The Texas Senate recently voted 27 to 4 to advance Senate Bill 1588, eliminating the state’s vehicle inspection program.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas), would still require safety inspections for commercial vehicles and would not affect current emissions-test requirements.
The vehicle inspection program does not make the state safer and is merely a tax, Huffines said.
Others disagree, including Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. (D-Brownsville), who cited safety concerns. The bill also is opposed by the Auto Care Association, as the association had been actively working to pressure state legislators to vote against the bill.
The inspection program helps support the Texas Department of Transportation and annually it fails vehicles for serious safety concerns, the Auto Care Association said.
“The Auto Care Association engaged in an all-out assault with its state and national partners on legislation that included generating contacts to state legislators from Auto Care members and coordinating efforts of coalition groups to communicate to lawmakers the safety issues related to eliminating the Texas safety inspection program,” Bill Hanvey, president and CEO of Auto Care Association, said.
Huffines is confident the bill will pass the state House of Representatives.
If the bill does pass, it will become law March 1, 2018.