First, I want to say that this is a true story. No joke.
Like many, I reversed the front passenger seat in the van. Of course, it is not safe to transport anybody in it, since the seatbelt will no longer latch correctly.
Today, I took the van in for a state inspection. It failed. Why? Because the seat belt doesn't work! I told the inspector the seat isn't meant for a passenger. He said it doesn't matter. I asked him, "Well, then, what if I removed the seat altogether?" His reply: "You still have to have a working seat belt." "What if I removed the seat, installed a battery box and removed the seatbelt?" "You still have to have a working seat belt." I asked to see the regulation. He showed me the book with the state reg in it, which addressed seatbelts (can't be frayed, must lock properly, etc.) but didn't address "no seat". They failed the inspection and told me I could turn the seat back around or modify the seatbelt so it will fasten, even if it doesn't safely restrain the passenger (which it won't, with the seat facing the rear). I still had to pay for the inspection ($28.75) and could return within 15 days, with corrections, without another fee.
This van has passed inspection in its current condition before. The place today was called "Sticker Stop -- State Inspection in 10 minutes". They ONLY do state inspections. No oil changes, no repairs. Just inspections. I then went to Jiffy Lube and it passed. They did ask me why it had failed the inspection earlier (damn computers -- it showed that I had it somewhere else and had failed, less than 30 minutes later). I told them it was a bad windshield wiper that I had replaced (true) on the way there. I did not mention the seatbelt issue.
Moral of the story -- go somewhere that is busy and counts on high volume, where state inspections are secondary to their main business.
Meanwhile, I paid twice for the inspection. I think the Sticker Stop guy was wrong, since the book didn't address the "no seat" topic. He was reading the rules, word for word, and following it to the letter. But it was worth $28 to me to not have to turn the seat around since it's too heavy and bulky for me to do alone and I don't know anybody to help in my current location. Then reverse it again for my use and comfort? Not gonna happen.
I hate dealing with government regulations! Hate it, hate it, hate it!
And now...I think I'll go do my taxes. I suggest you all scatter to your bug out bunkers. This is NOT going to be a pretty sight.
Like many, I reversed the front passenger seat in the van. Of course, it is not safe to transport anybody in it, since the seatbelt will no longer latch correctly.
Today, I took the van in for a state inspection. It failed. Why? Because the seat belt doesn't work! I told the inspector the seat isn't meant for a passenger. He said it doesn't matter. I asked him, "Well, then, what if I removed the seat altogether?" His reply: "You still have to have a working seat belt." "What if I removed the seat, installed a battery box and removed the seatbelt?" "You still have to have a working seat belt." I asked to see the regulation. He showed me the book with the state reg in it, which addressed seatbelts (can't be frayed, must lock properly, etc.) but didn't address "no seat". They failed the inspection and told me I could turn the seat back around or modify the seatbelt so it will fasten, even if it doesn't safely restrain the passenger (which it won't, with the seat facing the rear). I still had to pay for the inspection ($28.75) and could return within 15 days, with corrections, without another fee.
This van has passed inspection in its current condition before. The place today was called "Sticker Stop -- State Inspection in 10 minutes". They ONLY do state inspections. No oil changes, no repairs. Just inspections. I then went to Jiffy Lube and it passed. They did ask me why it had failed the inspection earlier (damn computers -- it showed that I had it somewhere else and had failed, less than 30 minutes later). I told them it was a bad windshield wiper that I had replaced (true) on the way there. I did not mention the seatbelt issue.
Moral of the story -- go somewhere that is busy and counts on high volume, where state inspections are secondary to their main business.
Meanwhile, I paid twice for the inspection. I think the Sticker Stop guy was wrong, since the book didn't address the "no seat" topic. He was reading the rules, word for word, and following it to the letter. But it was worth $28 to me to not have to turn the seat around since it's too heavy and bulky for me to do alone and I don't know anybody to help in my current location. Then reverse it again for my use and comfort? Not gonna happen.
I hate dealing with government regulations! Hate it, hate it, hate it!
And now...I think I'll go do my taxes. I suggest you all scatter to your bug out bunkers. This is NOT going to be a pretty sight.
A fact I find amazing since last year I filed before the deadline and didn't get my NM refund back until the end of Sept. Only reason I waited as late as I did was I didn't get a W-2 from a second job I held one month until the beginning of Feb. I make so little that I get back everything I paid in and then some. Somehow I qualify for some low income thing according to turbotax. Who knew that a family of two could make $18,000 a year and still get everything back and then some. Not me! Should have used turbotax years ago. And I don't end up screaming trying to figure out some convoluted requirement for a deduction.
