http://www.newsobserver.com/news/growth/traffic/story/1211915.html

DMV system to wipe out inspection stickers

Quote :

"Bruce Siceloff, Staff Writer Comment on this story Say goodbye to that inspection sticker on your windshield. Starting in October, drivers no longer will receive date-punched stickers to prove that a car has been inspected and to remind them when next year's checkup is due. The state Division of Motor Vehicles is replacing the stickers with an online system and new rules that are supposed to give the agency more power to make drivers keep their cars running safe and burning clean. Under current rules, most cars and trucks have two separate DMV deadlines each year -- a safety and emissions inspection due one month, and a registration renewal due another month. Some drivers have a hard time keeping track of two dates, and DMV enforcement is uneven. Out of 3 million cars and trucks subject only to safety inspection rules, just 81 percent comply with the law. For the 4 million vehicles that are supposed to get both emissions and safety checkups, the compliance rate is 94 percent. With the approval of the General Assembly, DMV is changing the rules to require that car owners get inspections before they can renew their registrations or buy new license tags. After the changes are phased in over the next two years, every car will have a single deadline date each year for inspection and registration -- with inspection coming first. Some cars will go as long as 23 months between their last inspection on the old system and their first inspection under the new, synchronized schedule. Take, for example, a car now due for inspection in November and registration in March. After passing inspection in November 2008 and getting a new registration in March 2009, the car's next inspection and registration deadline will be March 2010. "It's a better way of doing business," said Gordon Zeigler, who oversees DMV's inspection program. "The consumer has one compliance date they're looking at. They get the vehicle inspected, and then they can go get it registered." Zeigler hopes to boost the inspection compliance rate to 98 percent. For the state's 7,000 inspection stations, the change will end the chore of going to a DMV office to buy inspection stickers. "I won't have to do that legwork," said Rocky Tew, who owns Taylor's Capital Service Station on Hillsborough Street in downtown Raleigh. "If it works like they say, it will be easier for me -- except for explaining it to the customer. When you pick up the car, you won't have a sticker now. I just took it off." Enlighten the Road Worrier: blogs.newsobserver.com/crosstown or (919)829-4527 or bruce.siceloff@newsobserver.com."

9/9/2008 12:35:00 PM

that's basically how georgia works - about time NC got on board

9/9/2008 12:45:03 PM

I'm overdue on state inspection by a couple days. I may just wait it out until October because of this.

9/9/2008 12:47:35 PM

I'm not really up to date on the current rules, as my car is still registered in another state. Should I hurry up and get my car re-registered here before this law comes into effect, or should I wait until october because it would be beneficial to me? FYI my car has a one "not ready", and from what I heard that will still pass because you need two to fail. Is that true?


[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 1:19 PM. Reason : ?]

9/9/2008 1:17:52 PM

is the CEL on?

that is the determining factor

9/9/2008 1:41:55 PM

yes it is, but its an EVAP system code that doesnt come on until about 400 miles or so, and not for a looong time if you keep the car from cooling down because it has to purge the system once the car is cooled off. the rest of the system is ready after about 50 miles or so

[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 1:46 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2008 1:45:02 PM

it pretty much boils down to...

if the CEL is on, dont bother going in.

if its not, then you'll most likely pass.

if you're going in after reseting the light, depending on what the light was on for, you may have to drive 50-100 miles before it'll pass.

so to play it safe, if you can reset it, do it, drive around some then take it in.

9/9/2008 1:53:50 PM

so i should wait until the law comes into effect or re-register/inspect now? The way that they describe it doesn't make complete sense to me. Is the inspection/registration date now going to be the registration date, or just the later date?

[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 3:18 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2008 3:03:32 PM

hmm, so my inspection is in May and registration is December. Does that mean that I don't have to get an inspection again until Dec 09?

9/9/2008 3:09:33 PM

what would happen if the CEL wasn't on, but you're still throwing codes? I think the guy that sold me the car had the dealership pop the LED so that he didn't have to get the problems fixed.

9/9/2008 3:18:39 PM

can anyone find the official copy of the new law anywhere?

[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 5:37 PM. Reason : -]

9/9/2008 5:37:16 PM

Quote :

"Out of 3 million cars and trucks subject only to safety inspection rules, just 81 percent comply with the law. For the 4 million vehicles that are supposed to get both emissions and safety checkups, the compliance rate is 94 percent."

I say, consider yourselves lucky to get what you can, you NCDMV cocksuckers!!

9/9/2008 5:37:17 PM

meh- i missed south carolina registration where you didn't have to do shit

9/9/2008 5:55:23 PM

Quote :

"what would happen if the CEL wasn't on, but you're still throwing codes? I think the guy that sold me the car had the dealership pop the LED so that he didn't have to get the problems fixed."

is your car a safety inspection vehicle?

even if the light isnt there and you have codes, the scanner will catch them.

if its a safety only vehicle, then yeah, no light on, then you'll pass, but you still have a problem that needs to be fixed.

9/9/2008 7:02:47 PM

will you pass a safety inspection if your ABS light is on?

The reservoir on the modulator unit empties after about a week and then the ABS light stays on.

9/9/2008 8:40:15 PM

ABS light shouldnt matter. but they might hassle you about it. dont remember.

http://brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=515378

has the officials manual in it.

9/9/2008 8:45:48 PM

Quote :

"about time NC got on board"

9/9/2008 9:52:01 PM

I don't miss that crap at all since moving to TN

9/10/2008 6:58:49 AM

Wow the DMV finally did something that was fucking forward thinking and intelligent.

- No more stupid stickers fading and glued all to your window
- No more separate deadline to get it done
- One less bullshit thing for cops to write you a ticket for
- One less thing to crowd the courtrooms with people trying to pay the stupid tickets that the cops wasted time and resources writing
- Less of the DA's time wasted looking at the paperwork to dismiss a ticket that should not have mattered anyway
- No more people like me just never getting that first inspection and ducking the DMV's tracking system for all of eternity while everyone else pays

I am amazed I mean we have had the technology to do this for at least ten years and it only took them that long to come around on it.

9/10/2008 8:55:46 AM

wife's cavalier expires this month. What would you do, TWW?? technically, you could scrape off all your inspection stickers on Oct 1, no?

9/10/2008 9:21:25 AM

In Maryland, there's a one-time safety inspection when you either buy a car or move into the state, and then it's $128 every two years to keep registered. No emissions testing.

9/10/2008 12:02:40 PM

Quote :

"- One less bullshit thing for cops to write you a ticket for - One less thing to crowd the courtrooms with people trying to pay the stupid tickets that the cops wasted time and resources writing - Less of the DA's time wasted looking at the paperwork to dismiss a ticket that should not have mattered anyway"

With the new system - if you get pulled they can just check online right then and there so same shit just different process. It's online instead of your window. This will not be alleviating the courtroom drama.

9/10/2008 12:51:38 PM

well you cant get your plate sticker without getting the inspection done

9/10/2008 1:05:42 PM

The real difference, as far as I can tell, is that when you are too lazy to get your car inspected you'll also be driving around with expired plates. So you're more likely to get caught and you'll get two tickets instead of one whenever you let your inspection slide.

9/10/2008 1:13:49 PM

Quote :

"wife's cavalier expires this month. What would you do, TWW?? technically, you could scrape off all your inspection stickers on Oct 1, no? "

I don't think that's the case. The article gives an example with inspection due in november and it says you still need it this year, but then not next year.

9/10/2008 7:12:24 PM