Lawmaker wants new cars to be exempt from vehicle inspections

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Some garage owners say a plan to save North Carolina drivers millions of dollars could put those drivers in danger.

One state lawmaker, Republican Sen. Stan Bingham of Davidson County, said he wants new cars to be exempt from vehicle inspections. He said he plans to seek out support for a proposal when the state Senate meets Nov. 7.

But managers and owners at garages in the Charlotte area say their industry would be against the idea for two simple reasons: driver safety and money.

Andy Weingarten, who owns Almar Auto on South Boulevard, said it worries him.

"It's going to allow many unsafe vehicles to be on the streets of Charlotte," he said.

Weingarten said inspections are a side business for him, although they are the sole source of income for many inspection stations.

He said the checks are essential.

"It's common to find cars with higher mileage that do need stuff," he said. "People do a lot of driving."

According to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, safety and emissions inspections earned $30.6 million for the state in 2010, which, according to officials, is distributed to the Highway Fund, the inspection program itself, the N.C. Division of Air Quality, and volunteer rescue workers and EMS.

North Carolina DMV officials said approximately 4.4 million vehicles underwent emissions inspections and approximately 3 million vehicles underwent safety inspections in 2010.

Officials with the Independent Garage Owners of North Carolina, an association that has tracked efforts to end inspections, said there are approximately 1,500 garages in the Charlotte region in all that offer them.

Garages take most of the $30 emissions inspection fee and $13.60 safety inspection fee.

Still, when Eyewitness News brought the idea to state Senator Malcolm Graham, he said that money might be put to better use in taxpayers' pockets.

"It makes sense that we give the taxpayers a break from paying the inspection fees for a car that really needs no inspection," Graham said.

He said he'd be willing to consider legislation for cars three or four years old and newer.

"They're pretty new -- the warranty still is in existence," he said.

Some drivers, like Leslie Suber, agree.

"Thirty dollars a year is $30 a year," she said. "Something I don't have to give to North Carolina."

Lawmakers said even if there is some support for the idea at their next meeting, the earliest they would start considering any legislation that might be drafted would be in May 2012.

LINK: North Carolina Department of Transportation

States that do not require inspections, emissions Arkansas Florida Iowa Kansas Kentucky Michigan Minnesota Montana North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Wyoming

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