CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Kanawha County Senator Mike Stuart says he hopes Gov. Jim Justice looks favorably on a bill that includes a proposal to change required vehicle safety inspections in West Virginia from the current annual requirement to once every two years.
Stuart’s original bill, SB 254, passed the state Senate earlier in the 60-day session but was folded into another bill dealing with classic cars in the final hours of the session. The combined bill, HB 2310, is awaiting the governor’s decision.
Stuart, during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” said he hoped the bill would become law soon.
“We’re one of only 19 states that even has an annual vehicle inspection. A lot of people think this is ordinary across the country, it’s not at all,” Stuart, R-Kanawha, said. “There are 10 states that don’t have any inspection requirements and there are five states that it’s two years.”
Some other states require other kinds of inspections, such as emissions
Stuart said the bill doesn’t change anything having to do with the safety of a person’s vehicle.
“It still has to be in good working order every single day. It just makes it much more convenient for consumers,” Stuart said.
There is legislation waiting to be signed by Governor Justice regarding the renewal of the annual car inspection sticker. What should we know about this? @MikeStuartWV discusses this legislation with @DaveWilsonMN. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/mpWPiqRoKu
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) March 27, 2023
The annual price of an inspection plus the sticker is $14. The bill puts the price at $19 every two years.
Stuart said he doesn’t believe the change will hurt mechanics who do a lot of inspection work.
“The best thing we could do to build the business at local garages, local mechanics, would be to grow the economy. That would be to get government off the backs of people and this would be one of the bills that goes in that direction,” Stuart said.
The change in inspections, if approved, wouldn’t take place until 2024.