A REMINDER: INSPECTION STICKERS STILL REQUIRED FOR PLATE RENEWAL

 Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Last June, with the stroke of  his pen, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ended the state's mandatory annual vehicle inspections for most private vehicles and replaced them with an annual $7.50 fee – the same as the current inspection fee – but without the need to actually take your vehicle into the shop.

But what wasn't made entirely clear to Texas motorists is that those changes didn't go into effect then, but that they will take effect until January 1, 2025, more than a year and two months from now.

"People are confused about this," said Martin Sarkis, whose Saga Window Tint and State Inspections has seen many vehicle owners who were under the mistaken impression that the vehicle inspections were no longer necessary to renew their registration and license plates.  

And those whose plates expire at the end of the October may wait in long lines to get them only to be told they still need the proof of inspection.

In anticipation of the laws changing, many local inspection station operators in Brownsville have been scrambling to diversify their services to stay in business and arguing that the new law will result in unsafe cars on the road and will expose drivers to traffic tickets and fines for operating a vehicle with defective equipment.

"The state is basically charging you the same $7.50 we charge for inspections  without providing any service," said Sarkis, who operates the Saga Motor Vehicle Inspection Station on 1934 E. 13th Street. 

"We have already started moving away from doing only inspections," he said. We already do window tinting and oil changes, too. But if you want to register a car or renew license plates, you are going to need to present proof of inspection."

Sarkis, like other inspection station operators in the city, say that the $7.50 fee they charge for car inspections are just a small part of the business. They say that fixing the violations like broken signal lights, wipers, faulty headlights, brake lights, cracked windshields, and bald tires are some of the services they provide to costumers whose vehicles do not pass the test.

"Fixing all that – even a missing lug nut on a tire – is what really brings money to the business," agreed an operator on 14th Street who requested anonymity. "You'd be surprised at the bad condition of some cars that that people drive around the city. Without the mandatory inspections it can only get worse."

  

The bill passed the Texas Senate 20-11 and the Texas House 109-32 with the majority of the dissenters being Democrats in both chambers. During the hearings, law enforcement personnel, like Sgt. Joe Escribano with the Travis County Constable’s Office spoke against it and in favor of keeping the inspections mandatory.

"The reason why is because the safety inspection is the first line of defense because it checks your steering, your brakes, your horn, your mirrors, your stop lamps, signal lamps, seatbelts… your headlights, bald tires, exhaust.”

“Cars with bald tires and bad brakes are not just as safe as cars on the road,” Texas State Inspection Association Chairman Greg Cole testified.

Nonetheless, Abbott signed the bill into law. 

Sarkis, hoping he'd veto it, was already moving to provide other services.

"If we give you an oil change or window tint, we will also check other safety items and help you fix them to prevent you getting a ticket and fine from the local police, constables, sheriffs, or DPS," he said.

Under the bill, a person applying for initial registration or renewal of registration of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home is required to pay an annual fee of $7.50 due at the time of registration, which is in addition to any other fees imposed at the time of registration. 

The bill requires the comptroller to deposit each $7.50 fee as follows:$3.50 to the credit of the Texas mobility fund; $2 to the credit of the general revenue fund; and $2 to the credit of the clean air account.
Drivers in new vehicles that have not previously been registered will pay $16.75 upon registration. That money will benefit the Texas mobility fund, the clean air fund and the state’s general revenue.