Legislative Update: New Jersey

[AZhitman]

Since NICO is a member of SEMA, from time to time we're updated on legislative activity that impacts automotive hobbyists and enthusiasts. I'll pass this info along as I receive it.

New Jersey New Car Exemption: SAN-supported legislation to extend the emissions inspection exemption to vehicles five model years old or newer was signed into law by Governor Chris Christie. Current law exempts vehicles that are four model years old or newer. New Jersey also already exempts historic (at least 25 years old) and collector (driven no more than 3,000 miles per year and insured for limited use) vehicles from emissions testing.

[RCA]

Not sure why all of a sudden we pass cars by just emission testing them...

I'm kind of scared to see non road worthy cars on the road...

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I still think of 2000 vehicles as "new"...

[MinisterofDOOM]

Not sure why all of a sudden we pass cars by just emission testing them...

I'm kind of scared to see non road worthy cars on the road...

Safety inspection comes once a year. That's far to infrequent to keep non-roadworthy cars off the road. The solution isn't inspections, it's enforcement. Forcing people to drop off their car to be "inspected" by SOMEONE ELSE is not the way to get people ACTIVELY THINKING about their cars' condition.
To most people, safety inspection is a hoop to jump through. Those people never think about their cars' lamps. Never think about their brakes. Never think about their tires. Not until they're told to.
Yearly safety inspection is a stopgap, not a proper solution. It doesn't stop the dangerous cars from being on the road, and it doesn't keep cars safe consistently. The only thing that does that is attentive owners and drivers, and the best way to promote attentiveness is by making INattentiveness hurt where it counts: the wallet. Don't pass responsibility off onto the state or city or county through inspections. Make people take care of their own damn cars. I don't care if they're not car people. If you can't be bothered to have a look and make sure your lights all work on occasion you don't deserve to be on the road.

[IBCoupe]

I still think of 2000 vehicles as "new"...

Agreed, and great sig!

[Jesda]

The vehicle inspection process in Missouri is a scam. Shops are authorized by the state to perform sstate safety inspections, so some shops will find expensive and irrelevant things and tell the customer "oh yeah it wont pass safety your X-rod is looking funny" and rape the customer into believing their perfectly good used car is a death trap.

The variation from shop to shop is unacceptable, some allowing regular customers to pass without a glance, while others tally up massive repair lists that subtly suggest certain non-safety items are critical and prohibitive to registering the vehicle.

I've complained to the state about this several times. Like towing, its a government-sponsored scam.

[Encryptshun]

The vehicle inspection process in Missouri is a scam. Shops are authorized by the state to perform sstate safety inspections, so some shops will find expensive and irrelevant things and tell the customer "oh yeah it wont pass safety your X-rod is looking funny" and rape the customer into believing their perfectly good used car is a death trap.

The variation from shop to shop is unacceptable, some allowing regular customers to pass without a glance, while others tally up massive repair lists that subtly suggest certain non-safety items are critical and prohibitive to registering the vehicle.

I've complained to the state about this several times. Like towing, its a government-sponsored scam.

My MO state inspections were of my ability to write a check and not of my vehicle's ability to not explode.

[hannibal]

^ Same thing I experienced in Maryland. Rediculous variations in what's considered passing. "Oh your brake pad thickness is below 1/16 inch". No, I know what brake pads are and I know what 1/16 inch is. They didnt pass a friend's car for a tail light bulb, then charged her $16 to replace it.

Its such a scam, but fortunately MD only requires an inspection when a car is first registered by the new owner. I cant imagine going thru that every year.

[AZhitman]

I favor vehicle inspections to a point, but that's ridiculous.

[nissan_star]

The vehicle inspection process in Missouri is a scam. Shops are authorized by the state to perform sstate safety inspections, so some shops will find expensive and irrelevant things and tell the customer "oh yeah it wont pass safety your X-rod is looking funny" and rape the customer into believing their perfectly good used car is a death trap.

The variation from shop to shop is unacceptable, some allowing regular customers to pass without a glance, while others tally up massive repair lists that subtly suggest certain non-safety items are critical and prohibitive to registering the vehicle.

I've complained to the state about this several times. Like towing, its a government-sponsored scam.

I got my maxima inspected last month right after I replaced a seized caliper. I talked to the shop a little bit, and the guy said they are only required to check ONE brake, but they CAN check more...

[MinisterofDOOM]

The variation from shop to shop is unacceptable.

Heck, I take my cars to the same state-operated inspection shop and I've seen unacceptable variation between visits at that same shop. First year I registered my Q here it passed safety despite tinted tail lights. When I took it back the next year, with the exact same tail lights, it failed safety because of them.

Also, I've yelled at the state shops for not following the law when it comes to windshield cracks. They're WAY overzealous about windshields and windshields are not cheap.

Back on the original topic, though, my Lincoln is actually new enough to benefit from Utah's own version of the new-car inspection exemption. Utah does an every-other-year deal with it, and it covers both safety and emissions. I won't have to bother with either inspection this year or for 2012, but I will have to get it inspected in 2011 and every year from 2013 on.