State officials want to phase out motor vehicle inspections for mechanical defects on July 1, a move that could save $12 million and partially eliminate a process that has aggravated motorists for more than a decade. If it goes through with the plan, New Jersey would become one of 30 states that don’t perform the inspections. Neighboring New York and Pennsylvania do. With the state facing a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit, officials could no longer justify paying $12 million a year for a program that resulted in a rejection rate of less than 6 percent, Motor Vehicle Commission chief administrator Raymond Martinez said.  

In addition, he said, there has been no conclusive evidence eliminating mechanical inspections would lead to more traffic accidents.

“It’s a long overdue plan that could have saved us lots of time and money in the past,” said Steve Carrellas, the New Jersey director of the National Motorists Association, an advocate of driving freedoms.

Carrellas has pushed for an end to the inspections, along with raising the speed limit above 55 and getting rid of the HOV traffic lanes.

Carrellas said the inspections are not needed because motorists will pick up on defects as part of their normal vehicle maintenance schedule.

“It just saves a lot of extra time and effort to fix something you’d get fixed anyway,” he said.

Even if the mechanical inspections end, federal mandates require that vehicles be tested for emissions.

But instead of vehicles four years old or younger being exempt from emissions testing, the exemption would be extended to vehicles 5 years old or younger, saving $5.9 million, MVC officials said.

Vehicles older than five years would still have to be tested every two years for emissions.

NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said more infrequent emissions testing and elimination of the mechanical inspections would lead to more pollution and possibly fewer federal dollars if counties are out of compliance for air quality standards.

Tittel said cars older than three should be tested regularly for emissions.

While the state may save $12 million, he said, “Compared to the potential loss of federal money and the impacts of the pollution, the cost will be at least 100 times greater.”

The state will have to renegotiate the contract with Parsons Corp., which is only two years into a five-year, $276 million deal to do the emissions and mechanical inspections.

Parsons is paid $21.95 per test, including $3.24 for each mechanical inspection and the full amount for re-inspections of vehicles that failed the mechanical inspection.

The state conducts more than 1.94 million initial inspections a year and pays for all of them. Drivers only pay if they fail the inspections and have to get repairs done.

Michael Turner, a spokesman for Parsons, said the company was willing to work out a solution with New Jersey.

“Parsons Corp. recognizes the economic situation the state faces,” he said. “To that end, in the spirit of being a true partner, this reduction, as well as several others that we have volunteered, can and will be discussed under the terms set forth in our contract.”

In another driver-friendly initiative, Motor Vehicle Commission offices will remain open for a full-day instead of a half-day on Saturdays — the most popular day of the week — while closing Mondays. Star Ledger