Texas lawmakers may eliminate the requirement for vehicle safety inspections in the state, Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Filed by Republican Representative Cody Harris, the bill would remove the requirement to have non-commercial vehicles inspected every year. Emissions testing will still be required in certain counties, though.
The proposal may be debated in the Senate before the legislative session is adjourned on May 29. In the case of it passing the Senate with no amendments, it will go to Governor Greg Abbott for him to sign.
Criticism of the bill has cited concerns of unsafe vehicles threatening the safety of others on Texas roads, as well as a cut in jobs. The inspection verifies that components of a vehicle such as the brakes, steering, horn, mirrors, and other safety features are working correctly.
Republican Senator Mayes Middleton’s response has been that many vehicles have the ability to alert drivers about potential issues to be addressed and that inspections are “costly, time consuming and provide little benefit to public safety.”
