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Senate passes bill to repeal mandatory vehicle safety inspections, adds fee for troopers
Summary
On March 8 the Utah Senate passed a third substitute to House Bill 265 that repeals mandatory vehicle safety inspections, retains emissions checks, and raises registration fees to fund highway patrol troopers; the bill passed 21–8 after proponents argued inspections don't affect driver error‑related accidents.
The Senate passed a third substitute to House Bill 265 that removes mandatory vehicle safety inspections while retaining emissions testing and increasing the vehicle registration fee by $1 to fund highway patrol staffing and equipment.
Sponsor Senator Henderson framed the substitute as a compromise that eliminates mandatory inspections but preserves commercial vehicle checks and funds troopers and safety equipment. Henderson cited multi‑state experience and Department of Transportation statistics that attribute a low share of crashes to mechanical failures.
Opponents raised concerns about older vehicles and the potential safety risk of eliminating inspections. Senator Shiozawa and others recounted clinical experience treating people injured in crashes involving older, poorly maintained vehicles. Senator Hilliard and others questioned the fiscal assumptions and the effect on insurance rates. Supporters said the market and voluntary maintenance will capture many safety benefits and that reassigning administrative positions to road patrol would increase enforcement capacity.
The chamber recorded a final vote of 21 yeas and 8 nays; sponsors said the change would both remove an ineffective, costly program and fund additional highway patrol resources.
