07-01-2014, 12:22 PM
Hello...Yes you are correct about some items being much to their discretion....They can measure tint with a light meter, visually verify a turn signal...but there are no tests for subjective issues like steering box play or rust except the inspector's own experience which may be insufficient/inaccurate...I have worked on many a Ford truck, and in my case you could have hit that bumper all day with a 10lb sledgehammer and it would have held up...Try doing that to the newer composite bumpers which are made to crush on impact...The problem I see is DOT just lumps way to many items together without distinguishing between those that are crucial to safety, and those that serve a more non-critical or aesthetic purpose....For anyone interested here is a link to their 2013 Vehicle Inspection Manual for Inspectors...
http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2...9-2013.pdf
As you can see it would take an inspector almost an hour to check every item in that manual (which they don't)...So while it may be in the interest of an inspection station to look for all types of fails, it is not to our best interests and safety that they neglect to check critical items, and yet submit a fail for something non-critical..
http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/files/2...9-2013.pdf
As you can see it would take an inspector almost an hour to check every item in that manual (which they don't)...So while it may be in the interest of an inspection station to look for all types of fails, it is not to our best interests and safety that they neglect to check critical items, and yet submit a fail for something non-critical..