By Gary W. Crafton

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- Missouri requires owners of vehicles registered in the state to have their vehicles inspected every two years. The purpose is to promote safety on the highways.

If this is true, then why are federal government vehicles exempted from this law? Why did Missouri decide to go to a two-year inspection instead of every year? Why is it every time a vehicle is sold, the new owner has to have it re-inspected, even though it has a current safety inspection?

Could the answer to these questions be revenue, rather than safety?

A current safety inspection costs $12. The state receives $1.50 of this money. It is my understanding these fees will generate $9 million a year for the state.

If Missouri would drop its inspection law and add $3 to the license fee, it would double the state's revenue and reduce expenses to the citizens of Missouri by $9 each time a license is purchased. That would increase the state's revenue to $18 million a year and free up several state highway patrolmen who are assigned to the duty of overseeing the inspections stations around the state.

This would mean more money for the state, less expense for Missouri motorists and less hassle for law-enforcement officers and citizens -- and vehicle safety would not be compromised.

I have heard several stories from other people regarding Missouri's safety inspection law. One in particular raises the question: Are we being discriminated against by the state?

I was told about a hard-working, taxpaying young man who had to miss a half-day of work to have his vehicle inspected in order to purchase a license.

This young man earns $18 an hour. Missing four hours of work and paying $12 for the inspection cost him $84. The state earned $1.50 for making one more person jump through the hoops of bureaucracy like a trained dog at a circus sideshow.

Here is where the question of discrimination comes in. While Missouri citizens, like this young man, suffer the financial losses and the loss of liberty to drive in the state, there are nine states bordering Missouri whose citizens are allowed to cross state lines on a daily basis without a Missouri vehicle inspection.

These out-of-state vehicles are no safer than Missouri vehicles, but they are allowed to operate on the busiest city streets in Missouri every day.

I feel these out-of-state vehicles should be allowed to operate in Missouri, but I think Missouri citizens should be given the same right to drive on this state's highways as out-of-state motorists without the expense and hassle the state has imposed on us since 1968.

I strongly encourage every Missouri citizen to call, write or e-mail your state senators and representatives with your opinion of this law.

Gary W. Crafton owns Crafton Auto Parts in Van Buren, Mo.