Texas Ends Mandatory Vehicle Safety Inspections (1 Viewer)

[Lursa]

Ok fine. This is why people can't be trusted to maintain safe vehicles.

It's not an issue out west. The police have the prerogative to ticket someone they see with a cracked windshield...no inspections needed. And if they're not unsafe, why should it cost people more $$?

 

[Mason66]

In PA the failure rate for safety inspections was 12% to 18% in 2015. So no, people don't maintain their vehicles properly.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S096585641500141X

What do you mean failure rate? Is that vehicles that fail an inspection?

 

[ttwtt78640]

I find this apoplexy over the cessation of mandatory safety inspections hilarious. Until this thread, I'd never even heard of such a thing. And now, with this change, only fourteen states mandate them for passenger vehicles. Most are in the eastern coastal region. And Missouri and Louisiana.

The rest of us seem to manage just fine with our unregulated death machines. This even includes Arizonans, believe it or not.

The law change doesn’t impact commercial vehicles and leaves the emissions test in place for (17) ‘urban’ counties. Basically, it converts the current annual (10 minute) ‘safety’ inspection fee into a tax (vehicle registration fee increase).

Texas Inspection Sticker Requirement Ending in 2025

The Texas Inspection Sticker requirement will see major changes in 2025. Here's what you need to know.

versustexas.com

 

[Allan]

It's not an issue out west. The police have the prerogative to ticket someone they see with a cracked windshield...no inspections needed. And if they're not unsafe, why should it cost people more $$?

The safety aspects of an cracked windshield are hardly a secret. The front windshield protects passengers from debris, it supports an inflated airbag, it helps support the roof in a rollover accident, it helps prevent front hood intrusion in a frontal crash etc.

You don't know any of this so for damn sure you'd be completely unable to evaluate brake wear or tread wear.

You are the reason a professional should be inspecting your vehicle.

 

[gboisjo]

The safety aspects of an cracked windshield are hardly a secret. The front windshield protects passengers from debris, it supports an inflated airbag, it helps support the roof in a rollover accident, it helps prevent front hood intrusion in a frontal crash etc.

You don't know any of this so for damn sure you'd be completely unable to evaluate brake wear or tread wear.

You are the reason a professional should be inspecting your vehicle.

I hope wherever you live you have to wait in lines 8 or 9 times a year to get your vehicle completely safe.

Big daddy wants it that way to keep you and other motorist safe and sound.

I live in Florida and we don't have any of that bullshit, thankfully.

 

[Allan]

I hope wherever you live you have to wait in lines 8 or 9 times a year to get your vehicle completely safe.

So this is nonsense isn't it.

Big daddy wants it that way to keep you and other motorist safe and sound.

Yup. Air travel safety, railway safety, food safety, workplace safety, road and vehicle safety, UL certification so your toaster doesn't burn your house down, building and fire codes, pharmaceutical standards for testing and manufacturing, new car safety standards etc etc etc.

Your life is so terrible thanks to government regulations designed to keep you off the Darwin Awards list.

You poor thing.

I live in Florida and we don't have any of that bullshit, thankfully.

See the above list of bullshit applicable in Florida.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Before the depression everyone was personally responsible for their own savings no matter what horrible thing happened.

Then something unthinkable happened and we realized we couldn't just let businessmen and their kids starve in the streets the next time. So we created something to fix it and people now bitch about it (while being protected). And they bitch because it's been long enough after businessmen and their kids were starving in the streets that we just don't care.

So it's always during calm times that we feel empowered to do stuff that we feel like we don't need. Like safety in factories, safety for cars, the power grid not being reliable or countless other things.

It's kind of like college kids who are rookies/have no life experiences and are know it alls and just do whatever because it works TODAY. Screw what happens TOMORROW.

 

[Lursa]

The safety aspects of an cracked windshield are hardly a secret. The front windshield protects passengers from debris, it supports an inflated airbag, it helps support the roof in a rollover accident, it helps prevent front hood intrusion in a frontal crash etc.

You don't know any of this so for damn sure you'd be completely unable to evaluate brake wear or tread wear.

You are the reason a professional should be inspecting your vehicle.

Not really changing the argument tho. It's about significant difference in safety outcomes and whether or not drivers take care of this stuff on their own...you dont know...or in the case of the windshields, it's not a safety issue or if it is, the cops can see it and demand it get fixed.

 

[SMTA]

Okay, gonna go out on a limb and say that I cautiously agree on the safety inspection issue, because it IS a personal responsibility.
That said, if they do end mandatory safety inspections, they should alter the law so that if you get pulled over for an obvious safety problem, a citation and fine is also your personal responsibility, and flagrant violations should trigger a hike in the owner's insurance policy.
And if you're involved in an accident and a safety issue becomes evident, again...an additional citation and spike in your insurance costs.
Texas isn't saying they don't care if your vehicle is safe, they're saying the state government isn't interested in doing something a responsible vehicle owner should be doing on their own.
I'm okay with that for private vehicles, it IS the owner's responsibility and we should not need a government office to remind them of it.
This is indeed a case of smaller government being a benefit and my conservative side thinks it's a good idea.
Commercial vehicles, WHOLE OTHER ballgame, keep the mandatory safety inspections as they are.

https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/mandatory-texas-vehicle-safety-inspections-end-in-six-months

Repealing vehicular safety is ****ing stupid.
States have a responsibility to protect their citizens.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Repealing vehicular safety is ****ing stupid.
States have a responsibility to protect their citizens.

My only argument here is that it's not going to make much difference in a state like Texas because it never has.
I speak from experience having lived there for ten years.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Repealing vehicular safety is ****ing stupid.
States have a responsibility to protect their citizens.

I guess the 35 states that don't have vehicle safety inspections just pray for wanton carnage on the roads. A paved Coliseum, where drivers battle it out for the amusement of the Department of Transportation.

The monocle-popping and pearl-clutching going on in this thread is just hilarious.

 

[SMTA]

I guess the 35 states that don't have vehicle safety inspections just pray for wanton carnage on the roads. A paved Coliseum, where drivers battle it out for the amusement of the Department of Transportation.

The monocle-popping and pearl-clutching going on in this thread is just hilarious.

Not as much as the stupidity.

 

[LostInSeattle]

Okay, gonna go out on a limb and say that I cautiously agree on the safety inspection issue, because it IS a personal responsibility.
That said, if they do end mandatory safety inspections, they should alter the law so that if you get pulled over for an obvious safety problem, a citation and fine is also your personal responsibility, and flagrant violations should trigger a hike in the owner's insurance policy.
And if you're involved in an accident and a safety issue becomes evident, again...an additional citation and spike in your insurance costs.
Texas isn't saying they don't care if your vehicle is safe, they're saying the state government isn't interested in doing something a responsible vehicle owner should be doing on their own.
I'm okay with that for private vehicles, it IS the owner's responsibility and we should not need a government office to remind them of it.
This is indeed a case of smaller government being a benefit and my conservative side thinks it's a good idea.
Commercial vehicles, WHOLE OTHER ballgame, keep the mandatory safety inspections as they are.

https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/mandatory-texas-vehicle-safety-inspections-end-in-six-months

I hear you. My concern is that safety inspections also protect the public at large - other drivers and pedestrians - as well as the vehicle driver. It's in the state's interest and purview to protect the public at large. Preventing deaths and injuries is usually cheaper than the costs of those deaths and injuries.

 

[RF667799]

Repealing vehicular safety is ****ing stupid.
States have a responsibility to protect their citizens.

Your numerous AR15 rifles are unsafe according to many people. Wide brushed arguments have unforeseen consequences.

 

[RF667799]

I hear you. My concern is that safety inspections also protect the public at large - other drivers and pedestrians - as well as the vehicle driver. It's in the state's interest and purview to protect the public at large. Preventing deaths and injuries is usually cheaper than the costs of those deaths and injuries.

Then privately owned motor vehicles should be restricted to speeds of 25 mph, and Nascar type safety equipment required for all occupants.

 

[RF667799]

My only argument here is that it's not going to make much difference in a state like Texas because it never has.
I speak from experience having lived there for ten years.

Is there any place you haven't lived for ten years? I kid.

We have never to my knowledge, had a statewide vehicle safety inspection in my state. With the exception of pickup trucks, and that was done away with way back when I was a youngster.

 

[Allan]

Then privately owned motor vehicles should be restricted to speeds of 25 mph, and Nascar type safety equipment required for all occupants.

You always take the most ridiculous positions.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Not as much as the stupidity.

Nah, it's not stupid to want safe vehicles.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

Is there any place you haven't lived for ten years? I kid.
We have never to my knowledge, had a statewide vehicle safety inspection in my state. With the exception of pickup trucks, and that was done away with way back when I was a youngster.

It's just because it's Texas and I learned quickly that Texas doesn't give a rat's ass except if it's a revenue stream.
And as it apparently turns out, it actually costs more for the state to administer the program than the revenue it brings in.
So I am not the least bit surprised that they ended the program, it is a natural course of events.
I never encountered a vehicle safety inspection outfit in my entire time there that didn't make clear that they could be bought for a price.

And so I doubt having or not having a state program would ever make much difference.
Texas cops on the other hand, might turn surprise inspections into a real money maker...pull someone over for a minor infraction, suddenly BLAMMO, instant roadside inspection!

A bumper here, cracked taillight there, that muffler isn't compliant with regulation, hey sonny what the hell are these green LED's around your headlights, you in a heap-a trouble now boy. I foresee a whole new day dawning in Texas vehicle safety but they can still yell about not having a mandatory safety inspection!
Y'all come on down now, y'heah?

 

[RF667799]

You always take the most ridiculous positions.

The other poster said preventing deaths and injuries is usually cheaper than the costs of those injuries.

You must be saying the costs wouldn't be worth the lives saved.

 

[Allan]

The other poster said preventing deaths and injuries is usually cheaper than the costs of those injuries.

You must be saying the costs wouldn't be worth the lives saved.

DOT: "Cars should have windshield wipers for better visibility in the rain"
RF667799: "Then privately owned vehicles should be restricted to sunny days".

DOT: "Cars should have headlights".
RF667799: Then cars shouldn't drive at night".

That's your debate style. Take the most preposterous position to try to eliminate every possible middle solution.

 

[gboisjo]

I want Big Daddy to wrap his big, wonderful, warm hands around me. Protect and shield me from all the bad bogeymen drivers and crappy vehicles in this scary world.

 

[Allan]

I want Big Daddy to wrap his big, wonderful, warm hands around me. Protect and shield me from all the bad bogeymen drivers and crappy vehicles in this scary world.

Bid Daddy already does. That's why annual vehicle accident fatalities have dropped from 5 per 100 million VMT in the 60s to less than 1.5 in the past 20 years.

 

[RF667799]

DOT: "Cars should have windshield wipers for better visibility in the rain"
RF667799: "Then privately owned vehicles should be restricted to sunny days".

DOT: "Cars should have headlights".
RF667799: Then cars shouldn't drive at night".

That's your debate style. Take the most preposterous position to try to eliminate every possible middle solution.

So you manufacture two strawmen to avoid actually addressing my post.

I guess you just demonstrated your debate style.

Are the costs too much for the lives saved?

 

[Allan]

So you manufacture two strawmen to avoid actually addressing my post.

My strawmen were examples of your debate style on almost any subject. Your position that cars shouldn't go over 25 mph is ridiculous.

I guess you just demonstrated your debate style.

Yours.