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Senate Transportation hears hours of testimony on S.211 and proposed DMV inspection manual changes
Summary
At a Senate Transportation Committee hearing, lawmakers heard competing testimony on S.211, a bill to change Vermont vehicle inspections from annual to every two years. Supporters cited affordability and repair burdens; mechanics, safety advocates and the Sierra Club warned of safety, enforcement and environmental risks.
Sen. Rich Westman, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, opened a public hearing to gather testimony on proposed changes to the DMV inspection manual and S.211, a bill to shift Vermont vehicle inspections from annual to every two years.
The hearing brought a broad cross section of Vermonters. Supporters said the current annual model imposes recurring repair costs that can be unaffordable for working families. Liam Hogan, a Southbury resident associated with Hogan Group LLC, urged the committee to move to biennial inspections and to explore a “conditional pass” for noncritical issues so a vehicle could remain usable while owners address lower‑risk repairs. "I respectfully urge the committee to consider moving to inspections every 2 years and exploring more flexible compliance options," Hogan said.
Dealers and many mechanics urged caution. Will Dodge, owner of Fairhaven…
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