJ motor vehicle inspection is for emissions ONLY.   Every two years.

[roamer_1]

On a lawn chair with a cooler full of Coors Beer  next to you.   Man I remember when In texas if you said open carry it meant a beer can between your legs going 85 on the Stemmis Freeway and a side arm on your hip..

I could be wrong but I though TX was the last state to succumb to those Nasi bastards MADD and pass a law against Open Containers.

I dunno about TX, but Montana has had open container laws since when I was about 20 or so. My class, btw, was the last in MT to legally drink at 18...

For a while there, that open container law got pretty silly.. If you had an empty (a single empty) in the back of your pickup, you could, and were cited... I say that incredulously, and you'd understand why if you saw the bed of my truck in those days... But, what wound up happening, since folks couldn't just throw their empties in the back of the pickup, they'd leave them on the ground. Littering became a pretty serious problem along the roads, and more importantly and substantially, in the woods, and down along the river, where folks most naturally go for tailgating.

Seems like most folks were doing the responsible thing... going out in the woods to party, where they ain't going to hurt nobody... and the piles of cans in the back of the truck were the natural means of keeping the woods clean. Took quite a few years, after they lightened up, for folks to go back to what they once did by nature.

[Cripplecreek]

Any vehicle suffering from a serious and dangerous mechanical deficit either acquires it suddenly or it has developed over time and the driver should be aware of it.

The vast majority of automobile "accidents" are pilot error, inattention, or incapacitation.

A few years ago I blew a brake line sitting at the drive through of the bank. I was sitting there with the truck out of gear with light pressure on the brake so I wouldn't roll forward and the pedal just dropped away. I didn't panic about it. I continued on into town to my appointment, to the parts store for new a line back and home again without brakes.

I'm an experienced driver and I love a standard transmission.

[catfish1957]

Kind of ambivalent on this one.

Love it when taxes and government gets less intrusive.

OTOH....  I hope I don't get T Boned by a piece of jalopy not road worthy.

[geronl]

Seems like most folks were doing the responsible thing... going out in the woods to party, where they ain't going to hurt nobody... and the piles of cans in the back of the truck were the natural means of keeping the woods clean. Took quite a few years, after they lightened up, for folks to go back to what they once did by nature.

The responsible thing is driving home drunk? How about drink at home

[geronl]

I rode back and forth to logging camp every day, about 3 hrs one way, all winter long, for several winters, in the back of the truck. Of course, full winter kit, and a Hudson Bay 5 star wool blanket, but at the time, I considered it comfy as can be... Shoot, half the time I slept the whole way, WAY better than being up in the cab.

I remember trips to Okahoma during winter where I was under covers in the back, it was comfy

[roamer_1]

OTOH....  I hope I don't get T Boned by a piece of jalopy not road worthy.

The secret to success is to quit driving expensive cars. I don't think I have ever paid more than 3k for a ride, few aboce $2500... The vast majority 2k and under. Now, I put a lot of money into em - suspension, brakes, a mighty, mighty motor and etc... But if I wreck it, all that can generally be peeled back off the wreck, and go into the next one.

Somebody wrecking me hurts, don't get me wrong, but if they have insurance, outside of the time rebuilding, I usually make money on the deal.

[Cripplecreek]

I dunno about TX, but Montana has had open container laws since when I was about 20 or so. My class, btw, was the last in MT to legally drink at 18...

For a while there, that open container law got pretty silly.. If you had an empty (a single empty) in the back of your pickup, you could, and were cited... I say that incredulously, and you'd understand why if you saw the bed of my truck in those days... But, what wound up happening, since folks couldn't just throw their empties in the back of the pickup, they'd leave them on the ground. Littering became a pretty serious problem along the roads, and more importantly and substantially, in the woods, and down along the river, where folks most naturally go for tailgating.

Seems like most folks were doing the responsible thing... going out in the woods to party, where they ain't going to hurt nobody... and the piles of cans in the back of the truck were the natural means of keeping the woods clean. Took quite a few years, after they lightened up, for folks to go back to what they once did by nature.

Our bottle return law turned out to be a pretty good means of preventing a fair bit of littering. Even if you do toss them out, someone will come along and pick them up. Our local church has a bottle drive every year with a chicken dinner. I have probably $40 worth of soda cans and bottles ready to go.

[roamer_1]

I remember trips to Okahoma during winter where I was under covers in the back, it was comfy

That's right.

[EC]

Our insurance lobby must be stronger. If you have no valid MOT (UK's equivalent of the inspection sticker) your insurance will not pay out in case of an accident, even if your insurance is up to date. At all. Ditto for your vehicle's Road Tax. 

[Frank Cannon]

Terrible idea. Ever buy a car from a non inspection state? They are garbage. Most people are either lazy or stupid and do not maintain their cars to even minimal safety standards. Leaking exhaust and a rust hole in the floor can kill you. Bad brakes and shitty tires can kill someone else.

This shit is road legal in OH....

[roamer_1]

Our bottle return law turned out to be a pretty good means of preventing a fair bit of littering. Even if you do toss them out, someone will come along and pick them up. Our local church has a bottle drive every year with a chicken dinner. I have probably $40 worth of soda cans and bottles ready to go.

Yeah, that's right. as a boy in Chicago, I kept myself in walking cash collecting bottles with my wagon. There, it was only pop bottles at the time, but I made some serious coin just on them - 'Serious coin' being in the mind of a <6th grade boy... And the deal made by ol George, the local grocer, he'd give me a penny for every bottle not covered by the nickel tax, and me and him would just throw all them in the trash can behind the store... I sure thought he was dumb, paying for stuff he was throwing away...

[Cripplecreek]

The secret to success is to quit driving expensive cars. I don't think I have ever paid more than 3k for a ride, few aboce $2500... The vast majority 2k and under. Now, I put a lot of money into em - suspension, brakes, a mighty, mighty motor and etc... But if I wreck it, all that can generally be peeled back off the wreck, and go into the next one.

Somebody wrecking me hurts, don't get me wrong, but if they have insurance, outside of the time rebuilding, I usually make money on the deal.

The only brand new car I ever bought seemed like I became the biggest brightest target on the road.

[Elderberry]

Terrible idea. Ever buy a car from a non inspection state? They are garbage. Most people are either lazy or stupid and do not maintain their cars to even minimal safety standards. Leaking exhaust and a rust hole in the floor can kill you. Bad brakes and shitty tires can kill someone else.

So You need the government to Force You to maintain your car?

[Cripplecreek]

Yeah, that's right. as a boy in Chicago, I kept myself in walking cash collecting bottles with my wagon. There, it was only pop bottles at the time, but I made some serious coin just on them - 'Serious coin' being in the mind of a <6th grade boy... And the deal made by ol George, the local grocer, he'd give me a penny for every bottle not covered by the nickel tax, and me and him would just throw all them in the trash can behind the store... I sure thought he was dumb, paying for stuff he was throwing away...

There's an old mentally handicapped guy in the next town over from where I live who collects bottles and cans all day every day. He rides around on a riding mower pulling a trailer. He has a flashing amber light on a pole so he's visible. He does some serious miles every day. He rolled through town here a few hours ago.

[Oceander]

Any vehicle suffering from a serious and dangerous mechanical deficit either acquires it suddenly or it has developed over time and the driver should be aware of it.

The vast majority of automobile "accidents" are pilot error, inattention, or incapacitation.

Yeah, I really want to count on the jacka$$ in the SUV behind me having noticed that his brake pads were completely worn away.  If we could count on all our fellow drivers doing what they should do, collisions would be few and far between. 

[Oceander]

So You need the government to Force You to maintain your car?

Nope.  I need government to make sure the other guy didn't let his brakes get so worn out that he rear-ends me because the brakes fail.  I have seen that happen before.  In high school I let an acquaintance buy a car I had been eyeing because he really needed one and I just wanted to tinker with it. SOB ignored the brakes until one fine sunny day when they simply refused to stop the car any more.  He ended up "parking" on a phone pole because the alternative was running across a 45 mph cross road at rush hour.

[roamer_1]

The responsible thing is driving home drunk? How about drink at home

I take it you are not much for tailgating. It's a camp. Nobody is going anywhere. Hell, most of the trucks are stuck before dark even falls.

And we pay through the nose... If you've never been digging trucks out of the mud with a screaming hangover, you just can;t understand.

[roamer_1]

Yeah, I really want to count on the jacka$$ in the SUV behind me having noticed that his brake pads were completely worn away.  If we could count on all our fellow drivers doing what they should do, collisions would be few and far between.

LOL! Ahh! you're one of those. My bumper is over the top of your trunk because you drive slower than my gramma.
Don't worry. the brakes are fine.

 

[Cripplecreek]

I take it you are not much for tailgating. It's a camp. Nobody is going anywhere. Hell, most of the trucks are stuck before dark even falls.

And we pay through the nose... If you've never been digging trucks out of the mud with a screaming hangover, you just can;t understand.

I had a Ranger pickup with an aluminum cap and a foam mattress in the back for those nights.

[roamer_1]

I had a Ranger pickup with an aluminum cap and a foam mattress in the back for those nights.

I love tailgate parties. Ours got huge... Often a pig in the ground and live music. Not to say some don't drive home drunk... but most do not. Mostly because who would? It's a whole weekend kind of thing down on the river. I guess folks who ain't redneck don't know what that is, and why the river figures into so many country songs...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6nxHNrIwJA

And I'd sleep in the truck if it weren't 100 yards out in knee deep mud, but most times, in my experience, I'd fly a tarp and set a camp... Normally off a ways in the sticks...

[Frank Cannon]

Nope.  I need government to make sure the other guy didn't let his brakes get so worn out that he rear-ends me because the brakes fail.  I have seen that happen before.  In high school I let an acquaintance buy a car I had been eyeing because he really needed one and I just wanted to tinker with it. SOB ignored the brakes until one fine sunny day when they simply refused to stop the car any more.  He ended up "parking" on a phone pole because the alternative was running across a 45 mph cross road at rush hour.

Exactly. I've run across cars that were caliper piston to rotor on front brakes because people are idiots.

[roamer_1]

Exactly. I've run across cars that were caliper piston to rotor on front brakes because people are idiots.

Yeah, but people are idiots anyway, Frank. I've been in Chicago and Kansas City, and there ain't no dearth of sh*tboxes therein.

[Cripplecreek]

I love tailgate parties. Ours got huge... Often a pig in the ground and live music. Not to say some don't drive home drunk... but most do not. Mostly because who would? It's a whole weekend kind of thing down on the river. I guess folks who ain't redneck don't know what that is, and why the river figures into so many country songs...

And I'd sleep in the truck if it weren't 100 yards out in knee deep mud, but most times, in my experience, I'd fly a tarp and set a camp... Normally off a ways in the sticks...

Ours weren't large. Just 10 or 20 of us locals who were close friends and usually a few floaters who were known locals but not normally one of our crowd. Sometimes back in the fields, other times in a clearing in the woods or by a lake. We usually listened to rock from the 60s 70s and 80s.

I think you would have found some familiarity with us as typical rural teenagers. We knew hunting, fishing, farmwork and cars.

[roamer_1]

I think you would have found some familiarity with us as typical rural teenagers. We knew hunting, fishing, farmwork and cars.

Yeah, our kind is everywhere. All you have to do is get outta the city about 10 miles and find a diner... I walk in and say, "y'all got sweet tea?" and if they say, "why, sure we do," then I know I am back with my own.

Best party I ever went to was on the MO side of the Mississippi, a ways downstream of Kansas City... We were down there fishin, not even figuring on anything... Got together with a few of the locals drinkin some.... Ran out of beer, and somebody called somebody to bring us on down sommore on the CB. Before you know it, here they all come.

Totally spontaneous, and totally awesome... Then the bars let out, and it grew by 3 times, and some of the local bands showed up... Somebody threw down a bunch of plywood on the sand, and somebody else had a big event tent to put up over it.... Somebody else went around and stole green rooms from construction sites (don't worry, they all got returned... other than they were full)... Some Cajun dude showed up and started cooking... OMG, what a fun time.

By the time the sheriff showed up, all they could do is try to control it... They figured out it wasn't going to shut down real quick. So the cops were there too, keeping general order. I don't rightly know how long it was... I sorta lost track of time... but it was days.

And the funny thing is it wasn't just young folks...  there were whole generations there... kids too during the daytime..
Probably the best shindig I have ever been to. Good, good folks.

[Oceander]

LOL! Ahh! you're one of those. My bumper is over the top of your trunk because you drive slower than my gramma.
Don't worry. the brakes are fine.

 

Come visit us on the LIE and then we can discuss!

[roamer_1]

Come visit us on the LIE and then we can discuss!

What the hell is the 'LIE'?

[Oceander]

What the hell is the 'LIE'?

Long Island Expressway.

[mirraflake]

Long Island Expressway.

Or the outer belt around DC.  90 mph and cars 5 inches off your back bumper...literally . I'M sure LIE is similar.
@Oceander

[Cripplecreek]

What the hell is the 'LIE'?

Someplace you or I will never be foolish enough to go.