Number of Vehicles Failing Inspection in North Carolina Triples

A report from the Division of Motor Vehicles has found that the number of vehicles filing safety inspections in North Carolina tripled last year.

DMV Commissioner Mike Robertson told The Charlotte Observer that he thinks the increase happened because his agency began cracking down on garages that pass vehicles shortly after they fail at another shop.

About 1.2 million vehicles failed inspection in 2011. That’s about 15 percent of the vehicles registered with the state. The DMV reported about 400,000 failed inspections in 2010.

The DMV said the most common reasons for failing inspection are faulty windshield wipers, stoplights, license plate lights and tires.

A spokesman for Gov. Beverly Perdue said she will review the report amid suggestions that state should abolish inspections or limit them to older vehicles.