For the fourth time in recent years, a Desoto Parish state representative is pushing to eliminate the legal mandate for passenger vehicles to have an up-to-date inspection sticker. As the Louisiana Radio Network reports, Republican Larry Bagley says Louisiana is the only red state that requires them and expresses confident that there’s enough support to win approval this time around. “This time the State Police are on board. I met with State Police, OMV, the governor’s office, and we have eliminated any of the problems we’ve had in past years.”
State Police had opposed Bagley’s previous efforts to eliminate the vehicle inspection sticker requirement because it would mean a loss of funding. Bagley addressed that concern by proposing a $10 annual increase to vehicle registration fees. “It’s what you would pay anyway, but you won’t have to go down and keep up with an inspection sticker.”
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, potentially making current stickers the last. Currently, only 13 states require annual inspections, with six, including Louisiana, requiring them every other year. The bill now awaits debate in the House Transportation Committee.
