Legislation in the state Senate intended to save Pennsylvania drivers approximately $50 million a year is drawing criticism from some inspections stations. Senator John Wozniak (D-Cambria) successfully amended the bill so that safety inspections and emission tests would be waived for the first two years and 10 years respectively after the purchase of a new vehicle.
Although motorists will be saving money, several owners of inspections stations oppose the amendment. Their revenues could drop with fewer vehicles being tested. Lee Bassett, owner of Bassett Auto Repair in Beaverdale, Cambria County, claims Wozniak is using the bill as a ploy to get re-elected next month.
Wozniak rejected that argument. “The election has nothing to do with what we’ve been trying to push. The public is for it,” Wozniak said. “I mean, any time you want to take an extra burden off of them, they’re going to be supportive of it.”
Bassett did agree with Wozniak about the ten year waiver for emissions tests saying emission-control equipment on vehicles will last 10 years. But does not support the two year waiver for safety inspections. George Beal, owner of George Beal & Son Auto Repair in Friedens, Somerset County, supports the emissions test waiver but not one for safety tests because he's seen new vehicles with mechanical problems.
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of only twelve states that still require safety inspections, and Wozniak said the mandate has become obsolete for newer vehicles.
“Those states that don’t have auto emissions, or auto inspections, their accident rate, due to effectiveness, is no different than what it is in Pennsylvania,” Wozniak said.
