U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, has introduced House Bill 229, the Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act of 2011, which establishes national standards for state safety inspections for motor vehicles. The bill requires states to establish minimum annual vehicle safety inspection programs or lose specific federal funds.
During the first week of the 111th U.S. Congress, Jackson-Lee introduced House Resolution 259, which proposed to establish state safety inspection programs and national standards for state safety inspections of motor vehicles across the United States, but no action was taken on the legislation.
Included in the requirements listed in the language of this new bill, states must enact and enforce “a law that requires the owner of a motor vehicle registered in the state to present the vehicle for inspection on an annual basis to ensure that the vehicle meets or exceeds motor vehicle safety standards to be established by the state. At a minimum, such standards shall ensure that the seatbelts and speedometer installed in the vehicle are operable.”
Less than half the states have vehicle safety inspection programs and of those programs that do exist, many have inconsistent standards. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) supports federal legislation mandating periodic state motor vehicle safety inspection with a minimum level of safety standards. ASA has proposed to the Congress expanding the number of minimum standards included in the vehicle inspection if the Congress moves forward with safety inspection legislation.
Both the states of Missouri and Pennsylvania have conducted studies demonstrating the importance of periodic motor vehicle safety inspections as a deterrent to vehicle accidents, injuries and deaths.
To view the full text of U.S. House Resolution 229, visit ASA’s legislative website at www.takingthehill.org.
