Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 29, 2023 11:51 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Marty Flynn |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Safety Inspection Modernization Program |
| Pennsylvania is quite literally the birthplace of vehicle safety inspections, with the nation’s first statute dating back to 1929. Despite all of the advances made in the past near century, we are one of only 14 states that still require annual vehicle safety inspections. According to a 2015 Government Accountability Office report, the value of state vehicle safety inspections was found hard to quantify, and their impact to reducing vehicle crash rates is even harder to predict. Put simply: vehicle safety inspection mandates do not equate safer roadways. They are an inconvenience to vehicle owners and their wallets. Even more, the Motor License Fund, which is in dire need of additional funding, sees no benefit of requiring annual safety inspections. The only funds that are sent to PennDOT from the auto repair facility and vehicle owner is for the cost of the windshield sticker. In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that would modernize the vehicle inspection process in Pennsylvania, while saving vehicle owner’s money and increasing funds to the Motor License Fund. More specifically, my bill will change the requirement of vehicle inspections from an annual requirement to one only required when a vehicle is sold or the title is transferred. This will save a vehicle owner approximately $30 annually, not to mention the time and aggravation of having to schedule these excessive and, often times, unnecessary inspections. This will also provide new consumer protections to ensure that used vehicles are roadworthy prior to purchase. Additionally, my legislation will institute a new $15 fee on the cost of the annual vehicle registrations. This will generate at least an additional $120 million into the Motor License Fund annually but would still result in a net savings to the vehicle owner. It is important to note that this would not affect vehicle emissions testing, as this would still be required, on a per county basis, under current EPA guidelines. Please consider joining this win-win legislation, one that will benefit both vehicle owners and our Commonwealth’s infrastructure alike. |