Fillable Printable History Of Inspections In Nc

History Of Inspections In Nc

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HistoryofInspectionsinN.C.

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ThefirstmotorvehiclesafetyinspectionprogramintheUnitedStateswasintroducedin

Massachusettsin1926.Today,18statesandtheDistrictofColumbiamaintainsafetyinspection

programs.Asoneofthem,NorthCarolinasafetyinspectionsbeganin1966.

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NorthCarolinaestablishedemissionsinspectionstotestvehiclestodeterminewhethertheir

pollutioncontrolsareworkingproperly.Usingon‐boarddiagnosticssystemsinstalledonnew

carsandtruckssince1996,technicianscanchecktoseehowvehicleequipmentcontrols

nitrogenoxide(NOx)emissions,themaincauseofozone,acidrainandhazeinNorthCarolina.

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The2002legislationwhichestablishedemissionsinspectionsinNorthCarolinawastheClean

SmokestacksAct,whichrequirescoal‐burningpowerplantstoreduceemissionsofharmfulair

pollutantsovertenyears.Thesamelegislationalsorequiresareductioninnitrogenoxide

emissions,foundinvehicleswithoutproperlyworkingemissionscontrols.

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StartinginJuly2002,thestateinitiatedon‐boarddiagnostic(OBD)emissionsinspectionsinnine

counties.By2006,another39countieswereaddedtobring48countiesunderemissions

requirementsestablishedtokeepthestate’sairqualityincompliancewithguidelinessetbythe

EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.

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Since November 1, 2008, North Carolina’s vehicle safety and emissions inspections have been

electronically added to the vehicle’s registration record. This means that windshield inspection

stickers are no longer issued by your inspection station. The vehicle’s safety and emissions

inspections are due the same month as the vehicle’s registration renewal. Inspections must be

obtained no more than 90 days before registration renewal is due. Remember to get your

vehicle inspected before attempting to renew your registration.