By Rodrigo Valverde/reporter
After more than 60 years, inspection stickers have become a thing of the past.
As of March 1, Texas no longer requires drivers to have an inspection sticker on their windshields. “Two Steps, One Sticker” leaves only the blue-bordered registration sticker as proof of both registration and inspection.
Drivers still have to pass an inspection with their vehicles, except now inspectors will enter that information into a state database and print off an inspection certificate for the driver.
Once drivers have passed an inspection, they can get their registration sticker where their inspection information will be pulled up on a computer.
For a chance that their information cannot be accessed, it would be wise to keep the inspection certificate somewhere safe as proof.
Once the changes go into effect, drivers will need to pass an inspection within the 90 days before their registration sticker expires. Only then can they get their registration renewed.
In the past, it was fairly easy for drivers to get counterfeit stickers or pay a little extra to get inspectors to pass a vehicle inspection, even though the vehicle didn’t pass. “Two Steps, One Sticker” eliminates the chances of fraud with all the results being recorded electronically, forcing drivers to only have safe vehicles on the road.
This is a very smart change for the state of Texas since there are many unsafe vehicles on the road with people taking advantage of how easy it is to “pass” an inspection. Many people these days see driving as a right and not as a privilege and feel they don’t always have to be courteous of those around them.
Now that drivers will only have one sticker on their windshields, this will make for safer roads and cleaner air.
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles website backs the notion stating that because passing a vehicle inspection is required for a renewed registration, more Texans will comply with the safety and emissions test.
Once everyone has taken time to adjust, they will find that this is a necessary change and one that hopefully every state will take part in.
If there are any other questions or concerns that one may have about changes taking place, “Two Steps, One Sticker” has created a website with all the needed information, FAQs and contact information for any further questions.
