Utah House Bill 298, which would
abolish the requirement that all motor
vehicles obtain a certificate of
inspection prior to registration, has
been reported favorably by committee
with significant amendments, and is now
headed to the House floor.
The bill was introduced by Utah state
Rep. John Dougall (R-27), and would
dilute the Utah State Motor Vehicle
Safety Inspection Program if
passed.
The most important changes
made to the language of the bill were
those involving determinants for the
frequency of the safety inspection
requirement, specifically the age of
the vehicle based on the model year.
The age of a vehicle that is required
to have a safety inspection each year
would be changed from eight or more
years old on Jan. 1, 2013 to 10 or more
years old Jan. 1, 2013.
Also, a
vehicle safety inspection would be
required every four years for each
vehicle that is less than eight years
old Jan. 1, 2013 in the fourth year and
the eighth year. There were some
omissions that were made to
requirements as well.
The bill, if passed, will
take effect July 1, 2013.
The Automotive Service
Association (ASA) opposes these changes
to the Utah Motor Vehicle Safety
Inspection Program. The bill’s effect
would be to create less-safe highways
in Utah – there would be more accidents
leading to more injuries and possibly
more deaths. State government studies
of vehicle safety inspection programs
in Missouri and Pennsylvania have
indicated that inspection programs
deter accidents, injuries and deaths.
ASA asks Utah repairers to
contact their legislators and express
their opposition to House Bill 298.
Repairers can go to ASA’s legislative
website at www.TakingtheHill.com and send an opposition letter or
view the full text of the bill.
