A GOOD letter from the DMV???

Normally I HATE getting mail from the Department of Motor Vehicle. This arrived the other day, and made me quite happy. It's about a year late (the Mustang turned 25 last year), but good things come to those who wait. Time to rip out ALL the emissions crap, including the catalytic converters, and unleash the beast, better than ever! Mwaaahaahaaaa!

Woo Hoo. Pollute to your heart's content...   

I just got one of those in the mail and am waiting to see how long it'll take after the July expiration date to get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker.

Absolutely! I wasn't aware one car could make the tides rise, LOL!!!

Tell the bunnies to hold their breath when you drive by.

since1997 said:

I just got one of those in the mail and am waiting to see how long it'll take after the July expiration date to get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker.

Being a forgetful sort, I can tell you from experience that you don't get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker.  If you get pulled over for something else they might notice the sticker.

since1997 said:

I just got one of those in the mail and am waiting to see how long it'll take after the July expiration date to get pulled over for an expired inspection sticker.

When you drive by a cop car these days, 9 times out of 10, they have scanned your car, and it will show up on their end as inspection-free. They will pull you over from time to time for an overdue sticker, it's happened to me a couple times over the years, but these days, by the time they pull you over, they've already run all fo your information, so they would know if the car doesn't require inspection.

What I was surprised at was the fact they don't give you a special sticker, so you at least have something where the sticker used to be.

i'd stick it in my glove box just to make sure i had proof if questioned 

Yup, it says to do just that on the notice.

DEFCON_Creator said:

What I was surprised at was the fact they don't give you a special sticker, so you at least have something where the sticker used to be.

Common sense is often lacking in NJ state government.

I got pulled over for an expired inspection sticker on Columbia Road in Morris County.  Three cop cars chased me.  I got a ticket--I forget for how much. I guess the cops didn't have anything better to do.

the police should know that cars over a certain age don't need a sticker...but unless they have computers that are automatically scanning plates and coming up with the year of the car..they will have to waste time entering plates themselves to see if it needs a sticker or not..instead of using that time on actual violations...i would think MVC would issue an 'exempt' sticker to make it easier

jmitw said:

the police should know that cars over a certain age don't need a sticker...but unless they have computers that are automatically scanning plates and coming up with the year of the car..they will have to waste time entering plates themselves to see if it needs a sticker or not..instead of using that time on actual violations...i would think MVC would issue an 'exempt' sticker to make it easier

They do know. It's just hard to tell a 1990 Mustang GT from any 1987-1993 Mustang GT by eye, as the body style is nearly identical. Most squad cars are now outfitted with scanners, so it takes the guessing out of the equation. However, to my original point, they should issue a certain 'exempt' sticker to replace the regular ones.

DEFCON_Creator said:

Normally I HATE getting mail from the Department of Motor Vehicle. This arrived the other day, and made me quite happy. It's about a year late (the Mustang turned 25 last year), but good things come to those who wait. Time to rip out ALL the emissions crap, including the catalytic converters, and unleash the beast, better than ever! Mwaaahaahaaaa!

I have a question...Do you have QQ plates? I ask because I have a car that's 29 years old, the registration is up, and i don't want to have to deal with emissions (cuz she will likely fail so i just applied for QQ plates. They did send me my renewel form, for regular plates, but i didn't get one of those nice stickers...

Thanks

I believe that with QQ plates you are limited to about 1,000 miles a year. 

spontaneous said:

I believe that with QQ plates you are limited to about 1,000 miles a year. 

I was actually able to get my old plates back and my car is exempt! I'm so glad i found this thread. Thanks!

And QQ actually only technically allow you to drive to and from car shows, educational usage, and to and from repair shops.

even before scanners, they could just run the plate to get the year of the vehicle....i think most cars even had in car computers to do it so it wasn't a lengthy radio exchange with dispatch...but any way they do it, while they are checking to see if a car is old enough not to need inspection, they could miss a car that is wanted for a major crime or otherwise actually in violation.

I remember when vehicle inspections were about road safety and not emissions.

But things got better when they started checking emissions. We all need to be responsible.  I have an 84.  As I rebuilt it I repaired all of the emissions equipment.  I don't have the right to pollute more than necessary.

tjohn said:

I remember when vehicle inspections were about road safety and not emissions.

Sadly, that is no longer the case.  But the allowed fee for private inspections is still the same now with emissions-only as it was previously with all the other checks also.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

tjohn said:

I remember when vehicle inspections were about road safety and not emissions.

Back in the 70's the average American child had a lead level of about 16.  People automatically think of lead paint in houses, but catalytic converters and the introduction of unleaded gasoline also had a huge effect.  While every gas station now carries unleaded, emissions are still important for the environment and also our health.

Oh, don't get me wrong.  I favor the emissions inspection component but also think the safety inspection also is a good idea.

spontaneous said:

tjohn said:

I remember when vehicle inspections were about road safety and not emissions.

Back in the 70's the average American child had a lead level of about 16.  People automatically think of lead paint in houses, but catalytic converters and the introduction of unleaded gasoline also had a huge effect.  While every gas station now carries unleaded, emissions are still important for the environment and also our health.

If I recall correctly the reason they stopped the safety inspection was they found it was not cost effective.  Police officers are able to write tickets for things like burned out headlights, tail lights, and tinted windows.  They studied states that did and did not have safety inspections and allegedly the states had the same number of on the road violations, showing that mandatory inspections did not have an effect on compliance.  In other words, compliant vehicle owners will change that burned out bulb regardless of when their next inspection is coming up, whereas non-compliant owners will not give a damn and since inspections are now 2 years apart their chances of being banged at the inspection station were much lower than their chances of being noticed and pulled over by a police officer.

Restrictions on QQ plates have gotten increasingly lax, and the mileage allowed is above 1000 miles/year. Having QQ plates doesn't necessarily give you a better insurance rate, and they are not needed to get the inspection exemption. I have USAA insurance, and only pay about $450/year for full coverage insurance on the Mustang, if I was to get QQ plates, it would raise the insurance significantly. 

I'm already shopping for the straight pipes, and it's due into the shop for a major tune up after all the "restrictors" are removed. Hey, maybe I can finally break the 10 second 1/4 mile! Yeah Baby!

10 seconds on a street car is nice. Especially when its a car (ac, glass windows, an interior) and not what loosely passes as a "racecar you can register" (pretty much every car I've ever owned lol).

Yup. It has no a/c, it was completely removed about 15 years ago. Other than that, it's a daily driver. 265k miles on it, 2nd engine (major block crack on the original) and only it's 3rd clutch (it's a Centerforce Dual now). The Corbeau racing seats are comfortable as Hell, and firmly keep you in place with the cushioned side bolsters.

I remember it well. Thanks for the ride Deffie.   

Very nice! ahh an I see a supercharger under the hood there how many lbs of boost are you running?

I got a ticket once for an expired inspection sticker while the car was parked. It happens, although they might not bother to pull you over if the car is in motion and you aren't doing anything else wrong. 

seaweed said:

Very nice! ahh an I see a supercharger under the hood there "> how many lbs of boost are you running?

Depends on my mood. Normally only about 8-9 lbs on regular days.