Assemblyman Dinowitz Demands Reversal After DMV Says No Extensions for Vehicle Inspections During COVID-19

The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles said there is no extension for annually required vehicle safety/emission inspections that expire as soon as next week

March 26, 2020

Bronx, NY – Despite repeated calls from public health experts for everyone to stay at home as much as possible and to limit unnecessary human interaction, the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles is maintaining their requirement for annual vehicle safety and emissions testing. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz had inquired earlier this week about if they would adjust their policy to prevent people from being forced to choose between exposing themselves to potential novel coronavirus and risking expensive fines for having expired inspections.

In response, Assemblyman Dinowitz sent a sharply worded letter to the DMV Commissioner requesting that all inspections that are slated to expire as soon as March 31 be extended for at least three months. The DMV indicated previously that inspections could still be performed because auto mechanics are essential businesses that are allowed to remain open amidst COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings and business.

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D - Bronx) said: “There are only a few days left in the month, and I know people tend to procrastinate on things like renewing their vehicle inspections. It defies logic that the state would deliberately ask vehicle owners to venture out into a global pandemic, potentially exposing themselves and others to the novel coronavirus, just so they can get an inspection renewed to avoid a fine. I am hopeful that this is simply an oversight, and not an intentional decision that is antithetical to our shared goal of reducing the impact COVID-19 will have on our healthcare system and our society overall. The DMV needs to reverse their policy immediately so that nobody is put at risk unnecessarily.”