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State lawmakers attempt to get rid of NC safety inspections WSOC TV

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — State lawmakers are making another attempt to get rid of North Carolina's safety inspection requirement for your car.

The bill is set to be discussed by a committee tomorrow, and nearly half of its co-sponsors are from our viewing area.

Eyewitness News found out why some people say it could mean the difference between life and death.

They're required by law to be on all cars, but soon the safety inspection sticker on the back of yours could go away.

"You don't make changes just because you want to make changes, you make changes that are in the best interest of the constituent. I believe this is, " said state Rep Linda Johnson, R-District 83 (Cabarrus).

Johnson is one of 11 state representatives in our viewing area backing House Bill 59, scrapping car safety inspections. She says it will save drivers money and put us in line with two thirds of the nation.

The safety portion of a $30 annual inspection is $13.60. The remaining cost includes an emission test -- and with nearly 8 million vehicles inspected each year, Johnson says cutting the cost makes the government more efficient and saves taxpayer dollars.

"They're trying to save a dollar instead of trying to save lives. The problem is, we don't know how many accidents are caused by faulty equipment on a car." said Tom Crosby, AAA traffic safety president.

AAA of the Carolinas says accidents are reduced by 27 percent in states that have the requirement compared to those that don't.

Some drivers we spoke to said their safety is not worth the savings.

"Regardless if it is new or old, there could still be some malfunction. So it would be a good idea to keep it, " said Ivan Rangal.

Drivers for the bill say there are too many other problems on the road for safety inspections not to be required. But mechanic Mike Luisa, who sees cars inspected every day, used the same argument against it.

"I feel like it is an extra tax, because it doesn't do anything to stop text while driving or drunk driving, which causes more of the fatalities," he said.

House Bill 89 would get rid of the safety inspection but keep the emission test. It could go before the House Transportation Committee as early as Tuesday.

"The General Assembly is in a mood to make the government more efficient and we think this is just another step to do that," said Johnson

A bill to allow new cars to skip inspections failed last year.

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Lorie Orum

Update: 2024-05-18