Inspection sticker abolishment draws legislative debate

After much debate, a bill to eliminate Mississippi's $5 vehicle inspection stickers passed the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday.

Proponents of doing away with the inspections and stickers say it's an antiquated requirement given modern automobiles and the fee doesn't cover the costs. They said the Department of Public Safety collects about $2 million to $3 million a year from inspections. But DPS in hearings on the issue last year told lawmakers the agency loses money on the program. Some service shops that offer inspections have complained that the $3 of the $5 they keep doesn't cover the cost of a thorough vehicle inspection, and fewer shops offer the service.

"I'm embarrassed to say I looked at mine, and it was out of date," said Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona. "I drove all around Winona, and couldn't find anyone who does it any more … I've had a number of constituents ask me, 'why do we have this?'"

But Sen. Billy Hudson, R-Hattiesburg, said the inspections are needed to keep unsafe "clunkers" off the road.

"This is not about money," Hudson said. "I don't care if we are losing money on it or making money. It's a public safety issue."

Sen. Kenneth Wayne Jones, D-Canton, said, "What are we doing this for? … I think we are getting ready to increase accidents 100 percent … This needs to be rethought and sent back from whence it comes."

Sen. John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, author of SB 2519, told committee members that he researched the issue, and could find no statistics showing annual vehicle inspections reduce wrecks. He said at least 30 other states don't require them.

Mississippi has required inspection stickers since 1960.

The new bill, unlike one that failed last year, would not add the inspection fee to the price of a car tag. The measure also would not eliminate a similar $5 inspection required for window tinting, to make sure it's not so dark that a law officer can't see who or what is inside a vehicle.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has made eliminating inspection stickers a top priority this legislative session.

Polk's SB2519 passed Senate Finance on a voice vote and now heads to the full Senate. But it passed only after it was amended to include a "reverse repealer" that would allow more discussion and potentially changes before final passage.

Contact Geoff Pender at (601) 961-7266 or gpender@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @GeoffPender on Twitter.