Many, if not most, of the bills Utah lawmakers file would, in real life, not impact their constituents.
But freshman Rep. Norman Thurston, R-Provo, has a new bill that will touch most of our lives – under HB371 Utahns would not have to have their vehicles get a safety inspection until the car or truck is 10 years old.
Current law says you have to have a safety inspection on your newer vehicle when it is four years old and eight years old.
After it reaches a decade of life your car or truck must have a safety inspection each year upon your vehicle re-registration.
Thurston told UtahPolicy that his bill has come out relatively late in the session (which starts it’s fifth week Monday out of the seven-week Legislature).
“I still hope for some good data coming, and some good discussion,” he said.
He brought the bill because several of his constituents complained to him that it is expensive to get their car inspected after only owning it four years.
“Some even have to take a day off to get the inspection,” he added.
While not everyone buys a brand new car, most Utahns wouldn’t be buying a 10-year-old vehicle – which even in this age of well-built cars is still a little old in the tooth.
Asks Thurston: “How many cars and trucks are failing inspection after four years? And in what areas are they failing?”
He wonders if the four-year inspection is a waste of time and money, with most vehicles passing.
“We need some discussion on this” issue of safety inspections required on newer vehicles, he said.
