DC Car Inspections No More!

[Anonymous]

I applaud this. Can we tear off our stickers as of October 1?

[Anonymous]

Whaaa?

[Anonymous]

OMG, just in time for me!!! Do you have a link to an announcement/story????

[jsteele]

This is one of the most stupid reforms I ever heard of. First, your sticker will stay because emission tests are still required. So, you will still be visiting Half Street every two years. The only difference is that they won't do a safety inspection. That only took about five minutes. The emissions tests take most of the time and are generally the hardest to pass (it was not uncommon for a car's cat to go out of wack just from idling while in line). Now there will be people with bald tires and rusted out suspensions driving around. Even if they don't manage to kill anyone, they will create plenty of traffic jams when they slide into the back of you.

[Anonymous]

I could not agree more with Jeff. In fact, I've just written my council member to tell her what an idiotic, short-sighted idea this is. And all for a whopping $400K in savings, dear god.

[Anonymous]

Only 20 states require safety inspections.

[Anonymous]

It looks like there are conflicting studies on the safety benefits of inspections. I am not happy about it, especially since it was for budget purposes and only saves 400,000 a year. Not much of a dent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could not agree more with Jeff. In fact, I've just written my council member to tell her what an idiotic, short-sighted idea this is. And all for a whopping $400K in savings, dear god.

Yes, I was surprised how small the savings are.
Plus, they finally got the inspection process down to where it is a breeze if you make an appointment. I got in and out in 13 minutes! So now they're getting rid of it???

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing that really burns me. They'll have to cut the staff, so the line is going to be just as long as it ever was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only 20 states require safety inspections.

And I'm glad I live in one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG, just in time for me!!! Do you have a link to an announcement/story????

Me again. I just assumed that DC started allowing inspections at MD and VA certified repair shops. SO instead there will be no inspections at all???

[Anonymous]

That's correct. We are now free to drive around with bald tires and no tail lights if we wish. All in order to save (say it with me now) $400,000.

It's worth pointing out here that the Fenty admin. pushed for this.

[Anonymous]

Fenty would outlaw seatbelts and babyseats if it would save DC money and he could get away with it. I also think this is very short-sighted given that there are studies that indicate that the roads are safer in states that conduct safety inspections. But I shouldn't be suprised; I don't understand many of his policies anyway