SB 31: Restoring Some Mandatory Vehicle Safety Inspections

This bill passed the senate with a vote of 19-9, and passed the house with a vote of 72-0-3.

Three years ago, we persuaded legislators to repeal Utah’s mandatory vehicle safety inspection program, using data to show how they were not indicative of decrease in fatalities from vehicle malfunctions. Most states no longer have such a program, and no state has re-introduced its program after repealing it.

Senator Kathleen Riebe is aiming to reintroduce the mandatory inspection program for vehicles sold by used car dealers. Senate Bill 31 would restore the mandate for these vehicles when sold by dealers.

This is not data-driven policy; it is not being applied to private sales of used vehicles, either. It is therefore an incremental chipping away at the evidenced-based approach previously taken by the Legislature, and would therefore undermine that important reform.