By Ron Benvenisti. Every summer that I can remember there was some type of serious vehicle accident happening with people going on vacation. Lately there seems to be more and more tragic accidents right here in Lakewood.
In 2010 the New Jersey DMC downsized the requirements to pass an inspection. All they do now is check your windshield sticker for inspection due date, determine your car’s engine type and prepare it for testing and then will perform the appropriate emissions test based on the year, make and model of the vehicle and makes sure your gas cap is stable and limits the escape of fumes into the environment. That’s it. You pass and you get a nice new two-year sticker on your windshield that says we care more about global warming than vehicle safety.
What does this have to do with accidents? Well the DMC no longer cares if your tires are bald or how much they’re inflated, if your headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, back up lights are burnt out or your windshield wipers work. They no longer care if your brakes are about to fall apart or your headlights are pointing at the trees, the moon or are cross-eyed. Take my word for it, any of these items will kill you faster than global warming will.
Headlights that are not aimed properly can temporarily blind a driver on the opposite side of the road. No brake lights can get you rear-ended and that won’t help your case. Bald tires are a sure formula for serious accidents in the slightest wet weather. I can go on and on. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how dangerous any of these things can be. If the police would crack down on all these violations – that’s right, violations – even though the DMC doesn’t care about them anymore – the town would have a windfall of revenue, not to mention scaring people into doing the right thing as far as safety is concerned.
People, you all know what I’m talking about. You see these problems numerous times every day. Please, for everyone’s safety and your own peace of mind, do a walk around on your vehicle once a month testing the lights, wipers, checking the tire condition (and the pressure) and don’t ignore any abnormal sounds or feelings in the steering or the brakes. Do a “pre-flight” check before you go away on a trip and get these things fixed before you go. It’s a small price to pay to avoid serious and possibly legal and fatal consequences .
Don’t get me started on cell phones, seat belts and car seats (or global warming).
Everyone please be diligent, responsible and courteous. Have a wonderful and safe summer.
My mechanic sure does a thorough inspection. He passed me but told me to get new tires asap and I did.
my mechanic says the car is fine and i should ignore the engine light.
will i pass inspection or will i automatically fail?
can anybody advise.
thanks
every couple of years i bring my car to my mechanic and ask him to “inspect it for purchase” i discover so many things that can be dangerous or can become bigger problems and i am able to fix them early for less. i discovered this trick when i tried to sell an old car of mine and the interested party brought ot to my own mechanic for a “check for purchase “inspection. to my surprise,the same vehichle that my mechanic told me was just fine ,earned a laundry list of problems ranging from small(loose belt) to major(oil,and trasmission leaks). when i confronted my mechanic he just shruged and said “you never asked me to check those things. Its a worthwhile investment.
You don’t get the point of the inspection rule change. Now that no one is looking at their cars, the quality of the car will deteriorate and the Police will have probable cause to pull over any vehicle because there is sure to be something wrong. Then guess what, ticket time! More money from fines. Gotta love the thinking.
don’t know how some of these cars are allowed on the roads, I see a lot of them that have bungee cords wrapped around the bumpers to keep them on, duck tape to keep the hood or trunk closed and to keep side view mirrors on . Fix it or take it to the junk yard where it should be and then take that couple hundred you get for it and get a better and safer car.
Just a way for the state to rip us off for more monies. They pay less for the private firm to inspect your car, but still keep the inspection “fee” that’s part of our registration fee. The only reason they don’t close it altogether is they want that federal money given for pollution control. Ever wonder why your perfectly good gas tank cap fails? Because the feds mandate that a certain percent fail and that is the easiest piece to fail and the cheapest for you to buy. You are now supposed to police your own cars condition and get it repaired. RIGHT! Just look at the clapped out junkers running the streets of town. No stop lights, mis aligned headlights, fenders duct taped on. Wrecks that even a cursory inspection would have taken off the road.
not everyone can be a mechanic or even aware of problems in their car. you should take your car to a mechanic, or basic oil change shop and ask for them to do a basic check. many places will do this for free – just to find things to replace for you(obviously not for free). this is a simple thing one can do, while getting your oil changed. any issues that happen because of poor maintenance is solely due to lazy, cheap, and careless car owners.
if you cause an accident, its not hard to see bald tires, or other issues. you will be ticketed and blamed for the accident. DONT TOY AROUND WITH THIS ISSUE PEOPLE – MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLES, AS WELL AS YOUR DRIVING SKILLS.
I don’t care about my lights being out. I know where I’m going!
if the engine light is on it’s an automatic fail. I’m talking from experience!
lakewood police are too tied up with motor vehicle accidents, burglary reports, etc – to be tying up officers for equipment violations. if lakewood police dept was a sleeping town, and actually had the time and resources to stop people for vehicle equipment violations, 99% of lakewood would have a ticket every 6 months.
that being said, we simply cant have government inspecting every aspect of our lives. people need to revert back to the days where they were responsible for their own actions/decisions/words/choices/possessions/etc. if everyone maintained their own vehicles; this would have not even been an issue to discuss.
The NJ MVC did cut back back on inspections of vehicles to save money however, are people that stupid to drive a vehicle with the knowledge that it is unsafe? Bad brakes, worn tires etc. How simple is it to change a light bulb or windshield wiper? Doesn’t the safety of the family count or anyone in that vehicle? It’s your vehicle…. accept the responsibility of maintaining it. Why do you have to rely on the state to do your job? ie: checking for minor incidentals. You know more about the vehicle you drive than they do. When your brake pedal goes down to the floor and the car doesn’t stop, whose fault ist it? the DMV? no, it’s yours.
#7 Mr. Conservative has the right idea.. follow his advice
My drivers side mirror was knocked off , will I fail inspection?