Don't Let Massachusetts Kill Car and Truck Culture

Begining October 1st, 2017, Massachusetts plans to overhaul it's vehicle inspection programs. This change will incorporate the use of video cameras in inspections, to assure that vehicles are all 100% to a standard set by the state. Unfortunately, many of these criteria do not allow for any vehicle modification, and the new program is a huge threat to car culture. The use of cameras will ensure that inspectors not pass any cars that don't meet the state determined standard, rendering said vehicles illegal to drive. All this, while 33 states have no periodic safety inspection program at all. Any modified car will almost surely fail inspection for one reason or another, namely, the vehicle being too high, too low, or too loud. These reasons generally pose no risk in safety to other motorists, or to the owners of these vehicles, and safety being the entire reason for these inspections. The new Massachusetts inspection system is a blatant attempt to kill car culture and take away citizens rights to modify property under their ownership. I propose that the state of Massachusetts not entirely remove safety inspections, but remove or modify certain sections of them so that car culture may continue to grow and flourish within the state. I propose that the following changes be made:

1.) Modification of Lift Law: The state of Massachusetts will allow a 4x4 vehicle to be lifted a maximum of the vehicles wheel base, times its wheel track, divided by a "safety factor" of 2200. By this law, a standard cab short bed pickup cannot be lifted more than 3.5 inches give or take. Larger vehicles such as a crew cab long bed can be lifted approximately 5 inches. Changing the formula so that the "safety factor" is 1400 allows for people to legally attain a higher lift, while maintaining safety. Either this, or set a regulation of 6 inches for all 4x4 vehicles.

2.) Removal of lowering regulation of 2wd vehicles: In car culture, it is very popular to lower vehicles. Massachusetts law only allows for 2 inches of lowering. For this, I simply propose that the law is the same as what I proposed for 4x4 vehicles, only subtracting the number from stock height. To clarify, the law should be modified so that vehicles can be lowered a maximum of their wheel base, times their track width, divided by 1400, or a maximum of 6 inches, so long as no part of the vehicle contacts the ground.

3.) Removal of catalytic converter law for emissions exempt vehicles: Many cars that are pre 2002 but post 1977 (when catalytic converters became mainstream and required on vehicles) have had the catalytic converters removed by previous owners because the vehicles were emmisions exempt and the converters hurt performance. If the vehicle is emissions exempt, catalytic converters are no longer necessary equipment and if not required on some vehicles (pre 1977) they should no longer be required on others.

4.) New standard for vehicle loudness: Among car people, it is popular to exchange exhaust systems for new, louder, more free flowing systems. By current Massachusetts standard, a vehicle can be no louder than the original manufacturer's equipment. Now I will condone that a vehicle that is too loud can be an annoyance to neighbors, but an exhaust free of leaks that is equipped with some sort of muffler (conventional muffler or glasspack) should be passed through inspection, as the presence of a muffler will keep noise levels down.

In conclusion, all I propose is that the great state of Massachusetts consider making slight changes to its inspection program to keep car culture alive, while still ensuring that what is on the road is safe to the owner of the vehicle and other operators. Height modification and loudness of a vehicle do not threaten other motorists or vehicle owners as long as they are not radical.