Contact:	Caroline Holland (202) 543-1440 c.holland@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-4 Jan. 15, 2008

Missouri House Bill to Offer Exemption for Vehicle Safety Inspections

ASA Encourages Repairers to Send Letter in Opposition

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 15, 2008 - - Missouri state Rep. Jason Brown has introduced legislation that would change the Missouri State Safety Inspection Program to exempt vehicles from testing for their first six years. Missouri House Bill 1486 was introduced Jan. 9 and was referred to the Special Committee on General Laws.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) opposes changes to the Missouri Vehicle Safety Inspection Program. Such a bill would mean that a car could have 90,000 miles or more (based on the average annual mileage of 15,000) before its first vehicle safety inspection. The bill's effect would be to create less-safe highways in Missouri - more accidents leading to more injuries and possibly deaths.

There has been a history of such legislation in Missouri. During the last legislative session, Missouri state Sen. Charlie Shields introduced Senate Bill 17 that would have abolished the state's inspection program, excluding the St. Louis metropolitan area and school buses. Prior to this, in 2006, state Sen. David Klindt offered an amendment to a bill that would have repealed all safety inspections for vehicles in Missouri.

ASA asks Missouri repairers to contact their legislators and express their opposition to H.B. 1486.

To view the text of the legislation and to send a letter in opposition, visit ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com. Click on the "Legislative Alert Center" tab and search "Missouri" or visit http://capwiz.com/asashop/state/main/?state=MO&view=myofficials

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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