🚀 go-pugleaf

biow@cs.umd.edu (Christopher Biow) writes:

>In article <1992Mar26.024822.2509@eng.umd.edu> russotto@eng.umd.edu (Matthew T. Russotto) writes:

>>Come on, how many accidents are caused by a mechanical failure that a
>>yearly inspection would find?  The insurance companies are entering
>>the realm of the ridiculous here.  

>I have spent over $500 to pass a Virginia inspection, with none of the 
>maintenance having any relation to safety at all. (I know they say you 
>don't have to spend over $200. It's not true.) The modifications were 
>emissions related, and resulted in a doubling of the carbon monoxide
>produced by my car. I'm not convinced that ANY of the simple ideas will
>improve highway safety.

There are 2 inspection programs in Virginia. It sounds like you are talking
only about the emission inspection program, and that you purchased a vehicle
which had already used up the waiver. You may have been defrauded by whoever
sold you that vehicle. You were not abused by Virginia's inspection
requirements.  Since Virginia has the weakest emission
inspection in the USA, you would have had even more trouble trying to
license that vehicle in Maryland. I believe Maryland requires yearly emission
inspection.

Safety and emissions.

Every vehicle in the state must pass the safety inspection once per year.
Police in Virginia do pull cars which do not have current safety stickers
over and ticket them. I got pulled once, back when the inspections were every
6 months (replacement windshield did not have a sticker, but I had the
receipt. the officer let me go, but told me it was open to interpretation).
You can drive a car with a rejection safety sticker for 15 days. Most
inspection stations will reinspect the car once for free. The inspector
does check the brakes on the vehicle. 

Only vehicles licensed in northern Virginia must pass the emission test,
every 2 years. A vehicle can get a waiver for failing the test _once_
in the car's life. This requires presenting receipts for $200.00 to
the emission inspector. You must present a waiver or a certificate stating
that the car passed in order to renew tags on the vehicle. You can get a
short-term extension on the vehicle tags if you do not have a waiver or
a pass certificate. Prince William county requires emission inspection.
Loudon county does not. Inspection stations will reinspect the car for free.


The free reinspection happens when you return to the same inspection station.
-- 
------ Esther Lumsdon  Product Support Engineer, Verdix Corporation
  205 Van Buren St  Herndon, Virginia, USA
  esther@verdix.com  or  esther%verdix.com@uunet.uu.net