Marvin Mandel, Governor                       2121

Resolved, That this study by the Joint Budget and Audit Commit-
tee be completed and submitted to the General Assembly by January
1971.

Approved April 22, 1970.

No. 61
(Senate Joint Resolution 56)

Senate Joint Resolution requesting the Governor of Maryland to
appoint a Task Force to develop a system of Periodic Motor
Vehicle Inspection in Maryland that will provide for improved
highway safety in this State in the most efficient and effective
manner possible while bringing Maryland into greater conform-
ance with the highway safety standards promulgated by the
National Highway Safety Bureau of the United States Depart-
ment of Transportation.

Whereas, it has been demonstrated in a number of studies con-
ducted at Federal and State levels and by private associations inter-
ested in highway safety that Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection will
reduce the accident and death rates, and

Whereas, the National Highway Safety Act of 1966 requires the
National Highway Safety Bureau to establish minimum standards
for State highway safety programs, and

Whereas, to promote improved highway safety throughout the
Nation, the National Highway Safety Bureau has adopted sixteen
(16) minimum standards for State highway safety programs, in-
cluding periodic motor vehicle inspection, and

Whereas, failure to comply with the minimum national standards
could result in the loss of ten (10) per cent of Maryland's share of
Federal highway construction funds, and

Whereas, while the present system of inspecting used cars in
Maryland prior to their being titled and registered in this State
has been effective in preventing Maryland from becoming a dump-
ing ground for unsafe autos, it does not afford to the vast majority
of our citizens the full measure of benefits that can be offered by
a system of periodic motor vehicle inspection nor does it satisfy
Federal requirements, and

Whereas, the present system is subject to abuse resulting either
in motorists paying for unneeded repairs or, conversely, not being
required to make essential repairs to conform to requirements, and

Whereas, the present system does not provide for either uniform
fees or uniform administration and is not capable of developing
into a comprehensive inspection program that will provide for an
impartial examination of automotive equipment to determine if it
satisfies safety requirements; does not provide assurances that
automotive exhaust emissions do not exceed air pollution tolerances,
and does not provide automotive diagnostic services to insure that
vehicles will continue to operate properly; now, therefore, be it