Calling all Virginians (Tidewater area)

Aaannnddd it begins....

Do yourself a favor and when you get lockers, get some gears to match the tire size you're "not going to upgrade" too. 4.56 is a safe selection.

 

This is about as honest as it gets...I fought myself so long to not get 35s, but cant fight what you are meant to be. Make the commitment now and buy once, or join the club.

 

One step closer to no more inspections

 

Pass?

 

How so? Sounds like they minimized the footprint of the sticker, but I didn't read anything in regards to a different process in renewal.

 

Dropped off Tuesday afternoon/night. Said they couldn’t get to it till today so we’ll see

 

Yes the sticker is smaller and now in a easier spot for the police to see as they pass you going the opposite direction. Except in my truck because now it is behind my ditch lights which I assume will have me pulled over at a later date.

There have been talks for the past couple years of them getting rid of the inspection process all together. I hope they at least remove a few of the crazy requirements.

 

Seeing how strict VA inspections are, I think it’s hard to believe they’d just drop them all together.

 

Funny thing is not all places are strict. Normally the new inspectors and shops that have been in trouble are strict. Most of the rules can be read at least two different ways which makes for the "grey rule"

 

These are my exact thoughts on this...VA is such a stickler for dumb shit compared to many other states. I really think I hit the gold mine in this topic by coming to AZ...they just arnt concerned at all about a lot of the trivial stuff that VA is. Then again, wheeling out here is a pretty common hobby amongst motorists where lighting and stuff like that might even be encouraged in this state as long as its done properly. People constantly laugh when I ask about something that would be a concern in VA as they are like "why would you need to worry about that?"

 

Failed. Rock lights, exhaust, headlight aim (bull shit?), and they said my rear license plate doesn’t have lights when it does, it’s just inside the bolts. They couldn’t find them last year either.

CA has no inspections, means my shit is going to have lots of changes going on haha

 

I agree 100%. The laws on LED driving and spot lights are so stupid. If I can operate an extra light with a completely separate switch then it shouldn't matter if it's DOT or not. I like to see the deer or people I may hit at midnight in a dark road alone.

Now checking my brakes, tires and shit like that makes sense for a safety aspect because most people are not mechanically skilled enough to check those or know what is safe.

Inspection is one of the issues I have towards VA but I always say the amount of shitty cars on the roads or broke down on the side of the road in this state is minimal compared to others.

 

You have to be fucking joking. Rock lights......mine passed with my rear "puddle lights"

How bad is your exhaust done to fail? They adjusted my headlights which I adjusted back after it passed. Yours must be way off then, most places adjust them if needed.

Now the licence plate lights crap is a must. I bet cause they are not DOT lights

 

Damn man no shit...fuck that is annoying to hear. I got a contact up in Alexandria, VA that I went to before I left. He can inspect your shit if it comes down to it. Yea bro, this is one of the main reasons why I will always passionately give the bird to VA. Your exact list is what I am talking about that AZ is like why...That is some truly annoying crap. Glad to see that your issues wont matter soon enough.

 

Exhaust is cut behind the axle. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that I have part of my cab over the cut, verses you having a bed.

Rock lights, know they’re illegal but this is the first time in 2 or 3 inspections they’ve given me problems for them.

Head lights are spot fucking on. Broke one wheeling this summer and replaced it, aimed both since then.

And they said I didn’t have license plate lights as a whole. Told them to look again.

 

Its just amazing at how much crap will set off an inspection. We will see if I have to convert any stuff on my truck when the time comes to do my first inspection here, but I asked about similar items and people are surprised that I have light covers on all my aux lights. The biggest thing that I don't understand is the whole "LED" is not stock so you fail shit. Its like my parents HOA in their neighborhood...you have to get written permission to update your windows and its more of a fight than just a request. Whats funny is both me and my pops are engineers with my pops being a career civil engineer. To hear them talk about consistency with no regard for advanced energy savings, quality material, better sound canceling, etc. they still fight it cause at the end of the day it's someone's grandma who just doesn't want the world to change from 1973. If its a solid advancement with multiple considerations addressed, then I don't see why that cant be "approved equal or better" function.

Its like VA is scared of what they don't understand.

 

I would tell them to take a picture of the light output against the wall and compare to a vehicle that has "proper" lighting and explain the difference of why yours isn't in the threshold. When I went to school at the dirty, I always took my first gen taco to an inspector I knew cause of how bad they were at the beach. Like I said man, worst case I got someone who can hook you up north should it come to it.

 

The exhaust thing could be because of your cabin being over the exhaust. I know the rock lights are illegal to run while driving on the road but I don't remember reading anywhere that they will fail you for an inspection for "puddle lights". Wonder if your headlights did get out of align somehow or they just are trying to squeeze you for a few dollars. I wonder what they will say about your plate lights when they actually find them.

I agree that VA is scared. My old inspector lived by the "I don't ride with you to know if you use more then 6 lights at once" rule so as long as they were on separate switches it was good. HOA is one reason I would never own a house in one, my civic league is tough enough let alone an HOA.

 

Trying to get it done locally just cause it’s less of a headache. Come June, I’m free from this shit. I think I’m just going to comply with what they say to get it over with.

The inspector was out when I called back but they only mentioned the rock lights on the bumper. I asked the if I would pass if I just cut the lights out, have them aim the lights, and put my exhaust extension on. We’ll see

 

And this is why I’m renewing my registration in MD for two years right before I move down there.

I was stationed in Norfolk for three years so I understand the inspections but never had to do it with a modified vehicle. We’ll see what happens. Hell, when I switch to VA I may not even get it inspected and not run a front plate as well. Last I knew inspection isn’t needed for registration.