GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

S	1 

SENATE BILL 868

Short Title:  Inspection Program Adjustments.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senators Plyler, Purcell; Hoyle, Kerr, Martin of Pitt, Miller, Perdue, Rand, Reeves, and Soles.

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Referred to:  Finance.

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April 13, 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ADJUST THE CHARGE FOR THE INSPECTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE DUE TO FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY MANDATES THAT REQUIRE THE NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO IMPLEMENT THE REGISTRATION DENIAL PROGRAM THROUGH THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM, AND DUE TO VARIOUS OTHER INCREASED COSTS AND EXPENSES INCURRED BY THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION STATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING THE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM IN NORTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, to increase compliance with federal air quality standards, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has required North Carolina to implement the Registration Denial Program which will require motor vehicles to be inspected prior to renewal of the vehicle's registration; and
Whereas, due to these federal EPA guidelines, motor vehicle emissions inspection stations are required to purchase bar code scanners, install and pay the monthly fee for a dedicated telephone line solely to be used to conduct the emissions inspection, pay a fee for two long distance telephone calls per motor vehicle inspection, pay a fee for a long distance telephone call for reinspections of motor vehicles that failed the inspection the first time, and purchase computer upgrades for the emissions analyzer machines; and
Whereas, increases in the cost of labor, overhead costs, inflation, and other common business expenses justify a fee increase for all motor vehicle inspection stations; and
Whereas, motor vehicle inspection stations have not received an increase in the fee they charge for performing a motor vehicle inspection for six years; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 20-183.7(a) reads as rewritten:
(a)	Fee Amount. – When a fee applies to an inspection of a vehicle or the issuance of an inspection sticker, the fee must be collected. The following fees apply to an inspection of a vehicle and the issuance of an inspection sticker:
Type	Inspection	Sticker
Safety Only, Without After-
Factory Tinted Window	$ 11.25	$ 1.00
Safety Only, With After-Factory Tinted Window	21.25	1.00
Emissions and Safety Without After-Factory
Tinted Window	22.00	2.40
Emissions and Safety With After-Factory
Tinted Window	32.00	2.40.
The fee for performing an inspection of a vehicle applies when an inspection is performed, regardless of whether the vehicle passes the inspection. The fee for an inspection sticker applies when an inspection sticker is put on a vehicle. The fee for performing an inspection of a vehicle with a tinted window applies only to an inspection performed with a light meter after a safety inspection mechanic determined that the window had after-factory tint.
A vehicle that is inspected at an inspection station and fails the inspection is entitled to be reinspected at the same station at any time within 30 days of the failed inspection without paying another inspection fee."
Section 2.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1999.