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American Press
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- American Press
Jim Beam column:Vehicle inspections to continue
Louisiana motorists don't much care for vehicle inspections but a state legislator's five-year effort to end them has failed again.(Photo courtesy of Louisiana Rep. Larry Bagley is like the Energizer battery 'bunny that keeps on ticking.' The Republican from Stonewall lost his fifth effort Monday to try and eliminate the state's vehicle inspections and the odds are that he will try again. Two other bills affecting Louisiana motorists are enjoying more success. One raises the fine for slow drivers who stay in the left lane too long. The other, if approved, would eliminate, except in school zones, all speed and red light cameras used to catch drivers who are violating traffic laws. The House Transportation Committee voted 6-5 to defer Bagley's House Bill 232. Three of the five votes for the bill were cast by GOP Reps. Ryan Bourrique of Grand Lake, chairman of the committee, Rodney Schamerhorn of Hornbeck and Phillip Tarver of Lake Charles. The Center Square reported that Bagley argues that the current inspection system is outdated, ineffective and ripe for abuse. Under current law, passenger cars, trailers and low-speed vehicles must display valid safety inspection stickers issued by the state. Bagley's bill would have only kept inspections for commercial and student transportation vehicles. Bagley's 2024, 2020, 2019 and 2017 bills never got far. The 2019 bill got out of committee but died on the House calendar before a final vote. Louisiana State Police have received some of the $10 cost of annual inspections and that has always been a problem for Bagley. However, he had a solution this year with HB 221 that would have levied a $10 motor vehicle inspection tax. The state Office of Motor Vehicles that handles inspections would have received $1.25 of the $10. State Police would have received $4 for training police officers and $4.75 for traffic enforcement. Radio 710KEEL in Shreveport quoted Bagley who said, 'What I'm going to do is add $10 a year to the registration fee, which is what you would pay anyway, but you won't have to go down and keep up with the inspection sticker. And if you get caught without one (inspection sticker), it's $200.' Only 13 states don't require regular safety, emissions or VIN inspections for vehicles owned by residents, according to They are Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Florida, Washington and Wyoming. I watched the committee debate at the Legislature. I'm guessing that the woman who testified that there are 500 inspection stations in Louisiana may have given legislators a major reason for opposing Bagley's bill. That is all that many of those stations do. State Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, is sponsor of SB 11 that raises the fine of slow drivers who stay in the left lane from $100 to $150 on first offense, and the fine increases for additional offenses within a year. The bill cleared the Senate 35-3 and is in the House. Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr., R-Monroe, is sponsor of SB 99 that started out clarifying that public officials violating traffic camera regulations constitutes malfeasance in office. However, the Senate didn't object to an amendment by Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport. The bill then passed the Senate 32-6. The amendment eliminates all speed enforcement devices except for those used in school zones during specified hours. And it prohibits the use of red light cameras in Louisiana. The legislation also mandates clear signage that indicates the presence of automated speed enforcement devices and mobile speed cameras. Local authorities that sponsor those devices and cameras would also have to disclose revenue from the devices. Traffic law violators usually get mail notices that they have been photographed and Cathey's bill requires local authorities to establish an administrative hearing process for appealing citations. Legislators have tried many times to do away with all of the traffic monitoring devices but have been unsuccessful. Whether they will accept Cathey's bill in the House the way it has been amended remains to be seen. KEEL News asked Cathey about revenue from traffic monitoring devices and he called them 'a huge money grab for many towns.' Cathey said Clayton, Louisiana, got $21,000 in traffic fines in 2022 but in 2023 after speed cameras were installed the town took in almost $500,000. Vehicle inspections are questionable government operations. However, they do improve traffic safety. Whether members of the House will accept Cathey's bill the way it has been amended remains to be seen. Whatever happens, look for Bagley to be back next year. Jim Beam, the retired editor of the American Press, has covered people and politics for more than six decades. Contact him at 337-515-8871 or Reply Forward Add reaction
American Press
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- American Press
Louisiana lawmaker pushes to eliminate inspection stickers for most vehicles
(Special to the American Press) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square A new bill from Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Caddo, would eliminate the requirement for most Louisiana vehicles to have inspection stickers, arguing that modern cars are safer than ever and the current system is outdated, ineffective, and ripe for abuse. Under current law, nearly all vehicles registered in Louisiana — including passenger cars, trailers, and low-speed vehicles — must display a valid safety inspection sticker issued by the state. Bagley's proposal would repeal that requirement for private passenger vehicles, keeping it only for commercial and student transportation vehicles. Vehicles in parishes subject to the U.S. Clean Air Act would still need emissions inspections. Bagley, speaking before a House committee, emphasized that Louisiana is now an outlier among Southern states. 'There are no red states that have them, except Louisiana. There are 39 states that have eliminated the requirement include neighboring Texas, Mississippi and Alabama,' Bagley said. 'There are no southern [states that require them].' He pointed to advances in automotive safety as a key reason the law is no longer needed. 'Modern vehicles are safer than ever, vehicles manufactured today are with advanced safety technologies, including airbag, analog braking systems, crash avoidance censors,' Bagley continued. 'I can see 20 years ago, but not anymore.' He also questioned the effectiveness of current inspections. 'A vehicle might pass inspection one day but develop a safety defect the next,' Bagley said. 'An inspection sticker only shows the vehicle's compliant on the day that was inspected, not months after.' Fraud in the inspection system was another concern Bagley raised. 'Reports of fraudulent inspection stickers being printed and sold undermine the purpose and credibility [of] the current system,' Bagley said, recounting testimony from a previous bill hearing. 'They go through parking lots and grocery stores. In fact, they caught one at State Police headquarters here in Baton Rouge, walking through the parking lot actually trying to sell fraudulent stickers.' Bagley added that the public's frustration lies not with the inspection fee, but with the process itself. 'It's not a $10 fee that citizens find most frustrating. It's a hassle and inconvenience of having to visit inspection [stations],' Bagley said. 'Citizens have been fined for missing sticker renewals when their vehicles are operating safely.' The proposed law would also remove the requirement for law enforcement to issue formal written notices when citing vehicles for unsafe conditions. Officers would still be able to issue citations for safety violations based on existing state equipment standards. Bagley has brought similar legislation in past sessions, but it has faced resistance from those who argue inspections are a basic safeguard. This time, he's hopeful his argument resonates with lawmakers and drivers alike. An amendment to the bill clarifies that overweight and oversize mobile homes requiring a state permit would not be subject to the inspection sticker requirement when being transported by a bonded carrier. Additionally, used motor vehicles being moved by a dealer would also be exempt from the inspection certificate requirement while in transit.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Louisiana bill that could get rid of vehicle inspection stickers for most cars filed again
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A bill in the Louisiana Legislature could remove the vehicle inspection sticker rule for most personal cars, lessening drivers' annual costs. House Bill 232, by State Rep. Larry Bagley (R-07), wants to end the inspection sticker rule for regular passenger cars. Under the Clean Air Act, commercial trucks, school buses, and vehicles in federal emissions testing areas still need regular inspections. Under the current law, all motor vehicles must have an inspection sticker. A car deemed unsafe receives a written notice and has five days to fix the violation. Under the proposal, Louisiana drivers won't need inspection stickers anymore. This change applies only to specific vehicle categories. Law enforcement can still perform safety inspections if they think a vehicle is not in good condition. According to the bill, fees for required inspections would remain unchanged: $30 for commercial vehicles. $20 for student transportation vehicles. An additional $8 for emissions testing in federally regulated parishes. If passed, the law would take effect once a related bill from the current legislative session is enacted. The bill is currently under review in the Louisiana House of Representatives. Bagley tried to get this bill passed last year, but it was deferred. Elderly abuse lawsuits on the rise in East Baton Rouge Parish, attorney says 8 Baton Rouge Magnet High students achieve perfect ACT scores Former MLS player Aaron Boupendza dies after falling from building in China, soccer officials say Congressman Cleo Fields addresses teacher shortage with new bill Louisiana bill that could get rid of vehicle inspection stickers for most cars filed again Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bruins give a little extra back to their fans to atone for tough year
BOSTON — Maura Bagley was skeptical at the start of the phone call and nervous at the end of it. Bagley, who has been a season ticket holder since the early days of the Fleet Center, picked up the phone to a representative from the Bruins telling her that Cam Neely wanted to talk to her. Naturally she wasn't sure what this was about. Advertisement Was it really Cam Neely? And if so, why was the former Boston star-turned team president calling her? It was in fact Neely and the Bruins team president explained that for Tuesday's 'Fan Appreciation Day,' the team wanted to reward long-time season-ticket holders for their loyalty during a tough year. So he invited Bagley to come to the locker room before the game and read the lineup to the team. It's a ceremonial honor often given to celebrities and former players. On Tuesday, it would be a fan from Nahant. Bagley's bonafides as a fan are solid. In 2011, she and a friend who she met due to their seat proximity in section 301, flew to Vancouver for Game 7 together to watch ther Bruins win the Stanley Cup. They spent just 36 hours in the city before hurrying back to make the parade. Advertisement 'Best money I ever spent,' said Bagley, who was wearing a Shawn Thornton No. 22 jersey to Tuesday's game, in honor of her retired, all-time favorite player, from that team who won in Vancouver. With the Bruins out of playoffs, Bagley planned to temporarily cheer for the Florida Panthers, who have Thornton in their front office and recent Bruins captain Brad Marchand on their roster. But before adopting Florida for a short stint, she had to send this Bruins team off on the right note, but she had a concern. 'I said to Cam, 'Who's the starting lineup because I don't know if I can pronounce some of these guys,' she said. 'There's a lot of new players, and their names are really long.' Advertisement Joe Sacco made it easy when she and her friend Kevin Legget arrived in the locker room. The interim coach handed her a list of nicknames to read— Pasta (David Pastrnak), Geeks (Morgan Geekie), Lindy (Elias Lindholm), Z (Nikita Zadorov), Yoki (Henri Jokiharju) and Bulldog (Jeremy Swayman). The Bruins have had Fan Appreciation Night every year, but because the season was disappointing without a postseason trip, they appreciated their fans a little more and increased the caliber of the gifts. 'Obviously this year didn't go as expected. Our fans are so amazing. They continue to come out and support us. We added a little bit more to it this year,' Neely said. 'When you've been around a long time, especially here with an Original Six team, they've seen a lot. You try to give them more good than bad, but unfortunately, it was a bad year for us this year.' After the NHL trade deadline, Neely said the Bruins staff began discussing what more they might do this year. Advertisement Highlighted among the over 400 things they gave away: A trip to the Stadium Series next year in Tampa. Dinner and watch game experience with Tuukka Rask and Patrice Bergeron A Suite for 2025-26 preseason A TD Garden Package with tickets to seven events. 'We had talked about it internally leading up to this final game. We knew we were doing shirts off our back and what else could we do,' he said. 'We got a lot of great suggestions for what we could add. We want these guys to leave the building happy.' It worked in Bagley's case. She's not a spotlight seeker by nature and the idea of getting up in front of her favorite team to speak was initially intimidating. "It was fun. I was a little stressed out, but once I got in there, I was calm," she said. 'It's unique and it has been a rough year. And we're not really sure how long the roughness is gonna last. So something like this keeps your interest. I was very nervous, but once I got in there I was O.K. I'm happy that I did it. Because it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but it was fun and and they do make you feel comfortable.' More Bruins content
Miami Herald
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Grizzlies rout Mavericks in battle of the backups
Lamar Stevens, Marvin Bagley III, Cam Spencer and Jay Huff combined for 101 points to lift the host Memphis Grizzlies to a 132-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon. Stevens had 31 points and six rebounds, Bagley added 25 points and 12 boards, Spencer contributed 23 points and seven assists and Huff finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six blocks in the regular-season finale for both teams. Daniel Gifford paced the Mavericks (39-43) with 20 points and seven rebounds. Jaden Hardy scored 17 and Max Christie had 14. Both teams rested the majority of their starters and key reserves ahead of Tuesday's play-in tournament. The Grizzlies (48-34) played without starters Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey along with reserves Santi Aldama and Scotty Pippen Jr. Memphis had only eight players available. The Mavericks sat starters Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, Dereck Lively II and P.J. Washington. Memphis will play as the Western Conference's No. 8 seed in the 7 vs. 8 game. Dallas, as the 10th seed, will face Sacramento in the 9 vs. 10 game. The Grizzlies built a double-digit lead late in the first quarter and gradually extended it throughout the game behind unselfish play. Memphis finished with 31 assists on 52 field goals. Memphis led by 13 at the half and by 29 at the end of three quarters. The Grizzlies used a 17-5 run to close the third for a 104-75 cushion. Popular, seldom-used 5-foot-8 reserve guard Yuki Kawamura had six points and two assists during the run, including a four-point play. He finished with a career-high 12 points. In the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies pushed ahead by 41 following a putback by Bagley. They led comfortably by 30-plus points throughout the period. Huff had four blocks in the first quarter, the most in a quarter this season by a Memphis player. The Grizzlies, behind 18 assists on 24 made field goals, led 67-54 at halftime. They built a 23-point advantage (67-44) late in the second quarter. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
