Impeach Charlie Crist

[Bobgorilla]

I inspect my cars on a regular basis, and get them serviced on schedule. As a consequence, my cars are safe and don't polute. Maybe if everyone took responsibility for properly maintaining their own cars, the government wouldn't need to inspect them.

As much as I'd like to agree with you in principal... I know that just isn't possible for a large segment of the population. I know of many waitresses, Walmart employees and lots of others that simply don't make enough money to drive anything but 10 - 15 year old cars. Many of them struggle to keep them running at all. We have a governor that will blythly put all these folks out of a job? Sure, it would be great for the environment to get rid of all these older cars and poorly maintained cars. Maybe they can all ride bicycles to work?

Although I'm currently a little better off than most walmart employees (but not by a lot (and getting worse with Dems raising the minimium wage )) being unemployed 5 years ago destroyed my credit and even if I could afford a new car payment, no reasonable credit company would approve me. On the subject of bicycles, if you could get the EMTs to follow me to work for a couple of months (and Im survived it) I'd probably be much healthier, however there is no route that I would consider safe (trafficwise) from where I live to work (aproximately 5 miles)

[Roly Nelson]

Hmmm, looks like homophobia is alive and rampant. If statistics are true, only 9 out of 10 of us are straight. One never knows how they will react when they find out that their, son, daughter, nephew or neice comes out of the closet. Chances are we all have friends that fit this discription, and our decision to kick them out of our lives is an individual matter. I'm sure glad folks don't feel that way about bald heads, mustaches, the elderly or having Scandinavian backgrounds. Oh boy and what about folks that have, of all things, a woody teardrop trailer. I think I've made my point.

Roly ~~

[caseydog]

I inspect my cars on a regular basis, and get them serviced on schedule. As a consequence, my cars are safe and don't polute. Maybe if everyone took responsibility for properly maintaining their own cars, the government wouldn't need to inspect them.

As much as I'd like to agree with you in principal... I know that just isn't possible for a large segment of the population. I know of many waitresses, Walmart employees and lots of others that simply don't make enough money to drive anything but 10 - 15 year old cars. Many of them struggle to keep them running at all. We have a governor that will blythly put all these folks out of a job? Sure, it would be great for the environment to get rid of all these older cars and poorly maintained cars. Maybe they can all ride bicycles to work?

I'd have a hard time beleiving that the people all the people who complain about inspections are that poor. There are ways to help those who truly MUST drive a 10-year-old car because they have little money, and can't afford to maintain them. Then again, if you don't maintain a 10-year-old car, you will be walking pretty soon, anyway.

I'll bet that 9 out of 10 people who complain about state inspections and polution laws have more than enough money, but just don't like regulations, and spending any money because of them.

[caseydog]

Although I'm currently a little better off than most walmart employees (but not by a lot (and getting worse with Dems raising the minimium wage )) being unemployed 5 years ago destroyed my credit and even if I could afford a new car payment, no reasonable credit company would approve me. On the subject of bicycles, if you could get the EMTs to follow me to work for a couple of months (and Im survived it) I'd probably be much healthier, however there is no route that I would consider safe (trafficwise) from where I live to work (aproximately 5 miles)

You have a similar situation in Florida to ours here in Texas. Our whole infrastructure was built around everyone owning a car, and a plentiful supply of cheap gasoline. We have limited mass transit, and very few people use it. We have big-time urban sprawl, and people work all over the place, and usually a good 20 miles from home. Our roadways are packed at rush hour with cars containing one person.

And I can identify with money issues, I'm still paying off my cancer treatment. I don't make a lot of money, although thankfully, it's a lot more than the minimum wage (and it's about time somebody raised the minimum wage, even if it does cost me something). Taking good care of my car is a high priority, for me. Next to my house, it is my most valuable possession, and my car payment is second only to my house payment in dollar amount, so why wouldn't I take good care of it.

CD

[jplock]

Oklahoma did away with all vehical inspections several years ago. Now folks are always driving around with burned out tail lamps and draging broken mufflers, and is common to see junk cars leaving smoke screens. UGH!
jplock

PS I gues it gives police more oppurtunity to pull people over to check for seat belt enforcement, and probably catch the bad guys with drugs!

[Podunkfla]

Oklahoma did away with all vehical inspections several years ago. Now folks are always driving around with burned out tail lamps and draging broken mufflers, and is common to see junk cars leaving smoke screens. UGH!
jplock

PS I gues it gives police more oppurtunity to pull people over to check for seat belt enforcement, and probably catch the bad guys with drugs!

Yep... If the LEO's would inforce the laws we already have they could ticket most of these drivers and force them to get the cars fixed. I'm all for getting the unsafe heaps off the road... Same way I feel about drunk drivers. It's just that, with the way the economy is right now, a lot of folks are making less than they did 10 years ago (in adjusted dollars). The $3.+ gas prices impact poor people a lot more than the middle class too. We already have a huge and growing homeless problem... Mandatory auto inspections will just make things worse for a lot of hard working people. As for the lazy bums and people that ride the welfare system... I have no simpathy. But, our economy and corporate America is leaving a lot of folks behind. Most european workers now work less hours, have better vacations & benefits than US workers do. I just think there has to be a better way to solve the problem than bringing mandatory inspections back? Ahhh well... I am a dreamer I guess.

[Ira]

The thing that non-Floridians should know about our inspections here is that they weren't real inspections since I moved here in 1994:

It was only an emissions test. And this is what they're pushing for again.

Your old car can be maintained WONDERFULLY, but if you're driving a 1975 Pontiac that you want to keep as a classic, you ain't passing unless you get a Classic or Antique Car dispensation.

However, a 2005 with no functioning tail lights, a gaping hole in the roof, a muffler hanging 2 inches above the ground, and a missing passenger-side door, will PASS this test.

Also, when exactly did driving become a privilege and not a right? According to this logic, they can change the laws where you won't be able to own anything older than 5 years old to enjoy the "privilege" that government has graciously bestowed upon you.

This FL thing is about money, pure and simple.

And Crist is still gay and this has NOTHING to do with homophobia--just honesty.

[Mary K]

Hmmm, looks like homophobia is alive and rampant. snip snip Oh boy and what about folks that have, of all things, a woody teardrop trailer. I think I've made my point.

Roly ~~

er..... ...ah........um..... I have a Woody :oops:

Mk

[Podunkfla]

And, now this... State Rep. Bob Allen, R-Merritt Island, now defends himself by saying he was just scared of the big ugly black guy... So he agreed to give him a BJ?
Maybe this guy is just too stupid to be a state legislator?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/ ... 8950.story

[Laredo]

quoting caseydog:
I'd have a hard time beleiving that the people all the people who complain about inspections are that poor. There are ways to help those who truly MUST drive a 10-year-old car because they have little money, and can't afford to maintain them. Then again, if you don't maintain a 10-year-old car, you will be walking pretty soon, anyway.

I sure hope that's not a universal truth.

Since I sang "Take This Job and Shove It" three weeks ago in a staff meeting, I haven't been able to stop grinning. I was bringing home just under $1,900 a month, so it wasn't minimum wage...and replacing that income may take me a while.

It does change the options I have for continuing to maintain my 11-year-old, 120,000 mile truck (see avatar). I'm going to have to paint it, and I"m not going to MAACO. But I'm not going to a dealership either, although by far the best reputation in town is the local Ford house's paint and body operation. I simply don't have $5 K to spend, now.

Priorities and taking time to shop around can prevent jalopy-hood; but in New Mexico, there are no vehicle inspections, and some of the stuff I see over there (jobhunting 30 miles from my house) is downright scary. Not *lots* worse than DFW or El Paso, but ... it's been "a little worse" a lot longer, and little stuff adds up.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but ... a little investment in prevention's always a good idea, and I'm all for safety and emissions inspections on vehicles. Regular inspection and prompt maintenance is far cheaper than the alternative!

[Toolie]

Brick,
Rep. Bob didn't say anything about the guy being ugly - he must have been kinda cute!

Is this guy married?

[Kurt (Indiana)]

Out here in Indiana, we NO inspection. No need to check lights and turn signals or horn since they are rarely used anyway.

My 42 year old daily driver has been fitted with a new (1989) 302 (but with a 4V), electronic distributor module to replace the points, a 4 speed over-drive tranny and 280:1 rear.

I've never had it checked for emmisions but it seems to do pretty well against cars half its age from general sites , sounds, and smells.

I'm sure it's just a matter of time (and potential revenue for the state)

[mwatters]

Also, when exactly did driving become a privilege and not a right?

I seem to recall it was spelled out pretty clearly when I got my license for the first time back in the 70's. So at least that long ago...

Mr. "I was frightened of the big scary black guy - so I sucked him": That REALLY has to make it into the lame-a$$ excuse hall of fame!!!