Psalm 37:1 Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. 2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
@@mrmudslide5676 Psalm 37:1 Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. 2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
In maryland it wouldn't pass cause of rust either. But here in maryland we get a bunch of people driving around with Virginia tags and registration on there cars with maryland licenses because there cars won't pass maryland inspection. Some people don't care about safety. But when they have an accident cause the car broke then they want to sue someone.
It ticks me off that I have to share the road with people who intentionally ignore their responsibility to other road users. Thanks Eric for having ethics!
Agreed. Way too many people only think about "me" when they're behind the wheel, and have no regard at all for anyone else on the road. Inspections ought to be real, and state governments should stop handing out driver's licenses like candy on Halloween.
@@mjc0961 I get what you are saying, but America ain't built that way. Cars are needed to do much of anything in most of the country. It makes it to the point that licensing seems pointless. If you don't give drivers licenses to most people, they'll be homeless. If you don't have super minimal "inspections", they'll be homeless. There are plenty of poor people that can't afford life without a cheap car. A truly terrible dilemma we are in.. and it is the fault of whoever was responsible for these anti-pedestrian cities.
@@Gandhi_Physique Well, not all states require safety inspections. In Texas we just voted, yet again, to get rid of ours - it finally passed this time and we won't have to do them starting in 2025. They have done studies on the effect of safety inspections vs. accidents caused by safety issues that would have been caught at the inspections in states that used to have inspections and then stopped them - and there was no discernable difference. That being said, I can certainly understand the need for inspections in certain areas like NY and the rest of the rust belt. Some of the stuff I've seen on this channel is horrific.
@@AMurph79 I haven't seen the studies, but that makes sense to me. Inspections are mostly a joke it seems. I would think it makes more sense in areas where you can actually live without having to drive to have better inspections though.
@@mjc0961 The state Government needs to step back and get out of peoples day to day life. Many states have no inspection and guess what, there are no accidents caused by cars that should not have passed an inspection. I have lived here in NY for the past 5 years and witness more cars folding in half here than anywhere I have ever been. The problem is the state holds its people hostage to extorsion and they can not afford to just go out and buy cars every 3 years. So enlighten yourself with the real world outside of NY and enjoy.
Fifty years ago I had a license to inspect cars (and worked in a shop to do it in) in NYS and a buddy said to me "Must be nice to be able to just slap a sticker on your mother's car" ... I said "No, no, no, I can ensure you my mother drives the safest car in town and I hope your mother's car is safe too"
👏👏👏👏 I had family, friends and friends of friends ask me to just slap on a sticker. I told them no problem, as long as it passes NYS. I would fix any issues anyway.
Sleeping at night is more important. Facing your kids and knowing that you are playing by the rules is more important. Love the work ethic! Great channel!
Frustrations are completely warranted. Keep doing what you’re doing. The amazing part of what you do and how you do it is that you have saved more lives than you’ll ever know.
@@charlesfranks1902lol never see a broken spring do anything apart from making noise Or a useless sway bar end link hell some car don't even have sway bar A worn ball joint on the other hand can get you in trouble but they mostly give up while parking at low speed when the wheel are at full lock
Who'd of thought that when someone in the state thought it too costly to keep State-run inspections and privatize, that inspection would become profitable and corrupt? Or that only "stealerships" with deep pockets could afford the costly machines and regulation changes that smaller shops, like yours, would get squeezed out because the "state" doesn't care unless it can reap fines. Privatization is the failure of bean counters to the people that they are paid for in taxes. And emissions, and parts, are all part of the scheme for someone else to profit, while small shops fade away. More people can't afford to drive, so they lease. And leasing means most return to the "stealership" they leased from. Just a nasty cycle of greed. But you, Eric, you are one of the few, good mechanics of NYState. Be well, love your family, and keep making Meema proud!
Get 'em Eric O. I love your rants because they are the truth of red tape and how people circumvent it, and people like you, that don't still get the "Officials" that will fine you for an insignificant issue while you are keeping the roads safer with your due diligence. I'm from Arkansas, and a long-time viewer, and I always love it when you don't compromise to "just get paid," and get more business. If I had a mechanic in my town that was like you, I'd never take my vehicle anywhere else. Inspection, even though my state doesn't have it, is for you, and your family's safety, not just the other people on the roads. You are such a family man that if you wouldn't let your family drive it, you don't ship it, like the others. I commend you for that. Every time I drive, I think about what person's loved one my car could crash into, or injure, because my vehicle isn't safe. I get it repaired for my peace of mind, not for me, but for the countless others that are on the road with me. I don't want my negligence to potentially hurt others, and I admire your dedication to your customers. Shame on those other shops for letting these cars on the roads for profit.
I live in Arkansas as well, and I was all for it when they did away with the state inspections back in the late 80's or whenever it was, but now seeing some of the POS that are out on the road endangering everyone I have to say I have rethought my stance on it.
This rant hits home. I'm a contractor and its the same expensive farce when it comes to inspections for construction / renovations of homes. The people get charged a lot of money for absolute incompetence that has no real meaning or value.
When I resided my house and got my building permit, the city required a work order from the contractor. The work order stated the amount for materials and labor to do the job. Then the city came along and tacked on a 1.5% surcharge onto the work order for "city inspection" When I asked the clerk about it, she said the city inspects the contractors work to make sure it is done properly and within code. They never came by to check and then my property tax was raised about 20% the following year as they raised my property value because of steel siding. What a ripoff scam.
Chap across the street is having work done in his yard. No permit. no PPE, the depth of the paths is too shallow, no mesh for the concrete, no drainage. This just makes me lose it. You are so right
As Eric stated, the shop is doing a customer a "favor", and other shops are not allowed to "squeal", so why would the customer report them? I don't understand the reason for these inspections (emissions and state cash cow reasons excluded, of course).
@@nottelling4828 Interesting. Do you really want to share the road with such vehicles where the brakes barely work, the ABS doesn't function properly, and the handling is all over the place? Personally, I don't. I'm glad we have inspections here in the Netherlands; they not only ensure road safety but also provide workshops with work opportunities. So, I don't see how inspections can be a bad thing
@@mart43 As we've already established, the inspections *aren't* getting those cars off the road, as Mr. Franklin says the car's safe to drive. The folly of bureaucracy, writ large.
some people cant afford a new car every 5 yrs. yet your gov & mine, aus, & u.k. ect,, can send billions to ukraine for a bs war, that should never of happened, but biden ect, are war mongers.. zalensky is now a billion aire.. while his country burns.. nato are ass holes, as is w e f . those ass holes are responsible for covid bs, & your 911. the u.s. kills its own people, & invades countries for oil, minerals, no other reason.. you just keep living in your protected affordable ivory brainwashed tower.. its not the peoples fault there poor, or criminals, its the way society is structured,, . even the education system is bs.. expensive lies.
I used to laugh at the “customer states” videos but then I realized that those moving death machines are on the road with us! I appreciate your professionalism and ethics. I wish more shops were like yours.
If this was his way of showing how messed up the system is, well done. And perhaps he was also covering his butt. When the customer is involved in an accident because of brake failure or some other safety issue, you know the first thing they will say is, "I jut got this car inspected."
Eric, I don’t know if you’ll see this or not: I really appreciate the videos you make. You’ve taught me a tremendous amount and saved me a lot of money as well. Thanks! Generally speaking, I don’t wear clothes with logos that advertise but I did buy an SMA hoodie after you fixed up the car for the single mom a while back. -Random guy on the internet.
Rant on Eric - totally justified. Some of us appreciate the honesty of your work ethic - it’s refreshing and inspirational! Be as brutal as you like - we will keep watching!
We used to have the same problems here in the Midwest. Most auto repair shops were honest and would do the inspections correctly, but there were a few that never looked at anything. They would just slap the safety sticker on the windshield instead of doing the right thing.
Sadly, it feels like and appears that apathy, dishonesty, and incompetence seem to be taking over our entire world. Thank you for taking pride and having accountability in your life and trade. And thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Well, even in my less important jobs people seem to be surprised that I actually am at work to work. I can't relate to the people that talk crap about customers and have an attitude if anyone asks them anything. It is pretty disappointing people don't like to help others, at least there are a decent amount like that. Idk how everyone can't have the same feeling as me with regard to really wanting to help someone with something (with caution of course as some people will use that against others which is another annoying thing)
I moved to Texas from Oswego county NY in the seventies. no rust on any of my cars. My 94 F 150 with 275,000 miles on her and still has the original exhaust is like living in a dream world. my best advice is move south. you know you're in heaven when you don't need a torch to change the shocks. your videos are great keep them coming.
Doing the Right thing never makes you Wrong!! I don't understand a safety system that disrespects safety.😠 Thank you for all your Honest work and Great Videos!!!!
Any inspector that would shut down one of the best and most honest shops ever, because of a sign issue, needs to be taken in the back room for a little massage with Big Nasty !!!
As a New Yorker myself, You made my day! this is on of those "Accept the things I cannot change" category I cannot help but laugh now in my 70's Thanks Eric!!
This only helps to highlight why the world needs more people like you. Doing "the right thing" can be infuriatingly frustrating in the face of "other shops", feckless customers and bureaucrats. But please keep doing it anyway! People like you help the rest of us try harder. God bless.
What's sad is that you as a business pay upwards of $30k just to do a $21 inspection and go to the authority who handles this with a legitimate complaint and they do nothing but try to take money out of your pocket. It's the NY way.
As an inspector in my area, they have cameras now for this reason. There are still shops that will continue with this crap and it's frustrating especially for the people that actually follow the rules. You're great and keep on doing the thing you do best by making it more safe for everybody.
ALL NY inspection stations also have a camera tied to the inspection computer, BUT it's amazing how many of them were "accidently" covered with a shop rag , or aimed at the wall "by accident" or that the camera was otherwise blocked during the inspection.
All they got to do is drive one of these wrecks into a shop and ask for an inspection. Undercover bait cars, CA does it with emissions checks, They got a whole fleet of wrecks they rotate around the state. Get plenty of convictions and revocations.
Eric, thank you so much for this important video. From now on I will check my coil springs and sway bar links (among other things) every 516 miles. Up until now, I have been neglectful. I had no idea that these all of things can happen so quickly after a thorough inspection.
You and Louis Rossmann ought to do a collab video on the joys of trying to run a business in NY! Seriously, keep doing your work with integrity and (usually) good humor. I bet many of your regular customers come back to you because they know that you run your business with integrity. I would, if I didn't live in Chicago!
Glad my relatives understand the inspection is also for their own safety! They live scattered down in Chautauqua County, they can all get a $20 sticker and never have the car looked at, but none of them know if their brakes are bad til they hit a tree!!
I really appreciate this video Eric. I used to be a state inspector in Pennsylvania and I could spend days telling you the stories about the people who would come into the shop for an inspection looking for the lick em and stick em treatment. Some of them weren't horrible and I understand that people have financial difficulties at times but don't bring a complete basket case in looking for a sticker. There were a lot of times that I would help them out as much as I could.
You're doing a great Job Eric, doing the right thing is always harder than half a$$ing things. Keep taking care of people and doing it right! We support you!
You're absolutely right. All you can do is make the owner aware of the problems. I sure wouldn't want my wife and kids anywhere near that rot box. I guess some people care more about the appearance of safety rather than actual safety. Sad to say but you did all you can.
These owners are well aware of the problems in most cases. They don't care. They want a sticker for minimum cost. They are as dishonest as the mechanic who gave them the "pass".
@@davidquinn6161 so what cause I am poor I shouldn't be allowed to drive and try and earn an income cause the only thing I can afford is a shit box held together with duct tape? Not everyone gets to make $500K a year like you rich boy. I wonder how many times you pick up the phone when you drive? how many times do you speed 1MPH over the limit? how many slow rolls have you done though a stop sign? how many lane changes have you made without signaling at least 300ft before lane change? I could go on and I bet you are guilty of one if not more of these things so what gives you the right to to endanger the public with you unsafe driving? and don't say you don't do any of these things cause I know its bullshit.
I hear you so loud and clear. I stand by my principles and held to my values doing handyman jobs here for 20 plus years. The same with the CFC regulations, I followed them to the letter, while many of so called contractors are not doing the same. They were registered here and that was is a joke. Keep your high standard so I can keep watching one of my RUclips Hero's!!!! Thanks for venting, it shows you really CARE!
it got so bad in Oklahoma, the whole "Safety Inspection" system has been dismantled and tossed in the garbage bin.... Have a nice day Eric, enjoy your channel a lot.
Sometimes you just have to go outside and blow off some steam, and walk back in your office and realize that you're better than the people that are just looking for an easy way out . Just take one day at a time someone will cross your path and give you reason to keep on going
There are a few of us who really appreciate all that you do. Keep up the good work and serenity prayer. More free tip Fridays. Your channel is in my top tier of all channels. Don't let the dumb trolls get to you, they probably aren't even real! And lastly, you're just plain awesome!
I don't live in a state that requires inspections. But I find it amazing how some shops can let a vehicle leave like that!!! Keep doing what you do Eric!! Awesome content
But they will tell your wife needs new tires and they can't let her leave the shop because it's a "safety" issue. BTW the tires have less than 40k on a set of 90k Michelin's.
@@zach.tempone I'm not going to be involved in a wreck because someone had a mechanical failure, though. It's going to be because someone was looking at their phone, or using drugs or alcohol, or driving too fast, or just generally being stupid.
60 years ago, while living in The People's Republic of New York, an inspection cost $3.00 plus any repairs. I knew of a shop that would give nearly anyone a sticker for $50, forget the actual inspection. Far as I know, he got away with it. I'm glad to see you are maintaining your high standards. Be safe, be blessed!
many of us have little to no inspections/testing at all... you may be driving beside/behind/in front of something with no or hardly working brakes, tires ready to blow, gas leaking, making oil slicks, etc. put your smartphone, makeup, shaver and other idiots devices down, then pay attention to the roadways and all the surroundings.. it may save your life or others 😏
When I lived in Florida back in the day, they required you to get a inspection every 6 months, yup thats right 2 every year. Then they went to zero inspections a year which I found to be a tad bit concerning to say the least lol
@@imacgst27 Florida, home of the red light runners and left turn in front of traffic jumpers. in left turn lane and no left turn signal, lights change and multiple flog it going left in front of oncoming traffic, whom has the right of way. it's always been that way there.
@@throttlebottle5906 The crap I used to see in Ohio. It looked like it was used in a derby and then they'd slap wooden bumpers and universal trailer lights on for the busted lights it had 😂
That is the reason inspections are a joke. The state does not have inspections to make the road safer, they have them to make money, from the inspector and the customer. I am so glad I don't live in a state that has them. Eric I think dealing with the policies of NY is what turned your hair gray. 😁
@@danh2134 It doesn't affect the registration. If your check engine light is on, it will fail inspection and you get a rejected sticker good for 30 days. So you can still drive it for 30 days without getting a ticket intill you to get it fixed. Don't get it inspected if the money light is on. You can pay a shop like Eric's S.M.A. to fix and then inspect the vehicle in one stop.
@@danh2134 No. Only 30 days, after that, the police can pull you over and give you a ticket, "failure to make repairs," and for the expired sticker. Now, if the vehicle is a death trap, the police might make you get it towed, or maybe they'll impound it. Now, if the check engine light is on and you don't have the money to get it fixed, instead of going to the inspection station to get a rejected sticker, you can buy a real sticker for around $80 from Facebook, Craigslist or any place that sells things. Also, NJ's inspection is good for 2 years.
I see this all the time. I note it on the repair order, and verbally inform the customer of my findings. Sometimes it's hard to impress upon them, just how dangerous their car really is.
I feel you. I use to work at a repair shop that repaired trucks and coaches. A coach came in that had just had an inspection done and they brought it to us to repair a minor defect, small engine oil leak, that was all there was on the report. I put the coach up on hoists, walked under to look at the oil leak, found the broken shock absorbers, worn brake shoes, cracks in the air bags and worn/broken bushes before I could even find the oil leak. I lowered it back on the ground and refused to work on it as it was a death trap. The boss ripped up me and told me to repair what’s on the list. I refused as it was my signature going on the report not his. I took my tools home that arvo and didn’t look back.
I feel the pain. State inspections are a blessing and a pain. For some reason the "gas cap tester" never passes inspection when the inspector shows up. And in Texas we have to have a designated "inspection" stall, nothing else can go there. When the DOT inspector shows up there's always an engine getting pulled. Meanwhile there are shops pencil whipping inspections for brake lights on, missing wiper blades, and deleted cats. UGH the whole program is 2face
I learned long ago that we NEED to preserve our own integrity and not to look outside myself for ratification. I watch your videos because you stay faithful to yourself (while teaching me stuff) and I believe you. The world will always disappoint if you're looking for justice, but if we give up it only gets worse. Stay true.
Here is the gig, when the owner of said Honda gets in an accident and the lawyers get involved, the said owner of the Honda will know nothing about it and try to pin this on the repair shops. Keep videoing your repairs, it's a great "CYA"!
@@wallebo I use to feel the same. Worked in a really harmful industry in a high responsibility, low power role. Recently disabled/retired. Began to bother my elected officials. Got some changes made. Worth a try. Good luck.
I've only encountered the opposite problem: failing a car because there is a tiny bit of oil on the shock or a few cracks in a bushing that works just fine.
I love your video's. Advice - 80 / 20 rule - Ya will please 80% of the viewers, 20% will not be pleased - 80% of the unpleased viewers will just move on to the next channel, 20% of the unpleased viewers will state there case. - 80% of the pleased viewers will just move on to the next channel, 20% of the pleased viewers will state there case. Ya try to please them all, ya please no one. NEVER let that 20% get ya down. That person must have hit a really big bump at 90mph within the last 500 miles
I live in a different country, we used to have state managed shops only to do the inspections, everything was good back then, now days anyone can get a license to do the inspections and sign off a vehicle. Recently a shop near my location got busted, they basically drove the car through their garage and out the other side then you got a paper, well they got majorly busted, owner went to jail, but it's far from the only place doing it :/
Several years ago I lived in Texas. I was at my brother's welding shop at lunch to chat. I mentioned I was going to get an inspection later and one of the workers said he could handle it. I walked over to his car, he opened his glove box, and offered to sell me an official looking inspection sticker for $20. I said no thanks and went to get a real inspection.
@denniswright8949 : That sorta thing won't work in New York State anymore. Their newer inspection system (it has been out for quite a good many years now) ties each uniquely numbered state inspection sticker directly to your vehicle's VIN and license plate. Sounds like either TX wasn't doing that yet, or "glovebox guy" was selling counterfeit stickers, which will really land you in a world of crap (forgery, etc) WHEN, not if, you get caught. Smart on you for doing the right thing.
This, unfortunately, might be my favorite video of yours. Only due to passion of your craft and being a stand up human being that I'd love to share a beverage with!
I feel your pain. Similar stuff goes on here in Ontario, though they really tightened up the rules on an inspection, there are still shops that do what we call “blind inspections”. I have seen guys get safeties from a shop an hour away without the vehicle ever being there. We had a customer buy a truck with safety, then brought it to us, his regular shop to look over the truck. We found a bunch of stuff wrong, he went back to the shop that did the safety and they met with the MTO. The guy had to fix everything for free, and the MTO told him if anything like this happened again he would lose his license. The thing is you or I wouldn’t sleep at night if were giving safeties out for potentially dangerous cars, many don’t have an issue with it. Just across the border in Quebec, a car can go 30 years with 20 owners and never need an inspection, but if you buy a car from out of province, watch out. They have designated inspection shops and very limited as to how many there are in an area, so you have little choice of where to go. They always try to find something - if nothing is really wrong, they will fail it for a slightly cracked bushing, a slightly loose door bushing or headlight adjustment etc. They told my brother in law who has been a mechanic for his whole life “if I don’t find something wrong, they will thing I am not doing my job”. Wrong! If there is nothing wrong with the car, there is nothing wrong. Eric, I think there is probably not much wrong in theory with your NYS inspections, or ours in Ontario or even Quebec, its the individual shops that are the problem.
The reason why you got so many subscribers is that you do what is right - and not copy what others do. Respect to you for that - even though it comes with a ton of frustration!
I see this a lot too. Drives me crazy. Single mom buys a vehicle from a car lot and rear seats ready to fall through the floor, but the seats are nice and clean and the paint is shiny and the AC will blow cold for a month till it leaks out.
You are right: People just want the sticker! TX just did away with the annual safety inspection, no one cares if the car is safe or not! Keep doing what you are doing, tell it like it is!
As a safety inspector you should have the ability to revoke the passing inspection in cases like this where the mileage is low and the defects are obviously not “new”
If I were in Eric's shoes I would say: "These are the dangerous things that you have to get fixed - you have a moral responsibility to other people who drive in this car, and to other road users, to keep the car safe. I can't make you get these repairs done, but if you don't, then I never want to see you or this car in my shop again; because I won't be seen to be condoning that conduct." I expect Eric would not go bankrupt - there are probably enough people around Avoca to provide work to keep him fully occupied.
He would be in a fight every day. Back in Philly in the 70’s there were shops where you would pull your car in, step on the brakes, turn on the headlights, and blow the horn. Without even getting out of the vehicle. Then they would slap the sticker on. They would have cars lined up for a block waiting for “inspection”. I can’t imagine driving a car in that condition.
Most people don’t want to know what’s wrong with their cars, just drop that oil and out ya go. My mindset always was if a customer doesn’t want to do the work, then that’s on them: but if there’s defects, I’ll be letting them know about it, regardless of what their situation might me. Keep up the good work Eric👍
Most people don't know enough about cars to understand what's wrong with their car. They also don't know the right questions to ask because of their limited knowledge. Even if they ask the right questions, the crooked shops would give them some bogus answer that the customer couldn't understand or be able to verify on the spot.
I always wrote the problems of the car on the work order- A SAFETY PROBLEM not fixed could end up with litigation against the shop.CYA You can't make a living sitting in court paying for your counsel to defend yourself
Eric, I feel your pain. 30 years as a NY dealership service manager. My favorite was the undercover cars brought in for inspections. Easy to spot with the excessive scraper marks in the registration sticker. They were usually missing the cat conv. You are bringing back some of the bad memories. 10 years retired now.
We don’t have any inspections here but as you say it really doesn’t matter because of the shit work other shops do. I feel your frustration! Thanks Eric!!!
Honesty, integrity, and pride are hard to come by nowadays. You have all three. You are honest with everyone, you stand behind your work, and you take pride in your work. That is why you are always busy. Keep it up.
The shadyness is strong with these officials. You continue being true thru and thru. Eventually, these shady businesses and their practices will fall by the wayside. Geez Louise!!
You should see the shit on the road in Arkansas. They did away with vehicle safety inspections 25 years ago, and there are some real gems on the road here. No emissions inspections either. Being a shop owner, I see some things that scare me, knowing these vehicles are on the same highway I am.
I work on cars in NYC and it’s even worse here. Lots of competition among shops. If you fail a car they will simply go to someone who will pass it. I keep an eye on my own car. I am worried about my safety and my family and that’s all I can do
@dean9498 but on the flip side, a lot of people can't go out and afford $800/mo payments on a new car. if you forced me to get rid of the car I own outright at that point I am screwed and would no longer have a car to drive, thus costing me the meager job I have as I wouldn't be able to get there. which then would cost be a home which then you would be bitching cause id be living in a tent down the road from you cause you "don't like the trashy homeless" Quite frank IMO these inspection things are honestly nothing more then to punish poor people.
Stay the way you are, it always pissed me off when the government goes after people who they know they can collect the money from, karma will get them. Love your channel
Eric, I truly feel your frustration! I'm a dangerous goods cargo tank inspector, inspecting oil and fuel tankers here in Alberta, Canada. Our shop gets audited and they will fine us for an error in our paperwork. Meanwhile, we have the mobile "inspectors" running around, passing anything that resembles a tank-shaped object, if it's on a semblance of a chassis, preferably with at least a couple tires that hold air, and maybe one or two of the tank valves actually working. THEY don't get audited, because they are mobile, and never at their fixed address during business hours...fricking ridiculous, and our families are out there with these "inspected" tankers, cars, pickups, etc...
Believe me that it happens in the UK as well. I got a car MOTd or inspected and when I drove it home the rear wheels were binding that much you could have lit a cigarette off the hubs. . And all the wheel nuts were loose ! I have never been back. Like yourself who is a genuine mechanic who loves your work, there must be thousands of honest people who get so fed up of cowboys in the industry. Keep the videos coming Eric.
It is the lawyers who would sue everyone even the state, if their client drove too fast in the snow and crashed. everyone can't drive slowly or take a day off if it snows because they are essential.
The whole thing is a State money grab… The “Standards” mean nothing to the State people supposedly running the scam. Kudos to you for upholding the quality and integrity of your shop👍
no, it is a legit attempt to have safe cars on the road. obviously flawed sometimes. and yes, this is an honest mechanic. when you find one, never need to go anywhere else.
If it was legitimate than they would make a way for the scam shops to be held accountable. But they don't. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with money for the state.
@@philpick " ... a way for the scam shops to be held accountable." There is a way, albeit somewhat flawed; the customer has to turn the scam shop in. Eric addressed this issue in a previous video wherein he discused the state inspection process. Shops are barred from turning in other shops as a way to prevent the crooked or unprofessional shops from submittng false reports on the good shops to reduce or eliminate competition by having them constatnly hasseled by the state inspection gestapo.
Happens everywhere. I bought a car that was safety inspected in Indiana and passed then transferred to a dealership in Illinois right after and it was safety inspected again. Passed in both states, so I bought it based on the body and interior and the fact it only had 72,000 miles on it. Crawled underneath it the first weekend after I bought it and the front right lower control arm mount was almost completely rusted away and was hanging on by the top nut and a bit of rusty metal. Had to replace the front subframe before i could drive it. Good thing I'm handy with a wrench. Won't make the same mistake twice!
Sad but true. The most important safety feature is the brake system. When our state was doing safety inspections the loudest gripes were brakes, tires and window tinting. My favorite excuse was: it passed last year. I applaud you for keeping your integrity.
The horror of your sign lettering! An acquaintance of mine had a small pew-pew store which he'd run for over 40 years and never had any problems with his paperwork. He was recently audited by authorities and lost his licence and had to permanently close his business. His "violation" was using 08 instead of August on an official form.
No abbreviations allowed. For the 3 years I had my license, I got jigged for the customer abbreviating the city, instead of completely spelling it out. Funny thing was, that the same customer was at my house during the audit, and he produced his drivers license, with the same abbreviation used by the state on the state issued ID. President Ronald Reagan said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
@@truthsmilesFFL revocations have increased 500% since 2021 as part of ATFs “zero tolerance” policy. There are multiple lawsuits ongoing over revocations for minor clerical errors exactly like this.
@@jcnikoley Bet that's the one. If you are born in DC, you have to write in the place of birth field "Washington, District of Columbia". The space to write it is just about big enough for "Washington".
This is interesting mate , in New Zealand every car 🚗 on the road has to have a warrant of fitness . A garage that gives the warrant must insect the car and make sure it passes it’s warrant. There is a list that is worked off . Covering things like types, emissions,structural ,and many other things . The garages macanics are trained for this and if a car has a accident or gets pulled up by the police and it doesn’t pass this. Warrant of Fitness the garage losses it’s license to give out warrants and is fined . If I drive down the road in a unwarranted vehicle 🚗 and have a accident it’s my fault , even if it wasn’t it still. My fault for having a unwarranted car on the road and I am liable for costs of said accident. I think it’s a good system although I don’t have any experience of another one .
It's one thing if the customer wants to drive an unsafe car, I feel more for the other drivers or pedestrians on the road who may suffer because of that wreck being on the road. Thanks for your honesty Eric.
I forgot to say - lovely to see your beautiful wife in the last few videos, you really ought to involve her more - that smile is heart warming, she's lovely! A perfect complent to Mr Grumpy Cat!
Imagine what’s wrong with cars on the road in Illinois where we have no inspections at all. 🥴 Maintaining integrity is hard when everyone around you doesn’t, kudos to you Eric.
I'm glad we don't have those inspections for one reason: The State of Illinois has demonstrated their inability to run State agencies so many times to me that giving them another thing to screw up is frightening.
Personally I'm glad (if somewhat surprised) that they don't. The state of Illinois is only interested in taking more money from the taxpayers. If they gave a single shit about public safety, there would be martial law in Chicago.
I'm glad I live in a state that doesn't do vehicle inspections at all. It may seem kind of backwards, but for one we don't have rust issues down here in Alabama. I've been working on vehicles for about 3 years now, and the crappiest hoopties that come into my shop, aren't that bad. They may come in with the engine bay brutalized, and the codes cleared out 25 miles ago, no emissions equipment left to speak of, but I don't let anything leave my shop that would be unsafe on the road. My customers know this, and they all seem to respect that.
Eric, Much respect for your honesty and integrity. In MA they _video_ the entire inspection. But tons of inspection shops still get away with this type of thing because the MA RMV does not _review_ the video unless there is an issue that comes up later and it can be proven that the inspection was negligent/fraudulent. SMA#1 Paul (in MA)
Remember rule #1: The government doesn’t give a damn about you. This explains a lot of things including the vehicle inspection laws. It’s just a revenue generator for the state and they don’t give a crap about the safety of the vehicles or the people driving them or the people sharing the roads with them.
So you’re number one rule effects life on earth. And allows you to rationalize anything you want anytime you want. Because you think people will maintain their cars to complete safety by themselves. You don’t even know what a New York State inspection cost or who gets the money.
@@alvon911 Defending that the government follow its own rules? Yes. The fact that in New York State, the shop keeps most of the money. The guy with the video can tell you exactly what percentage of the money he gets to keep. But instead, we got a car that reportedly had 500 miles in the past 12 months and doesn’t pass inspection, and he believes it didn’t pass inspection the last time it was tested. He could also tell you that occasionally, New York State bring a failing car to your shop and see if they can give you 100 bucks to buy a sticker. As far as the guy selling fake stickers, it’s all fun and games until you get caught. That goes for any crime. Nothing special about this one.
They’re getting rid of state inspections altogether in TX in the next couple of years. They’re pretty much a joke here though. Lights and horn is all that I’ve ever had checked. Out of nowhere, last time I went in, my horn wouldn’t work for some reason. Guy said, “I heard it, if you did.” 😂
So now anyone can drive any pile of junk they want on the roads and kill thousands more. Hey......why not shoot off a few rounds into the air while you're at it?
I have a NYS inspection license too. I feel your frustration. DMV inspectors have to justify their existence. Writing you up for your sign is like shooting ducks in a barrel for the. Makes as much sense as someone receiving a ticket on the first of the month for an inspection one day expired. I think it would be worse if inspections were in the hands of a state run facility. The PRNY runs everything soooo well.
Keep it up, honesty & integrity is everything. I'd hope the shop that issued that gets audited, everyone deserves to have safe vehicles around them when driving, imagine that was your family's car & had no idea.
As an MOT inspector over here in rainy Wales over the pond, I see that crap all the time. I inspect the vehicles according to VOSA standards and pass or fail accordingly. Customer super happy when they get a pass, yet I get a bad rap when the car fails inspection. You are bang on when you say the customer doesn’t care all they want is a pass no matter what the condition. I get a bad rep because I inspect correctly, yet Joe Bloggs Autoes ( name made up) is the hero cos gives out tickets to rolling pieces of crap that belong in the crusher!! Rant over. Loving your videos you tell it how it is and don’t gloss over the crap. Only found you by chance about a month ago. And watch your vids every day now. Looking forward to your next rant.😊
No criticism from me. I appreciate you doing what you can to keep these cars off the road. That keeps my family & everyone's safe on the road. Thanks Doc O.
We might have something in common. Might I suggest that you check that there are no fake liens or warrants out on your business?
Holy smokes, the man himself! Two of my fav YTers in one place!
💯
That's it for today, and I hope you learned something.
I bet SMA handles all the Rossman Bikes and other mechanical vehiecles.
This is hilarious meta... SMA needs to be STA!!
It is hard being an honest man amongst a bunch of cheaters and swindlers. You keep being you, that's why you are loved
Especially if the biggest cheaters and swindlers are in the State House.
Psalm 37:1 Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. 2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
@@mrmudslide5676 Psalm 37:1 Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. 2 For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Exactly, thank you Eric and co.
Hear, hear!
My customers all have a safety inspection system built into the ignition switch. If it starts, it's safe!
Gas and go baby!!
That’s really funny but unfortunately very true.
In pa none of of ny cars would even pass the rust alone would not pass
In maryland it wouldn't pass cause of rust either. But here in maryland we get a bunch of people driving around with Virginia tags and registration on there cars with maryland licenses because there cars won't pass maryland inspection. Some people don't care about safety. But when they have an accident cause the car broke then they want to sue someone.
It ticks me off that I have to share the road with people who intentionally ignore their responsibility to other road users. Thanks Eric for having ethics!
Agreed. Way too many people only think about "me" when they're behind the wheel, and have no regard at all for anyone else on the road.
Inspections ought to be real, and state governments should stop handing out driver's licenses like candy on Halloween.
@@mjc0961 I get what you are saying, but America ain't built that way. Cars are needed to do much of anything in most of the country. It makes it to the point that licensing seems pointless.
If you don't give drivers licenses to most people, they'll be homeless. If you don't have super minimal "inspections", they'll be homeless. There are plenty of poor people that can't afford life without a cheap car. A truly terrible dilemma we are in.. and it is the fault of whoever was responsible for these anti-pedestrian cities.
@@Gandhi_Physique Well, not all states require safety inspections. In Texas we just voted, yet again, to get rid of ours - it finally passed this time and we won't have to do them starting in 2025. They have done studies on the effect of safety inspections vs. accidents caused by safety issues that would have been caught at the inspections in states that used to have inspections and then stopped them - and there was no discernable difference.
That being said, I can certainly understand the need for inspections in certain areas like NY and the rest of the rust belt. Some of the stuff I've seen on this channel is horrific.
@@AMurph79 I haven't seen the studies, but that makes sense to me. Inspections are mostly a joke it seems. I would think it makes more sense in areas where you can actually live without having to drive to have better inspections though.
@@mjc0961 The state Government needs to step back and get out of peoples day to day life. Many states have no inspection and guess what, there are no accidents caused by cars that should not have passed an inspection. I have lived here in NY for the past 5 years and witness more cars folding in half here than anywhere I have ever been. The problem is the state holds its people hostage to extorsion and they can not afford to just go out and buy cars every 3 years. So enlighten yourself with the real world outside of NY and enjoy.
Having integrity isn't always easy, but I thank you for showing yours in spades. Need more shop owners like you.
Fifty years ago I had a license to inspect cars (and worked in a shop to do it in) in NYS and a buddy said to me "Must be nice to be able to just slap a sticker on your mother's car" ... I said "No, no, no, I can ensure you my mother drives the safest car in town and I hope your mother's car is safe too"
👏👏👏👏 I had family, friends and friends of friends ask me to just slap on a sticker. I told them no problem, as long as it passes NYS. I would fix any issues anyway.
What about your mother in law?
@@annyer262 🙀
@@annyer262 KEK!
@@annyer262 She gets the good sticker for the rusty falling apart car! 🤣🤣
Sleeping at night is more important. Facing your kids and knowing that you are playing by the rules is more important. Love the work ethic! Great channel!
Only decent people are capable of feeling guilt. Don't be so quick to presume that crooks of any stripe are burdened with the conscience you possess.
Honor and integrity aren't for everyone I guess.
Frustrations are completely warranted. Keep doing what you’re doing. The amazing part of what you do and how you do it is that you have saved more lives than you’ll ever know.
Bad suspension is a big no-no to me, It's a huge safety issue.
@@charlesfranks1902lol never see a broken spring do anything apart from making noise
Or a useless sway bar end link hell some car don't even have sway bar
A worn ball joint on the other hand can get you in trouble but they mostly give up while parking at low speed when the wheel are at full lock
Who'd of thought that when someone in the state thought it too costly to keep State-run inspections and privatize, that inspection would become profitable and corrupt? Or that only "stealerships" with deep pockets could afford the costly machines and regulation changes that smaller shops, like yours, would get squeezed out because the "state" doesn't care unless it can reap fines. Privatization is the failure of bean counters to the people that they are paid for in taxes. And emissions, and parts, are all part of the scheme for someone else to profit, while small shops fade away. More people can't afford to drive, so they lease. And leasing means most return to the "stealership" they leased from. Just a nasty cycle of greed. But you, Eric, you are one of the few, good mechanics of NYState. Be well, love your family, and keep making Meema proud!
I agree with this guy.
Get 'em Eric O. I love your rants because they are the truth of red tape and how people circumvent it, and people like you, that don't still get the "Officials" that will fine you for an insignificant issue while you are keeping the roads safer with your due diligence. I'm from Arkansas, and a long-time viewer, and I always love it when you don't compromise to "just get paid," and get more business. If I had a mechanic in my town that was like you, I'd never take my vehicle anywhere else. Inspection, even though my state doesn't have it, is for you, and your family's safety, not just the other people on the roads. You are such a family man that if you wouldn't let your family drive it, you don't ship it, like the others. I commend you for that. Every time I drive, I think about what person's loved one my car could crash into, or injure, because my vehicle isn't safe. I get it repaired for my peace of mind, not for me, but for the countless others that are on the road with me. I don't want my negligence to potentially hurt others, and I admire your dedication to your customers. Shame on those other shops for letting these cars on the roads for profit.
I live in Arkansas as well, and I was all for it when they did away with the state inspections back in the late 80's or whenever it was, but now seeing some of the POS that are out on the road endangering everyone I have to say I have rethought my stance on it.
I love how 516 miles caused utter chaos! 😂 Eric officially ticked when hes cursing!
Would make sense iif it was a Chevy .... LIKE A ROCK.
This rant hits home. I'm a contractor and its the same expensive farce when it comes to inspections for construction / renovations of homes. The people get charged a lot of money for absolute incompetence that has no real meaning or value.
Big money for the county in reinspection fees by failing meaningless stuff (one silly example,, closet rods not installed yet, really!)
When I resided my house and got my building permit, the city required a work order from the contractor. The work order stated the amount for materials and labor to do the job. Then the city came along and tacked on a 1.5% surcharge onto the work order for "city inspection" When I asked the clerk about it, she said the city inspects the contractors work to make sure it is done properly and within code. They never came by to check and then my property tax was raised about 20% the following year as they raised my property value because of steel siding. What a ripoff scam.
Chap across the street is having work done in his yard. No permit. no PPE, the depth of the paths is too shallow, no mesh for the concrete, no drainage. This just makes me lose it. You are so right
That is absolutely unconscionable. The garage that did this inspection needs to lose its licence forever. Love your work Eric.
NOT GOING HAPPEN 💀💀💀👀
As Eric stated, the shop is doing a customer a "favor", and other shops are not allowed to "squeal", so why would the customer report them? I don't understand the reason for these inspections (emissions and state cash cow reasons excluded, of course).
@@nottelling4828 Interesting. Do you really want to share the road with such vehicles where the brakes barely work, the ABS doesn't function properly, and the handling is all over the place? Personally, I don't. I'm glad we have inspections here in the Netherlands; they not only ensure road safety but also provide workshops with work opportunities. So, I don't see how inspections can be a bad thing
@@mart43 As we've already established, the inspections *aren't* getting those cars off the road, as Mr. Franklin says the car's safe to drive.
The folly of bureaucracy, writ large.
some people cant afford a new car every 5 yrs. yet your gov & mine, aus, & u.k. ect,, can send billions to ukraine for a bs war, that should never of happened, but biden ect, are war mongers.. zalensky is now a billion aire.. while his country burns.. nato are ass holes, as is w e f . those ass holes are responsible for covid bs, & your 911. the u.s. kills its own people, & invades countries for oil, minerals, no other reason.. you just keep living in your protected affordable ivory brainwashed tower.. its not the peoples fault there poor, or criminals, its the way society is structured,, . even the education system is bs.. expensive lies.
I used to laugh at the “customer states” videos but then I realized that those moving death machines are on the road with us!
I appreciate your professionalism and ethics. I wish more shops were like yours.
It's cool how you made it easier for the state to know exactly what vehicle this is. The license plate in the video is classic.
they don't care, as long as they're sucking up tax moneys...
New York is a failed state lol
If this was his way of showing how messed up the system is, well done. And perhaps he was also covering his butt. When the customer is involved in an accident because of brake failure or some other safety issue, you know the first thing they will say is, "I jut got this car inspected."
Eric, I don’t know if you’ll see this or not:
I really appreciate the videos you make. You’ve taught me a tremendous amount and saved me a lot of money as well. Thanks! Generally speaking, I don’t wear clothes with logos that advertise but I did buy an SMA hoodie after you fixed up the car for the single mom a while back.
-Random guy on the internet.
Rant on Eric - totally justified. Some of us appreciate the honesty of your work ethic - it’s refreshing and inspirational! Be as brutal as you like - we will keep watching!
We used to have the same problems here in the Midwest. Most auto repair shops were honest and would do the inspections correctly, but there were a few that never looked at anything. They would just slap the safety sticker on the windshield instead of doing the right thing.
Sadly, it feels like and appears that apathy, dishonesty, and incompetence seem to be taking over our entire world. Thank you for taking pride and having accountability in your life and trade. And thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Well, even in my less important jobs people seem to be surprised that I actually am at work to work. I can't relate to the people that talk crap about customers and have an attitude if anyone asks them anything. It is pretty disappointing people don't like to help others, at least there are a decent amount like that. Idk how everyone can't have the same feeling as me with regard to really wanting to help someone with something (with caution of course as some people will use that against others which is another annoying thing)
I moved to Texas from Oswego county NY in the seventies. no rust on any of my cars. My 94 F 150 with 275,000 miles on her and still has the original exhaust is like living in a dream world. my best advice is move south. you know you're in heaven when you don't need a torch to change the shocks. your videos are great keep them coming.
Doing the Right thing never makes you Wrong!! I don't understand a safety system that disrespects safety.😠 Thank you for all your Honest work and Great Videos!!!!
Any inspector that would shut down one of the best and most honest shops ever, because of a sign issue, needs to be taken in the back room for a little massage with Big Nasty !!!
All these states care about is finding ways to separate us from OUR money, by any means possible!!
Inspector probably wants to get paid…
😆
Big nasty to his balls for 30 minutes should be enough.
or a few rounds w/ "Vic" ;-)
As a New Yorker myself, You made my day! this is on of those "Accept the things I cannot change" category I cannot help but laugh now in my 70's Thanks Eric!!
This only helps to highlight why the world needs more people like you. Doing "the right thing" can be infuriatingly frustrating in the face of "other shops", feckless customers and bureaucrats. But please keep doing it anyway! People like you help the rest of us try harder. God bless.
What's sad is that you as a business pay upwards of $30k just to do a $21 inspection and go to the authority who handles this with a legitimate complaint and they do nothing but try to take money out of your pocket. It's the NY way.
As an inspector in my area, they have cameras now for this reason. There are still shops that will continue with this crap and it's frustrating especially for the people that actually follow the rules. You're great and keep on doing the thing you do best by making it more safe for everybody.
ALL NY inspection stations also have a camera tied to the inspection computer, BUT it's amazing how many of them were "accidently" covered with a shop rag , or aimed at the wall "by accident" or that the camera was otherwise blocked during the inspection.
@@Blazer02LS Not upstate.
All they got to do is drive one of these wrecks into a shop and ask for an inspection. Undercover bait cars, CA does it with emissions checks, They got a whole fleet of wrecks they rotate around the state. Get plenty of convictions and revocations.
So why aren't these crap shops put out of business instead of hassling the businesses that follow NYS rules?
@@mtebaldi1 Because NYS doesn't prosecute the actual law breakers, they go after the legitimate people who made an honest mistake because its easier.
Eric, thank you so much for this important video. From now on I will check my coil springs and sway bar links (among other things) every 516 miles. Up until now, I have been neglectful. I had no idea that these all of things can happen so quickly after a thorough inspection.
Keep telling the truth Eric, these people need outed more interested in a sign than people’s safety
The pathetic part is the state guy that his priorities all wrong.
You and Louis Rossmann ought to do a collab video on the joys of trying to run a business in NY! Seriously, keep doing your work with integrity and (usually) good humor. I bet many of your regular customers come back to you because they know that you run your business with integrity. I would, if I didn't live in Chicago!
Glad my relatives understand the inspection is also for their own safety! They live scattered down in Chautauqua County, they can all get a $20 sticker and never have the car looked at, but none of them know if their brakes are bad til they hit a tree!!
I really appreciate this video Eric. I used to be a state inspector in Pennsylvania and I could spend days telling you the stories about the people who would come into the shop for an inspection looking for the lick em and stick em treatment. Some of them weren't horrible and I understand that people have financial difficulties at times but don't bring a complete basket case in looking for a sticker. There were a lot of times that I would help them out as much as I could.
You're doing a great Job Eric, doing the right thing is always harder than half a$$ing things. Keep taking care of people and doing it right! We support you!
You're absolutely right. All you can do is make the owner aware of the problems.
I sure wouldn't want my wife and kids anywhere near that rot box. I guess some people care more about the appearance of safety rather than actual safety. Sad to say but you did all you can.
These owners are well aware of the problems in most cases. They don't care. They want a sticker for minimum cost. They are as dishonest as the mechanic who gave them the "pass".
@@davidquinn6161 ever think some of these people are poor and can not afford to fix? lets see how much you can do on say income of $800/mo
So that gives them the right to endanger the public by driving unsafe vehicles. ?
@@davidquinn6161 so what cause I am poor I shouldn't be allowed to drive and try and earn an income cause the only thing I can afford is a shit box held together with duct tape? Not everyone gets to make $500K a year like you rich boy.
I wonder how many times you pick up the phone when you drive? how many times do you speed 1MPH over the limit? how many slow rolls have you done though a stop sign? how many lane changes have you made without signaling at least 300ft before lane change? I could go on and I bet you are guilty of one if not more of these things so what gives you the right to to endanger the public with you unsafe driving? and don't say you don't do any of these things cause I know its bullshit.
You may already know, but the word is Safetiness.
"Appearance of safety rather than actual safety."
I hear you so loud and clear. I stand by my principles and held to my values doing handyman jobs here for 20 plus years. The same with the CFC regulations, I followed them to the letter, while many of so called contractors are not doing the same. They were registered here and that was is a joke. Keep your high standard so I can keep watching one of my RUclips Hero's!!!! Thanks for venting, it shows you really CARE!
Keep doing great work Eric!!! Continue to be the best example of excellence and integrity to the world. Our Lord Jesus will be so proud of you.
it got so bad in Oklahoma, the whole "Safety Inspection" system has been dismantled and tossed in the garbage bin.... Have a nice day Eric, enjoy your channel a lot.
Never apologize for speaking the truth.
Sometimes you just have to go outside and blow off some steam, and walk back in your office and realize that you're better than the people that are just looking for an easy way out . Just take one day at a time someone will cross your path and give you reason to keep on going
Hanging around bad people and trying to be a good one is most difficult.
YOURE THE BEST ERIC! Your channel is one of my faves for sure! You bring so much humor all while teaching. Keep them coming!!
There are a few of us who really appreciate all that you do. Keep up the good work and serenity prayer. More free tip Fridays. Your channel is in my top tier of all channels. Don't let the dumb trolls get to you, they probably aren't even real! And lastly, you're just plain awesome!
I don't live in a state that requires inspections. But I find it amazing how some shops can let a vehicle leave like that!!! Keep doing what you do Eric!! Awesome content
But they will tell your wife needs new tires and they can't let her leave the shop because it's a "safety" issue. BTW the tires have less than 40k on a set of 90k Michelin's.
@@jamescostello6529bad alignment, flat spots, etc. All kinds of damage can happen that isn’t time or mileage related.
Now think about the kind of crap you’re sharing a road with in a non inspection state.
This is just another case of the government "fixing" a problem.
@@zach.tempone
I'm not going to be involved in a wreck because someone had a mechanical failure, though.
It's going to be because someone was looking at their phone, or using drugs or alcohol, or driving too fast, or just generally being stupid.
For all the good repair wisdom and lighthearted lessons, we owe it to you to hear you out!
60 years ago, while living in The People's Republic of New York, an inspection cost $3.00 plus any repairs. I knew of a shop that would give nearly anyone a sticker for $50, forget the actual inspection. Far as I know, he got away with it. I'm glad to see you are maintaining your high standards. Be safe, be blessed!
Eric, the fact you haven't moved out of NY is a miracle frankly. IF they're gonna do that, they're gonna do all sorts of other shady crap.
Eric, Come to Iowa. You are Hawkeye looking for a place to Happen.
many of us have little to no inspections/testing at all... you may be driving beside/behind/in front of something with no or hardly working brakes, tires ready to blow, gas leaking, making oil slicks, etc. put your smartphone, makeup, shaver and other idiots devices down, then pay attention to the roadways and all the surroundings.. it may save your life or others 😏
When I lived in Florida back in the day, they required you to get a inspection every 6 months, yup thats right 2 every year. Then they went to zero inspections a year which I found to be a tad bit concerning to say the least lol
@@imacgst27 Florida, home of the red light runners and left turn in front of traffic jumpers. in left turn lane and no left turn signal, lights change and multiple flog it going left in front of oncoming traffic, whom has the right of way.
it's always been that way there.
@@throttlebottle5906
The crap I used to see in Ohio.
It looked like it was used in a derby and then they'd slap wooden bumpers and universal trailer lights on for the busted lights it had 😂
That is the reason inspections are a joke. The state does not have inspections to make the road safer, they have them to make money, from the inspector and the customer. I am so glad I don't live in a state that has them. Eric I think dealing with the policies of NY is what turned your hair gray. 😁
I live in NJ and our vehicle inspections are free...
@@Happyfacehotwheels so if you have a check engine light on they will let you keep registering the vehicle ?
@@danh2134 It doesn't affect the registration. If your check engine light is on, it will fail inspection and you get a rejected sticker good for 30 days. So you can still drive it for 30 days without getting a ticket intill you to get it fixed. Don't get it inspected if the money light is on. You can pay a shop like Eric's S.M.A. to fix and then inspect the vehicle in one stop.
@@Happyfacehotwheels after 30 days then what ? Are you saying you can keep failing forever and just keep getting 30 day temporary tags?
@@danh2134 No. Only 30 days, after that, the police can pull you over and give you a ticket, "failure to make repairs," and for the expired sticker. Now, if the vehicle is a death trap, the police might make you get it towed, or maybe they'll impound it.
Now, if the check engine light is on and you don't have the money to get it fixed, instead of going to the inspection station to get a rejected sticker, you can buy a real sticker for around $80 from Facebook, Craigslist or any place that sells things.
Also, NJ's inspection is good for 2 years.
I see this all the time. I note it on the repair order, and verbally inform the customer of my findings. Sometimes it's hard to impress upon them, just how dangerous their car really is.
I feel you. I use to work at a repair shop that repaired trucks and coaches. A coach came in that had just had an inspection done and they brought it to us to repair a minor defect, small engine oil leak, that was all there was on the report.
I put the coach up on hoists, walked under to look at the oil leak, found the broken shock absorbers, worn brake shoes, cracks in the air bags and worn/broken bushes before I could even find the oil leak. I lowered it back on the ground and refused to work on it as it was a death trap. The boss ripped up me and told me to repair what’s on the list. I refused as it was my signature going on the report not his. I took my tools home that arvo and didn’t look back.
You're the Man Mark! You put your convictions before dollars. Something you can always look back on with pride. You may have saved someone's life!
I feel the pain. State inspections are a blessing and a pain. For some reason the "gas cap tester" never passes inspection when the inspector shows up. And in Texas we have to have a designated "inspection" stall, nothing else can go there. When the DOT inspector shows up there's always an engine getting pulled.
Meanwhile there are shops pencil whipping inspections for brake lights on, missing wiper blades, and deleted cats.
UGH the whole program is 2face
I learned long ago that we NEED to preserve our own integrity and not to look outside myself for ratification. I watch your videos because you stay faithful to yourself (while teaching me stuff) and I believe you. The world will always disappoint if you're looking for justice, but if we give up it only gets worse. Stay true.
Here is the gig, when the owner of said Honda gets in an accident and the lawyers get involved, the said owner of the Honda will know nothing about it and try to pin this on the repair shops. Keep videoing your repairs, it's a great "CYA"!
To add to your scenario: every shop that touched the car could possibly become involved.
@@samtruglio6544 Of course, the attorney's job is to get the person with the deepest easiest pockets, cause they are for the people after all...
If it weren't for double standards, the government wouldn't have any standards at all.
Beautifully said. Government is the definition of hypocrisy in my opinion.
Has nothing to do with the government on this one. Shop is irresponsible.
@@wallebo Do you have an alternative?
@@miguelservetus9534That is not my job. Any alternative, however, that I have would be meaningless because I have no power to make change.
@@wallebo I use to feel the same. Worked in a really harmful industry in a high responsibility, low power role.
Recently disabled/retired. Began to bother my elected officials. Got some changes made.
Worth a try.
Good luck.
Thanks for 'doing the next right thing' and passing it on to your kids!
I've only encountered the opposite problem: failing a car because there is a tiny bit of oil on the shock or a few cracks in a bushing that works just fine.
I love your video's.
Advice - 80 / 20 rule
- Ya will please 80% of the viewers, 20% will not be pleased
- 80% of the unpleased viewers will just move on to the next channel, 20% of the unpleased viewers will state there case.
- 80% of the pleased viewers will just move on to the next channel, 20% of the pleased viewers will state there case.
Ya try to please them all, ya please no one. NEVER let that 20% get ya down.
That person must have hit a really big bump at 90mph within the last 500 miles
SCREW EVERYBODY, I DO ME, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID. I'm also to old too give a shit anymore.
I live in a different country, we used to have state managed shops only to do the inspections, everything was good back then, now days anyone can get a license to do the inspections and sign off a vehicle. Recently a shop near my location got busted, they basically drove the car through their garage and out the other side then you got a paper, well they got majorly busted, owner went to jail, but it's far from the only place doing it :/
Keep doing exactly as you do for decades dear Eric, we love you just for your great, honest and wonderful attitude.
Several years ago I lived in Texas. I was at my brother's welding shop at lunch to chat. I mentioned I was going to get an inspection later and one of the workers said he could handle it. I walked over to his car, he opened his glove box, and offered to sell me an official looking inspection sticker for $20. I said no thanks and went to get a real inspection.
@denniswright8949 : That sorta thing won't work in New York State anymore. Their newer inspection system (it has been out for quite a good many years now) ties each uniquely numbered state inspection sticker directly to your vehicle's VIN and license plate.
Sounds like either TX wasn't doing that yet, or "glovebox guy" was selling counterfeit stickers, which will really land you in a world of crap (forgery, etc) WHEN, not if, you get caught.
Smart on you for doing the right thing.
WOW! Thank you for being a mechanic with integrity.
This, unfortunately, might be my favorite video of yours. Only due to passion of your craft and being a stand up human being that I'd love to share a beverage with!
I feel your pain. That is why I quit working on other people's cars, the stress was killing me!
I feel your pain. Similar stuff goes on here in Ontario, though they really tightened up the rules on an inspection, there are still shops that do what we call “blind inspections”. I have seen guys get safeties from a shop an hour away without the vehicle ever being there.
We had a customer buy a truck with safety, then brought it to us, his regular shop to look over the truck. We found a bunch of stuff wrong, he went back to the shop that did the safety and they met with the MTO. The guy had to fix everything for free, and the MTO told him if anything like this happened again he would lose his license. The thing is you or I wouldn’t sleep at night if were giving safeties out for potentially dangerous cars, many don’t have an issue with it.
Just across the border in Quebec, a car can go 30 years with 20 owners and never need an inspection, but if you buy a car from out of province, watch out. They have designated inspection shops and very limited as to how many there are in an area, so you have little choice of where to go. They always try to find something - if nothing is really wrong, they will fail it for a slightly cracked bushing, a slightly loose door bushing or headlight adjustment etc. They told my brother in law who has been a mechanic for his whole life “if I don’t find something wrong, they will thing I am not doing my job”. Wrong! If there is nothing wrong with the car, there is nothing wrong.
Eric, I think there is probably not much wrong in theory with your NYS inspections, or ours in Ontario or even Quebec, its the individual shops that are the problem.
The reason why you got so many subscribers is that you do what is right - and not copy what others do. Respect to you for that - even though it comes with a ton of frustration!
I see this a lot too. Drives me crazy. Single mom buys a vehicle from a car lot and rear seats ready to fall through the floor, but the seats are nice and clean and the paint is shiny and the AC will blow cold for a month till it leaks out.
Keep doing the right thing!! Keep your integrity! That's why I continue to watch your chanel!!
You are right: People just want the sticker! TX just did away with the annual safety inspection, no one cares if the car is safe or not! Keep doing what you are doing, tell it like it is!
As a safety inspector you should have the ability to revoke the passing inspection in cases like this where the mileage is low and the defects are obviously not “new”
I agree but can you imagine how mad people would be? Lol
@@royalwins2030 usually they are mad at the wrong people. Last thing you wanna do is hit a pothole and your vehicle literally falls apart
If I were in Eric's shoes I would say: "These are the dangerous things that you have to get fixed - you have a moral responsibility to other people who drive in this car, and to other road users, to keep the car safe. I can't make you get these repairs done, but if you don't, then I never want to see you or this car in my shop again; because I won't be seen to be condoning that conduct."
I expect Eric would not go bankrupt - there are probably enough people around Avoca to provide work to keep him fully occupied.
He would be in a fight every day. Back in Philly in the 70’s there were shops where you would pull your car in, step on the brakes, turn on the headlights, and blow the horn. Without even getting out of the vehicle. Then they would slap the sticker on. They would have cars lined up for a block waiting for “inspection”. I can’t imagine driving a car in that condition.
The customer didn’t ask for a safety inspection. He only asked to have the check engine light fixed.
Most people don’t want to know what’s wrong with their cars, just drop that oil and out ya go. My mindset always was if a customer doesn’t want to do the work, then that’s on them: but if there’s defects, I’ll be letting them know about it, regardless of what their situation might me. Keep up the good work Eric👍
Most people don't know enough about cars to understand what's wrong with their car. They also don't know the right questions to ask because of their limited knowledge. Even if they ask the right questions, the crooked shops would give them some bogus answer that the customer couldn't understand or be able to verify on the spot.
I always wrote the problems of the car on the work order- A SAFETY PROBLEM not fixed could end up with litigation against the shop.CYA
You can't make a living sitting in court paying for your counsel to defend yourself
Eric, I feel your pain. 30 years as a NY dealership service manager. My favorite was the undercover cars brought in for inspections. Easy to spot with the excessive scraper marks in the registration sticker. They were usually missing the cat conv. You are bringing back some of the bad memories. 10 years retired now.
You sir are a true honest gentleman and respectful. Love your videos and thank you for being such a honest person
We don’t have any inspections here but as you say it really doesn’t matter because of the shit work other shops do. I feel your frustration! Thanks Eric!!!
It a tough job being honest but keep doing the right thing Eric 😊
I've lived in Fl for 40yrs now. I was so happy when they dropped the state inspection here back in the 80's.
Honesty, integrity, and pride are hard to come by nowadays. You have all three. You are honest with everyone, you stand behind your work, and you take pride in your work. That is why you are always busy. Keep it up.
The shadyness is strong with these officials.
You continue being true thru and thru. Eventually, these shady businesses and their practices will fall by the wayside.
Geez Louise!!
Must of been a rough 516 miles
Was used to replicate Duke's of Hazard jumps apparently .
OMG. It's scary to think these cars are on the road driving next to us or our families. Dangerous game that person is playing.
You should see the shit on the road in Arkansas. They did away with vehicle safety inspections 25 years ago, and there are some real gems on the road here. No emissions inspections either. Being a shop owner, I see some things that scare me, knowing these vehicles are on the same highway I am.
In Illinois they only care if your emissions work in some areas, other than than pay your $151 extortion fee and go away.
In Ohio everyday
I work on cars in NYC and it’s even worse here. Lots of competition among shops. If you fail a car they will simply go to someone who will pass it. I keep an eye on my own car. I am worried about my safety and my family and that’s all I can do
@dean9498 but on the flip side, a lot of people can't go out and afford $800/mo payments on a new car. if you forced me to get rid of the car I own outright at that point I am screwed and would no longer have a car to drive, thus costing me the meager job I have as I wouldn't be able to get there. which then would cost be a home which then you would be bitching cause id be living in a tent down the road from you cause you "don't like the trashy homeless"
Quite frank IMO these inspection things are honestly nothing more then to punish poor people.
Stay the way you are, it always pissed me off when the government goes after people who they know they can collect the money from, karma will get them. Love your channel
Eric, I truly feel your frustration! I'm a dangerous goods cargo tank inspector, inspecting oil and fuel tankers here in Alberta, Canada. Our shop gets audited and they will fine us for an error in our paperwork. Meanwhile, we have the mobile "inspectors" running around, passing anything that resembles a tank-shaped object, if it's on a semblance of a chassis, preferably with at least a couple tires that hold air, and maybe one or two of the tank valves actually working. THEY don't get audited, because they are mobile, and never at their fixed address during business hours...fricking ridiculous, and our families are out there with these "inspected" tankers, cars, pickups, etc...
Believe me that it happens in the UK as well. I got a car MOTd or inspected and when I drove it home the rear wheels were binding that much you could have lit a cigarette off the hubs. . And all the wheel nuts were loose ! I have never been back. Like yourself who is a genuine mechanic who loves your work, there must be thousands of honest people who get so fed up of cowboys in the industry.
Keep the videos coming Eric.
It's a racket too because the state is the one dissolving people's cars every winter.
It is the lawyers who would sue everyone even the state, if their client drove too fast in the snow and crashed. everyone can't drive slowly or take a day off if it snows because they are essential.
Eric your a great guy who cares and is honest. Your a rare man in today's car world.
The whole thing is a State money grab… The “Standards” mean nothing to the State people supposedly running the scam. Kudos to you for upholding the quality and integrity of your shop👍
no, it is a legit attempt to have safe cars on the road. obviously flawed sometimes. and yes, this is an honest mechanic. when you find one, never need to go anywhere else.
If it was legitimate than they would make a way for the scam shops to be held accountable. But they don't. This has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with money for the state.
There are people in government where a bottle of whisky at Christmas will fix any problems for the year.
@@philpick " ... a way for the scam shops to be held accountable." There is a way, albeit somewhat flawed; the customer has to turn the scam shop in. Eric addressed this issue in a previous video wherein he discused the state inspection process. Shops are barred from turning in other shops as a way to prevent the crooked or unprofessional shops from submittng false reports on the good shops to reduce or eliminate competition by having them constatnly hasseled by the state inspection gestapo.
@@charlesfranks1902 Same thing in the military.. but it’s usually a 5 pound can of coffee or cigars from a country that shall remain unnamed😉
Happens everywhere. I bought a car that was safety inspected in Indiana and passed then transferred to a dealership in Illinois right after and it was safety inspected again. Passed in both states, so I bought it based on the body and interior and the fact it only had 72,000 miles on it. Crawled underneath it the first weekend after I bought it and the front right lower control arm mount was almost completely rusted away and was hanging on by the top nut and a bit of rusty metal. Had to replace the front subframe before i could drive it. Good thing I'm handy with a wrench. Won't make the same mistake twice!
Sad but true. The most important safety feature is the brake system. When our state was doing safety inspections the loudest gripes were brakes, tires and window tinting. My favorite excuse was: it passed last year. I applaud you for keeping your integrity.
The horror of your sign lettering! An acquaintance of mine had a small pew-pew store which he'd run for over 40 years and never had any problems with his paperwork. He was recently audited by authorities and lost his licence and had to permanently close his business. His "violation" was using 08 instead of August on an official form.
No abbreviations allowed.
For the 3 years I had my license, I got jigged for the customer abbreviating the city, instead of completely spelling it out. Funny thing was, that the same customer was at my house during the audit, and he produced his drivers license, with the same abbreviation used by the state on the state issued ID.
President Ronald Reagan said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
I’ll take “Things that Actually Happened” for $100, Alex
@@truthsmilesFFL revocations have increased 500% since 2021 as part of ATFs “zero tolerance” policy. There are multiple lawsuits ongoing over revocations for minor clerical errors exactly like this.
@@jcnikoley Bet that's the one. If you are born in DC, you have to write in the place of birth field "Washington, District of Columbia". The space to write it is just about big enough for "Washington".
@@jessicav2031 Unfortunately, it can be easily be confused with the state of Washington, not just Washington DC.
The inspection in Missouri is a joke too. Pretty sure its a joke everywhere
This is interesting mate , in New Zealand every car 🚗 on the road has to have a warrant of fitness . A garage that gives the warrant must insect the car and make sure it passes it’s warrant. There is a list that is worked off . Covering things like types, emissions,structural ,and many other things . The garages macanics are trained for this and if a car has a accident or gets pulled up by the police and it doesn’t pass this. Warrant of Fitness the garage losses it’s license to give out warrants and is fined . If I drive down the road in a unwarranted vehicle 🚗 and have a accident it’s my fault , even if it wasn’t it still. My fault for having a unwarranted car on the road and I am liable for costs of said accident. I think it’s a good system although I don’t have any experience of another one .
It's one thing if the customer wants to drive an unsafe car, I feel more for the other drivers or pedestrians on the road who may suffer because of that wreck being on the road. Thanks for your honesty Eric.
I forgot to say - lovely to see your beautiful wife in the last few videos, you really ought to involve her more - that smile is heart warming, she's lovely! A perfect complent to Mr Grumpy Cat!
you are totally right. id rather have no inspection. its the same outcome
Imagine what’s wrong with cars on the road in Illinois where we have no inspections at all. 🥴 Maintaining integrity is hard when everyone around you doesn’t, kudos to you Eric.
I'm glad we don't have those inspections for one reason: The State of Illinois has demonstrated their inability to run State agencies so many times to me that giving them another thing to screw up is frightening.
Personally I'm glad (if somewhat surprised) that they don't. The state of Illinois is only interested in taking more money from the taxpayers. If they gave a single shit about public safety, there would be martial law in Chicago.
I'm glad I live in a state that doesn't do vehicle inspections at all. It may seem kind of backwards, but for one we don't have rust issues down here in Alabama. I've been working on vehicles for about 3 years now, and the crappiest hoopties that come into my shop, aren't that bad. They may come in with the engine bay brutalized, and the codes cleared out 25 miles ago, no emissions equipment left to speak of, but I don't let anything leave my shop that would be unsafe on the road. My customers know this, and they all seem to respect that.
Less government regulation and bureaucracy = happier life.
I would accept regulations better if they actually worked.
They are just a tax grab.
@@kellybreen5526 i call the forced inspection crap nothing more then a poor people punishment, cause who does it hurt the most? the poor.
@@Dratchev241 You are bang on the money there sir!
Eric,
Much respect for your honesty and integrity.
In MA they _video_ the entire inspection. But tons of inspection shops still get away with this type of thing because the MA RMV does not _review_ the video unless there is an issue that comes up later and it can be proven that the inspection was negligent/fraudulent.
SMA#1
Paul (in MA)
So sad how some places operate. Thank you for being an honest fair business owner. Love all your informative videos
Remember rule #1: The government doesn’t give a damn about you. This explains a lot of things including the vehicle inspection laws. It’s just a revenue generator for the state and they don’t give a crap about the safety of the vehicles or the people driving them or the people sharing the roads with them.
It's all about fines and "cost recovery"
So you’re number one rule effects life on earth. And allows you to rationalize anything you want anytime you want.
Because you think people will maintain their cars to complete safety by themselves. You don’t even know what a New York State inspection cost or who gets the money.
@@neilkurzman4907your a liberal
@@neilkurzman4907 You are actually defending this?? YOU are what's wrong with America.
@@alvon911
Defending that the government follow its own rules? Yes.
The fact that in New York State, the shop keeps most of the money.
The guy with the video can tell you exactly what percentage of the money he gets to keep.
But instead, we got a car that reportedly had 500 miles in the past 12 months and doesn’t pass inspection, and he believes it didn’t pass inspection the last time it was tested.
He could also tell you that occasionally, New York State bring a failing car to your shop and see if they can give you 100 bucks to buy a sticker.
As far as the guy selling fake stickers, it’s all fun and games until you get caught. That goes for any crime. Nothing special about this one.
They’re getting rid of state inspections altogether in TX in the next couple of years. They’re pretty much a joke here though. Lights and horn is all that I’ve ever had checked. Out of nowhere, last time I went in, my horn wouldn’t work for some reason. Guy said, “I heard it, if you did.” 😂
Oklahoma did long ago
So now anyone can drive any pile of junk they want on the roads and kill thousands more. Hey......why not shoot off a few rounds into the air while you're at it?
I have a NYS inspection license too. I feel your frustration. DMV inspectors have to justify their existence. Writing you up for your sign is like shooting ducks in a barrel for the. Makes as much sense as someone receiving a ticket on the first of the month for an inspection one day expired. I think it would be worse if inspections were in the hands of a state run facility. The PRNY runs everything soooo well.
And what would be MORE infuriating is if the vehicle owner was on their way TO get the vehicle inspected and get their sticker renewed!
Keep it up, honesty & integrity is everything. I'd hope the shop that issued that gets audited, everyone deserves to have safe vehicles around them when driving, imagine that was your family's car & had no idea.
As an MOT inspector over here in rainy Wales over the pond, I see that crap all the time. I inspect the vehicles according to VOSA standards and pass or fail accordingly. Customer super happy when they get a pass, yet I get a bad rap when the car fails inspection. You are bang on when you say the customer doesn’t care all they want is a pass no matter what the condition. I get a bad rep because I inspect correctly, yet Joe Bloggs Autoes ( name made up) is the hero cos gives out tickets to rolling pieces of crap that belong in the crusher!! Rant over. Loving your videos you tell it how it is and don’t gloss over the crap. Only found you by chance about a month ago. And watch your vids every day now. Looking forward to your next rant.😊
No criticism from me. I appreciate you doing what you can to keep these cars off the road. That keeps my family & everyone's safe on the road. Thanks Doc O.