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Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - You no longer would have to worry about the hassle of getting your car inspected every year under a bill passed by the Senate.
The bill, approved 21-11, also would allow drivers to be stopped for not wearing their seat belt and would prohibit minors from riding in pickup truck beds.
Sen. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, introduced the amendment eliminating annual motor vehicle inspections. A new or used vehicle would still be inspected at the time of purchase.
"It's just a pain in the butt," he said. "It doesn't serve any purpose. I could see doing it if it made any difference."
However, 81 percent of AAA members said in a recent poll that they support having vehicle inspections, said Mike Right, AAA Missouri vice president for public affairs.
"There is no question there is a safety function," he said. "Motorist are very much content with the current system and we do not see any reason to change it."
The Missouri State Highway Patrol also is opposed to elimination of the annual inspection.
"Few of us maintain our cars in such a way that we check all of the safety components," said Capt. Clarence Greeno, director of public affairs for the Highway Patrol.
Greeno said 4.3 million vehicles are inspected annually, and 18 percent are rejected.
"As people are keeping their cars longer, and with the higher speed limits, I think it is even more important that we know the cars out there are safe," he said.
The bill also would allow a driver to be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt. Currently, a driver can only be cited for a seat belt violation if he or she is stopped for some other offense.
The enhanced seat-belt enforcement has a couple of caveats, however. First, the authority for police to stop a driver for not using a seat belt would expire after two years.
Second, no ticket could be issue the first three times a driver was stopped.
"The first three stops the driver only gets a warning," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Harold Caskey, D-Butler. "The driver is going to be safer if he buckles up. With cars having air bags, if you are not wearing a seat belt not only can you be injured in an accident, you can be injured by the air bag."
However, Sen. Dave Klarich, R-St. Louis County, said he does not believe the bill serves an educational function as Caskey claims.
"I think there should be a different method than primary enforcement," Klarich said. "In agricultural regions they are very concerned about personal freedom. I don't want the state to be onerous."
The bill prohibits minors from riding in pickup trucks unless they are transporting agricultural products, in a parade, or is an employee engaged in necessary duties. It also requires all children to wear seat belts, no matter where they are sitting. Current law only required children to wear seat belts if they are sitting in the front seat.
Graves said he anticipates the elimination of the motor vehicle inspection will face a lot of opposition in the House.