Hawaii governor vetoes state vehicle safety inspection program bill

Hawaii State Gov. Neil Abercrombie has vetoed legislation that would dilute the state’s Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program by exempting vehicles from testing for their first two to three years. Hawaii Senate Bill 1416 was originally introduced by Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-14.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) opposed these proposed changes to the Hawaii Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program. The bill’s effect would have been to create less-safe highways in Hawaii – 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. The bill, if it had passed, would have taken effect Jan. 1, 2013.

To view full text of the failed bill, visit ASA’s website at www.takingthehill.com.