Standards for vehicle safety inspection may become mandatory, depending on the passage of House Bill 229. The “Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act of 2011″ would mandate that states create inspection standards or lose out on federal funding. Safety requirements could include seat belt and speedometer inspections. Other bills were introduced in the House to support car safety, such as House Resolution 259, which establishes national safety inspections, as well.
According to news reports, HB 229 says states must enforce “a law that requires the owner of a motor vehicle registered in the state to present the vehicle for inspection on an annual basis to ensure that the vehicle meets or exceeds motor vehicle safety standards to be established by the state.” Currently, less than half of the U.S. has car safety inspection programs in effect, and those states that don’t require them have inconsistent standards. Missouri and Pennsylvania conducted studies which showed the importance of inspection standards to reducing car accidents, injuries, and even deaths.
As a San Diego personal injury lawyer, I look forward to seeing the results of these bills, and whether standard inspections become enforced throughout the United States. If you or a loved one would like to have a car accident claim evaluated, consult with a car accident lawyer San Diego.
