by "EL_ULY" (uly)
Published 05/05/2017 at 14:19
by "EL_ULY" (uly)
Published 05/05/2017 at 14:19
No Tags
STARS: 7
lol fuck you climate! Cracked windshields, burning oil, bald tires, lighting violations for ALL!
LINK
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"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/05/2017 at 14:21, STARS: 3
Safety inspections are just welfare for low-grade mechanics.
"CB" (jrcb)
05/05/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 0
Don’t you guys have an 85 MPH highway? This a recipe for disaster.
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
05/05/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 2
...This isn’t a good thing.
"Die-Trying" (die-trying)
05/05/2017 at 14:23, STARS: 0
this has GOT to be some kind of late april fools hoax, but I WANT TO BELIEVE...........
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 14:24, STARS: 1
Never had them in WA, just rudimentary emissions checks until a vehicle is 25, then you are home free. I am sure a passing grade can be bought, probably not going to change much.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
05/05/2017 at 14:25, STARS: 0
As someone who lives in a state that’s never had emissions testing, I never got the point, nor do I see the problem with Texas getting rid of theirs.
But that’s just the mindset of someone who’s never had it being like, “Ok what’s that?”
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 2
*in cliche Texas accent *
Yeee haww! Finally that gubament can get off my ass about the “cadillac converter” in my 1996 Pontiac.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/05/2017 at 14:26, STARS: 2
In other news, the motorcycle lobby has successfully gotten many states to repeal their helmet laws, because who cares about not splatting your head on the interstate, you look like a dork wearing a helmet.
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 14:27, STARS: 3
Well shit. Already plenty of unsafe vehicles down here. We should be raising standards, not lowering them.
Though this is just the Senate at this point, who knows if the House will approve it.
Also, sounds like emissions counties would still have their inspections for that (which again is good, the air quality in Houston is terrible enough already).
Also, from your list, my recollection is that the safety check doesn’t care about cracked windshields or burning oil. Seems like it’s basically just tires, brakes, and lighting.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/05/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 0
As much as I was annoyed when I got failed for tires that were just above the wear mark last spring, I do feel safer on the roads knowing that people who would push it even father with zero knowledge of cars can’t get away with that. Yikes... Texas is nuts man.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/05/2017 at 14:29, STARS: 0
As a resident of a state that has no road safety inspections (CA), that’s backwards.
So many unsafe cars in CA. A hazard to the driver and other motorists alike.
"Nick Has an Exocet" (nickallain)
05/05/2017 at 14:30, STARS: 0
Well, it’s safety not emissions. Not even California has safety checks anymore. Emissions on the other hand....
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 1
Safety inspections are cheap, they certainly aren’t making much on them (the state sets rates). If your system is set up so shops hold cars hostage over ticky-tack issues, then yes they may make money for the shops, but the solution there is to fix the incentives rather than have terribly unsafe cars running around.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 1
still has the car being plugged in the OBD port for CEL stuff to pass safety.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 0
during the inspection, the cars are still plugged into the OBD to check emission device readiness and CEL type thing to pass. A car with shitty safety item is probably not running too good
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
wow, that makes sense.... in bizzaro world lol :] That is crazy huh?
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 2
indeed sir. There are crappy cars on the road and soon the gates will open
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 0
passing grade were bought indeed but the levels will be bonkers soon
"Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever" (rustanddust)
05/05/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 4
Counterpoint: Safety inspections are the only thing keeping a bunch of dangerous shit-heaps driven by folks that don’t know how to do much more than fill the gas tank off the road.
And, at least in Virginia, you have to be certified by the State Police to be able to perform safety inspections. It’s not welfare for low grade techs, it’s lost revenue opportunities for skilled techs.
"Takuro Spirit" (takurospirit)
05/05/2017 at 14:37, STARS: 0
Nah, they spend all their dough keeping the engine running good, and ignore the brakes, tires, suspension, etc.
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 0
You can have a perfectly working engine and still have terrible brakes.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 14:38, STARS: 1
Oh well, it never pretended to be a first world locale, right? :)
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
depends what side homie
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:39, STARS: 0
lol bingo :]
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 0
a reassuring response to the populous lol :]
"Berang" (berang)
05/05/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 1
The inspections don’t really set the bar all that high, so why getting rid of them would be necessary is a mystery to me.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/05/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 1
Nah, they spend all their dough keeping the engine running good, and ignore the brakes, tires, suspension, etc. buying dubs and low-profile tires.
FTFY
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/05/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 0
Eh, if you’ve spent any time in Far West Texas you would know that the state inspection system is a joke. Nobody here is more than one degree removed from an inspector that will pass anything on the safety part of the inspection for a couple of extra twenties, a used car dealer that will continuously issue temp tags for a price or the guy who will print very good looking fake registration stickers/temp tags who used to openly advertise his services. Or you can just do what a significant portion of folks out here do and just drive without a current inspection or registration. If you mind your manners, your chances of getting pulled over just for that are not much better than winning the lottery. And if you do get caught, just pay the fine.
Inspection schemes only keep honest the folks who have enough money to be honest. Reality is that there is no way around owning a car and driving out here. Not being able to afford insurance/an inspection worthy car/having a driver’s licence doesn’t change that.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/05/2017 at 14:42, STARS: 0
I agree with this one. Have a standardised state-wide inspection form that is either pass or fail for various components.
"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
05/05/2017 at 14:43, STARS: 0
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
05/05/2017 at 14:43, STARS: 1
Honestly out of all the things I’m really most worried about people’s tires. A lot of people don’t check their tires, or don’t care about checking their tires, and it puts the lives of people I care about at risk.
But then again its not like state inspections were doing a lot of good anyway since I’ve seen some horrendous garbage barges on the roads around here...
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:43, STARS: 1
when the things that make cars fail state inspection daily like I do at work, you’d know that while it may be a low bar, it is hella important. And these are cars owned by people well off financially. On the road doe....
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/05/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 1
Yeah. Safety inspections would surely give me minor headaches with borderline components, but death traps all over CA roads piss me off even more.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 1
but it does make a difference to control all the whackos in non West Texas. I’ve worked in the automotive biz for a good long time (at places with fancy cars) and even then it is pretty pathetic how people can be out in the busy roads in that condition. As if annual Texas road fatalities weren’t already a serious issue not discussed..... damn, I don’t even what to think about it
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:47, STARS: 0
a giant WTF!
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 1
hourly sir...... HOURLY! I see that here in my little shop full of expensive cars
"Deal Killer - Powered by Focus" (dealkiller-ii)
05/05/2017 at 14:48, STARS: 1
Hey! You leave my wife’s car out of this conversation! Just because she was grinding her pads into the rotors doesn’t mean her mini-van was unsafe. It still stopped fine, according to her. S/
That’s why I get to do a brake job this weekend, in the rain & cold most likely.
"Tapas" (tapas)
05/05/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 4
I guess America is going through a “fuck it” phase.
Don’t want to pay for Healthcare, don’t want to pay for car safety. Next, they will give tax refunds in the form of dildos, because you might as well fuck yourself.
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
05/05/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 4
Having lived in states with and without “safety” inspections, I honestly believe that they do about nothing. Save the inconvenience and racketeering they add, of course.
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
05/05/2017 at 14:53, STARS: 0
um no.
Shitty mechanics may leverage them to squeeze out extra work, but that should be handled through word-of-mouth.
In general, those inspections keep rolling rust buckets and smoke screens off the road.
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 14:54, STARS: 1
At least there not having a helmet really only hurts the rider. An unsafe car is a danger to everyone.
Interestingly, helmet laws for bicycles apparently have a net negative effect on public health, because while riders are safer, they depress ridership causing people to miss out on the health benefits.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/05/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 0
Until the motorcyclist splats their un-helmeted head on the interstate and ends up in the emergency room which is either paid for by insurance and jacks up everyone else’s rates, or paid for by the hospital if the motorcyclist is uninsured, which shifts the burden onto taxpayers.
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 14:58, STARS: 1
The last time I had my Volvo serviced at a dealer, a tech called it a cadillac converter. The fact that was my last visit was not entirely unrelated (they did have some bigger problems as well).
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 1
As automotive repair being my career, seeing the garbage I see is truly sad thinking that before it came in, it was out and about the general public roads.
Whatever the cost of a state inspection, they’ll make up those funds from us in some other way.
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 15:01, STARS: 1
Someone at my office had their front tires word down to the cords for months. Of course they got around the Texas safety inspection simply by not doing it and letting their registration lapse for a year and a half. It’s been gone for a while, so I hope the answer is “finally replaced that deathtrap” as opposed to “went sliding into a concrete barrier”
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:02, STARS: 1
They’ll make up their findings somehow lol. The racketeering will always be there. Now with healthcare out the window, adding shitty cars to the roads should boost out health and safety..... wait
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 15:03, STARS: 1
This is safety testing, to help ensure that the other cars on the road won’t kill you, as opposed to emissions testing. But the air quality here in Houston is bad, and I certainly wouldn’t like to see it without emissions. Houston was smaller back then, but you can look at all sorts of pre-CARB pictures of California to see why emissions are necessary. Texas generally only has emissions testing in urban counties.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:04, STARS: 0
Yeah pretty much :]
So where do we go duuude? I always though Norway and Sweden were rad places. Amsterdam also
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 15:04, STARS: 0
We do, though it doesn’t get much traffic. Plenty of other potential venues for death though.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
05/05/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 0
Wait, but what will all or little shops use to advertise and attract business?
"facw" (facw)
05/05/2017 at 15:05, STARS: 0
It may be cruel, but I’m hoping without a helmet they just die. Maybe it could be taken as sort of a defacto living will.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 15:08, STARS: 0
But freedom!
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 15:08, STARS: 0
It’s fun to pretend :)
"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
05/05/2017 at 15:08, STARS: 0
motorcycles are inherently dangerous, and while helmets do improve chances of survival in a crash, the activity as a whole is still incredibly dangerous compared to driving a modern car. If safety was the main concern, then motorcycles should just be outright prohibited.
I never ride without a helmet, but I absolutely understand that people want the option to ride without. Riding is an expression of freedom, and some feel that wearing a helmet detracts from that experience.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
05/05/2017 at 15:09, STARS: 0
Cali is so backwards in that respect. We don’t test for emissions whatsoever as of a couple years ago, and when we did, the cutoff was in the nineties. I’m all for protecting the environment but lets address the deathtraps first...
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 1
If America keeps going down the dumdum route, I wonder if actual thinking people can claim to be refugees. Claiming refugee status (with or without merit) is the easy ticket into western Europe.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
05/05/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 1
That actually explains a lot of the shit I see on Alabama roads, and now I want that bad.
Shame, Texas, shaaaaame.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
05/05/2017 at 15:12, STARS: 0
Honestly I’m not even surprised.
And see that’s the thing, its really common even with the safety inspection system in place, so there’s really no winning.
How do we get people interested in caring about their cars (and subsequently the safety of people around them)?
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"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/05/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 0
Riding without a helmet may make some people feel more free but that doesn’t mean they should have the option when expressing their freedom could land them in the emergency room where the rest of society has to pick up the tab.
People can be free to do all kinds of stupid things when there’s no cost to society but when there is, that’s why we have laws prohibiting things.
"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
05/05/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 0
Ehh, last I checked motorcycle liability insurance is mandatory in most states, which means that the rider (with or without a helmet) would have his/her medical bills covered by said insurance.
I’d be OK with requiring a higher minimum coverage if you choose to ride without a helmet.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 0
Load up on guns, bring your friends, it’s fun to lose and to pretend
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 0
the way things are going, high school girls in bikinis
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
05/05/2017 at 15:24, STARS: 2
The craziest thing I’ve ever seen while driving was a wheel, a whole wheel go flying off of an XJ at about 75 mph. I was about 200 yards back. The driver managed to come to a stop safely. Missouri plates, Missouri owner. Missouri is an inspection state.
I then moved to Kansas, which has no state inspections. People are expected to take care of their own cars, and they actually do. The cars in my area are far better maintained than the rubber stamped ones across the state line.
I just have zero faith in that system.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/05/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 0
Sounds cool, but I’ll stick to my native heckhole for now :)
"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
05/05/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 0
I’ve lived in states that have not required, and states that have. If I were to just compare NY to CO, I’d say from the naked eye, cars in much better condition here than in NY. NY has inspections, CO doesn’t. We do have emission testing in the metro area.
I’m not saying it’s correct to repeal inspections, however I’m not sure it will cause an exponential increase in unsafe vehicles.
"Tapas" (tapas)
05/05/2017 at 15:34, STARS: 0
Don’t worry, my son. I shall return soon.
Well, to visit.
Can’t say that will fix anything for America, but I’ll get to see the sinking empire one last time :)
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
05/05/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 1
In that case, I welcome our deregulating overlords!*
*provided the girls are at least 18, of course.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 1
*actually shivers*
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
05/05/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
Liability insurance covers other people if you injure them or damage their property, i.e. you are liable for those costs. It does not cover the costs if you damage your own property, or your own medical bills.
You have a good thought about requiring insurance if one wants to ride without a helmet but that’s not generally what happens, most states just repeal their helmet laws and that’s it.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:47, STARS: 0
Our commander and chief would rather they be under 18
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 15:50, STARS: 0
(bitter) SWEEEEET!
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
05/05/2017 at 16:03, STARS: 0
Well, only during the initial scouting trip.
"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
05/05/2017 at 16:42, STARS: 0
Hm. I have to admit, I have mixed feelings about that. I like the idea of safety inspections a lot, but I’m also relieved that here in MI, I don’t need to pay for somebody else to certify that I’ve already taken care of it.
But what really bothers me about what that article says is that it says they’re (for the most part) dropping safety inspections yet keeping emissions inspections. I can’t say that I agree with those priorities...
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/05/2017 at 17:03, STARS: 0
God dammit! I want my $18.50 back! I just got my van inspected last week. Seriously, this edition of the state legislature can go fuck itself with a cactus.
"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
05/05/2017 at 17:06, STARS: 1
I had a friend in Houston back in the early 90s who drove a rusty bucket of shit that would never pass inspection. He just went to some shop, paid the dude under the table and got a sticker.
"Camshaft Chris: Skyline/McLaren/Porsche Fanboy" (camshaft-chris)
05/05/2017 at 17:08, STARS: 0
That’s not as bad as South Carolina. We’ve never had inspections at all (not that I’m complaining). And our state senate is on the verge of passing a bill that would no longer require someone to have a Concealed Weapons Permit to carry a weapon on them, as well as allow people to carrying a weapon to open carry it. It’s about to be the wild west up in here.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/05/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 0
Unfortunatly not pennsylvania, where it could actually help me somewhat.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
05/05/2017 at 17:25, STARS: 0
But front license plates still required!
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0
Right? Wtf!
"Tapas" (tapas)
05/05/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0
Reminds me of the Kanye song. But(t) yes :)
"Svend" (svend)
05/05/2017 at 19:08, STARS: 1
America really is regressing.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/05/2017 at 20:16, STARS: 2
At rapid pace
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/05/2017 at 22:12, STARS: 0
That’s the safety inspection mechanic lobby talking.
I used to be involved with the maintenance and management of a veritable fleet of random interesting cars, and here are the things I’ve realized about safety inspections:
They support a network of safety inspection shops that would otherwise not exist. Hence welfare.
It’s also welfare for car dealerships, as most of them have a “grace period” of some number of years before it goes into effect. That is, it’s an extremely regressive system that targets the poor.
The states with safety inspections dictate a fail rate, otherwise they are audited. As a result, when they see you coming with a car over 10 years old, especially one that doesn’t look like a show car, they’re going to find something to fail you. One time a tech damaged a car I had in perfect working order just so they could fail it. This pushes people to go to mechanics and after enough harassment to buy new cars. I can give you more stories of them failing cars for no reason, which costs you every visit.
If you really want to get something passed, you can bribe someone. When you asked people with cars that were swiss cheese from rust and no working lights how they passed, they’d be sheepish and might admit that they have “a friend”.
The states with inspections HAVE MORE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY EQUIPMENT FAILURE THAN STATES WITHOUT THEM . Even than adjacent states with nearly identical climates/environments. (At least this is true in the US. Cars are removed from the road so aggressively in some countries by these schemes that they never get old enough to suffer mechanical failures.)
I will always oppose these. When people have to take responsibility for their cars, they actually take care of them. You can’t excuse your car’s problems by saying, “It’s fine, it passsed a safety inspection last month”, like I’ve heard in inspection states. Giving people yet another reason to disregard car maintenance is not good for safety...
"Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
05/05/2017 at 23:21, STARS: 0
You’re 100% talking out your ass with your anecdata BS
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/05/2017 at 23:37, STARS: 0
WA only does smog checks in high-population zip codes, too. My in-laws live outside it. I lived outside it when I first moved here. CA has a similar situation, but it’s much harder to live somewhere it isn’t required.
It is, however, highly effective in keeping the number of seriously bad cars off the road, even with the age cutoff (CA’s cutoff was set at 1975 and never bumped up, even though I understand they intended for it to be like it is in WA).
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/05/2017 at 23:38, STARS: 0
So what you’re saying is that the safety inspection was already completely useless.
I found it useless for the intended purpose and worse than useless in implementation.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 00:22, STARS: 1
I’ve only seen these kinds of totally idiotic mechanical failure accidents in Utah and Maine, haven’t spent enough time in Missouri to see one. This is in spite of only visiting Maine a couple times and living most of my life in other states that don’t do them. Hell, I’ve lived in a couple states that had no inspections of any kind.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 00:27, STARS: 0
Humorously, from what I’d seen, make cars a necessity of life and provide no safety net. People in the middle of nowhere take good care of their cars.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 00:36, STARS: 0
This is one case where I fully support their priorities. I don’t hate emissions testing, although I do often feel it’s much too regular. Most modern cars, provided they still have their catalytic converters and don’t have a CEL on, probably will pass an emissions test. You could get such a vast majority just by checking for a CEL that I don’t know why they bother with the actual testing.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 00:43, STARS: 0
I heard they were aiming for that federally as well.
They were also hoping to liberalize suppressor laws by removing the tax stamp and complex NFA registration requirements, putting them in the same class as something like a rifle in regards to background checks.
"EL_ULY" (uly)
05/06/2017 at 10:13, STARS: 0
Yup, worn brake pads/rotors, bald tires, faulty suspension, busted lighting, worn wipers, etc was on these cars for years exactly the same.......
*maximum sarcasm*
"fintail" (fintail)
05/06/2017 at 12:46, STARS: 0
I wonder what it really keeps off the road. I know at one time anyway, if you spent a certain amount on repair attempts, you would be passed, even if they weren’t successful. Nothing aside from emissions is checked anyway, and I think that’s only in the King-Pierce-Snohomish area and maybe Spokane.
Back in the day when I had a W126, it passed emissions with flying colors with nearly 200K on the clock.
"DAWRX - The Herb Strikes Back" (karsonkinja)
05/06/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 0
Well see that’s the thing, in Houston, cars ARE a necessity unless you’re right in the center. Public transport is a joke. And if you want to go anywhere or do anything outside the center of the city, then you have to have a car.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 0
My cars have always passed, too. I can’t recall ever dealing with a car that wouldn’t pass emissions tests, but every one I’ve heard of had been modified in some highly questionable way. This includes cars that were built to 50-state standards that I moved into CA (they even passed the stricter CA rules and had lower emissions than the average CA-compliant cars). They are surprisingly lax about what will pass, too.
The WA state laws simply mirror the much stricter CA laws.
Here’s how CA certifies engines and emissions equipment: https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onroad/cert/cert.php
Here’s their Q&A on how the system works in CA: https://www.smogcheck.ca.gov/FormsPubs/Q&As_Smog_Check_Program.html
Additionally, there are rules about repairs in CA - if everything you have is CARB-compliant, there’s an upper dollar limit on the amount you are expected to spend to get your car compliant. If you can’t afford to spend that, there’s a program where the government will pay for those repairs. They’ll also pay you enough for any car that won’t pass to buy a newer beater, so if you’re poor, you could potentially move from a $300-500 beater to a $1500 beater, then just swap out $1500 beaters every time they fail emissions. Ultimately, it keep cars that are have non-compliant parts (which they’ll never pass) and cars that won’t pass from being registered, which pretty much makes them only suitable for being sold to junkyards or exported from the state.
I’m not sure if the repair and retirement programs are available in WA, but I would be surprised if they did since WA has the most regressive tax structure I’ve ever seen. Everything about WA seems to be designed to make the rich richer and the poor move out of the state.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/06/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0
The only reason they don’t maintain them is because the safety inspection gives them a false sense of security - that they’re not responsible for the safety of their vehicles. If they didn’t have this, they’d be forced to be responsible for their cars and their own safety.
Where I am now, there is no such thing, so my wife is hyper-aware of the state of her car. Even with plenty of brake lining, when they get even slightly glazed or the rotors get a little rusty, she gets stressed out and insists on having the car checked, even if I look at it and tell her it’s fine.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/06/2017 at 15:41, STARS: 0
Nowadays I don’t worry. My modern car is a diesel, which is specifically exempt. My hobby car predates even the most primitive smog pump by several years, so no worries there. Easier this way, too. Even my older cars which still needed testing never had a hiccup though.
I see a lot of stinky later model gas cars on the road, especially Subies and rice rocket stuff that is almost definitely not using cats. They don’t seem to have issues getting registered. I suspect some of the emissions test policy in WA is a make-work project as much as anything else.
I agree about the taxes - yet the area has had net in-migration for eons, and isn’t showing any sign of slowing down. People will move to the jobs, no matter the other factors. For such a progressive area, the socio-economic gap which in some areas appears kind of banana republic is a little alarming. Or just like Vancouver.
"Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig" (AndySheehan-StreetsideStig)
05/08/2017 at 08:41, STARS: 1
I grew up in Indiana, which has no inspections, and I never saw them there. But I do remember my brother getting yelled at for having a worn wheel bearing or something when I was in high school. It’s just part of the culture in a non-inspection state.