ELIMINATE SAFETY INSP./MODIFY EMISSION INSP.

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View NCGA Bill Details2015-2016 Session
Senate Bill 200 (Public) Filed Monday, March 9, 2015
AN ACT TO REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT THAT MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THIS STATE HAVE AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION AND TO MAKE CONFORMING STATUTORY CHANGES MADE NECESSARY BY REPEAL OF THAT REQUIREMENT, TO PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY, REDUCE COSTS, AND IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES, AND TO REQUIRE THE FISCAL RESEARCH DIVISION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONDUCT A FISCAL REVIEW OF THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES EMISSIONS INSPECTION PROGRAM, BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PROGRAM EVALUATION DIVISION.
Intro. by Randleman, Tarte, Bingham.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate Action) (Mar 10 2015)

Bill History:

S 200

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Mar 9 2015 - View Summary

    Amends Article 3A of GS Chapter 20 by eliminating the requirement that a motor vehicle be subject to a safety inspection. Makes conforming changes to eliminate all provisions referencing or applying to safety inspections in GS Chapter 20. Retains the vehicle emissions inspection program.

    Amends GS 20-183.7 to establish fees for an emissions inspection as follows: (1) $9.13 for a vehicle emissions inspection (was, $23.75 for emissions and safety) and (2) $7.27 for the issuance of an electronic inspection authorization (was, $6.25 for emissions and safety). Deletes the fee for inspecting after-factory tinted windows. Amends subsection (c), which specifies the amounts of the electronic inspection authorization fees, payable to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that are to be credited to the Highway Fund and the Division of Air Quality of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to modify the amounts of those indicated fees. Eliminates all fees from safety only electronic authorization. Remits $5.30 of each fee collected for emissions and safety electronic authorization to the Highway Fund and $1.97 of each fee collected to DENR's Division of Air Quality. Eliminates the fee distributions, resulting from the collection of electronic authorizations for emissions and safety inspections combined, to the Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, and the Rescue Squad Worker's Relief Fund. Amends GS 20-183.7(e) to provide that the clear proceeds of all civil penalties, civil forfeitures, and civil fines collected by the Division pursuant to this statute are to be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund (was, civil penalties collected are to be credited to the Highway Fund as non-tax revenue).

    Above provisions are effective October 1, 2015.

    Amends GS 20-87 to add an additional $1 passenger vehicle registration fee to be distributed as follows: (1) 78΢ to the Highway Fund, (2) 13΢ to the Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, and (3) 9΢ to the Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund. Amends GS 20-88 to add an additional $1 property hauling vehicle registration fee to be distributed as follows: (1) 78΢ to the Highway Fund, (2) 13΢ to the Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund, and (3) 9΢ to the Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund. Effective October 1, 2015.

    Amends GS 20-122.1 to eliminate the following possible defenses to a charge of operating a motor vehicle with unsafe tires: (1) that a person obtained a certificate from an official safety inspection equipment station within 15 days after the arrest; (2) that the tires had been made to conform to the requirements of the statute; or (3) that the vehicle had been sold, destroyed, or permanently removed from the highways.

    Requires that the DMV, with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Air Quality, develop and implement a management improvement plan for the Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection program to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer service. Specifies information to be included in the plan, including that it meets both federal and state reporting requirements. Requires the DMV to present the plan to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee and the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Oversight Committee by December 31, 2015.

    Makes a conforming change to GS 20-127(d) (window tinting violations).

    Amends GS 58-88-5(a) to provide that the revenue credited to the Rescue Squad Workers' Relief Fund (Relief Fund) consists of revenue credited to it under GS 20-87 and GS 20-88 and is to be used for the purposes set out in Article 88 of GS Chapter 58, which creates the Relief Fund.

    The DMV must also report annually to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee by January 15 of each year on the prior fiscal year and include recommendations on legislation to improve the program.

    Requires the Fiscal Research Division to conduct a fiscal review of the Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection program. Specifies factors to be reviewed. Requires the Fiscal Research Division to report to the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, the Joint Environment and Natural Resources Oversight Committee, the Joint Program Evaluation Oversight Committee, and the Program Evaluation Division by May 1, 2016.

    Effective when the act becomes law unless otherwise noted.