Louisiana lawmakers are considering a bill that could eliminate vehicle inspection stickers in the state.
House Bill 344 aims to eliminate the mandatory $10 safety inspection for most vehicles. Currently, drivers can be issued citations if their inspection sticker is missing or expired.
After receiving approval from the Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works, the bill has now been recommitted to the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives.
The Pelican Institute supports the bill, while the Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Police Chiefs Association, and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association oppose it.
Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming response he received regarding the matter during the Transportation Committee hearing last week. As the sponsor, he acknowledged the numerous emails, texts, and calls urging him to move forward with this initiative.
According to him, out of all the states, only 11 still mandate inspection stickers, and interestingly, his state is the only one among them that leans towards the Republican party. He firmly believes that this issue has been dragged on for far too long and no one has ever provided him with a convincing argument in favor of retaining these stickers.
According to Bagley, law enforcement officials have the authority to search vehicles and require drivers to undergo an inspection and test if their vehicle has an expired inspection sticker.
According to a fiscal note, if the bill to eliminate inspection stickers is signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry, the state would lose approximately $14.5 million in annual revenues. Rep. Bagley is urging lawmakers to find a way to replace this lost revenue. Currently, the shop performing the inspection receives $4.75 from the sticker fees, while the remaining funds go to the state Department of Public Safety & Corrections and Public Safety Services.
In the five parishes of Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, and West Baton Rouge, annual emissions inspections for vehicles are required under the oversight of the U.S. Clean Air Act.
If the bill is passed into law, commercial vehicles and school buses will continue to undergo inspections.
Unlike Texas, the neighboring states of Louisiana do not have a vehicle inspection regime.
