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Committee approves pilot for mobile vehicle safety inspections, limits to passenger cars
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Summary
Lawmakers passed HB 2347 to authorize a DOT pilot allowing mobile safety inspections for passenger vehicles with a mandatory four-year sunset, DOT-appointed inspectors per county, and provisions allowing DOT to set mobile-inspection pricing.
Lawmakers on Feb. 17 voted to pass HB 2347 with amendments authorizing a pilot program to allow mobile safety inspections for passenger vehicles.
Committee members adopted an HD1 that would authorize the Department of Transportation to run a pilot with one participating operator per county and permit DOT to appoint up to three inspectors to support the pilot. The amendments add a mandatory sunset four years after enactment unless extended or repealed and clarify that the pilot applies only to passenger cars. The bill also allows DOT to set a mobile-inspection price.
Supporters, including Nicholas Wong and others, told the committee mobile inspections are a "common-sense" expansion that would give drivers convenient options. "There's gonna be a little bit of a learning curve," Wong said, noting inspectors would need portable equipment and that market forces would determine pricing. Committee members asked practical questions about headlight aiming, flat surfaces for inspections and whether mobile inspections would increase costs for consumers; witnesses said some trips will cost more to compensate inspector travel and equipment, but drivers retain the option to use existing shop-based checks.
DOT agreed to provide follow-up details on fee breakdowns and shop-audit procedures. The committee adopted DOT-recommended clarifying tech amendments and passed the bill out of committee.
What’s next: HB 2347 moves forward with a four-year pilot and DOT follow-up requested on fee breakdowns and compliance auditing.
