LETTERS: NEED NATIONAL AUTO INSPECTION LAW

To the editor:

I am writing to urge you to help promote a national motor vehicle inspection law similar to the one Missouri has. My family and I have only been residents of Missouri for 11 months. In that time, we have had both our vehicles inspected twice. Each time certain faults were found.

Originally, in January 1997, our Volkswagen was flagged for upper strut bearings by a mechanic here in Cape Girardeau. As the mechanic was showing the deficiency to me, his service manager walked by. Overhearing the mechanic, the service manager stepped in to inform both of us that "that was the way VWs were designed." I have put several thousand miles on that vehicle since, all with the same strut bearings that were on it in 1997.

This year, I had my vehicle inspected, as required by law, at another station. Again, it was flagged for the same problem. Upon informing the mechanic that it was "normal," he took it upon himself to contact the manufacture. VW informed him that he was, indeed, very correct.

The mechanic said we were lucky not to have been involved in a very serious mishap. This man just saved at least the five lives of my entire family plus whomever we might have hit. I was somewhat upset with the people who inspected the vehicle last year. They almost caught it, but they are, after all, human. Our VW has been in two other shops for front-end noise, and both of them completely missed the problem. I am just thankful that it was caught before something really bad happened.

Had Missouri done away with the vehicle inspections, as was discussed in 1997, the problem with our car would not have been caught. Someone could have died as a result. Fortunately, the law is still in place here, and I hope it stays in effect.

Most states do not have laws like this. I now cringe when I see vehicles from states like Illinois or Kentucky where inspections are not done. Please use your influence to get some kind of legislation passed to encourage all states to have inspection laws. Those who oppose it or think it is just a scheme for repair shops should spend a week volunteering in the local emergency room.

ANTHONY R. KOLB

Cape Girardeau