Annual vehicle safety inspections will no longer be required in Mississippi after July 1.

    Mississippi House Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden (R-Meridian) told members of the Council of Governments Monday that both the House and Senate approved to abolish the inspections and $5 purchase of a vehicle safety inspection sticker.

    Gov. Phil Bryant has said he will sign the measure.

    “We have abolished it,” Snowden said. “As of July 1, they are gone. There was a lot of discussion about it but with the improvement of today’s cars and trucks, we found it is no longer used in a uniform way.”

    Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie said his department hasn’t dealt with inspection sticker violations in some time.

    “We just can’t enforce it,” Sollie said. “Over the last three decades we’ve left that to the Highway Patrol.”

    Johnny Poulos, director of Public Affairs for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, said motorists whose vehicle inspection stickers expires before July 1 will need to purchase the sticker or face the possibility of having to pay a fine.

    “You can still get a citation for an expired sticker, at least until July 1,” Poulos said. “We realize most vehicles are safe, but the safety aspect will now fall on all drivers. All drivers will have to make sure their vehicles are properly equipped. We will still enforce the proper equipment laws, because it’s a matter of public safety.”

    Vehicle owners will still have to get a one-time inspection sticker if they have tinted windows.