This was what I came here to find out - what is the question. The DC gov't is well-known to be a mess. Is that the question? Or is it why there was nobody in line at this station? I had a VERY old car when I lived in DC, and it had to pass inspection.
I believe it's called the "They-Don't-Pay-Me-Enough-To-Give-A-F**k" Syndrome. Similar in concept to the proliferation of US customer service phone centers in Mongolia. Some other possible reasons: (1) Your vehicle was recognized as having been used as a hearse; (2) You were mistaken for a notoriously volatile gang leader; (3) You had repairs or tests done previously by your mechanic which somehow made it into the DC DMV database and qualified you for a two-year waiver; (4) You were the lucky beneficiary of "DC DMV Inspection Day," always celebrated each year on March 26th, during which any passenger vehicle with more than two wheels and not pushed in, is perfunctorily inspected or (5) Yours was the 100,000th 2008 Civic inspected.
According to https://dmv.dc.gov/service/pass-dc-dmv-vehicle-inspection, it sounds like they just check to make sure your gas cap is tight and the Check Engine Light isn't on. It doesn't appear that they are interested in anything except emissions.
1. Your car is registered as a/n Historical Vehicle.
2. You were eligible to receive a waiver from emission inspection for 2 years because your vehicle failed emission inspection and you spent $1,044.00 or more in emission-related repairs…
I do not know when it started, but computers in cars have all the information they need for an inspection and they can read that data in a media called V2V. That waving in the first minute may have done it. Or your car was just too old. I had my car inspected many years ago, and they were quite good and slapped my head light to get it to work properly.
This happened to my sister-in-law when she was a teenager driving back from college. She stopped at a pay phone fairly late at night, called her dad, and told him the car was making a funny noise. He must have decided she was being a silly girl about it all, and told her to turn the radio up. Two miles later, the rear axle seized.
This is the same sister-in-law who had a car burn to the ground on her. The family traditionally has bad luck with cars.
Cars older than 15 years like yours are "historic" and not tested.
Gene, you gave us everything we need to answer the question, but you didn't give us the question.
This was what I came here to find out - what is the question. The DC gov't is well-known to be a mess. Is that the question? Or is it why there was nobody in line at this station? I had a VERY old car when I lived in DC, and it had to pass inspection.
I believe it's called the "They-Don't-Pay-Me-Enough-To-Give-A-F**k" Syndrome. Similar in concept to the proliferation of US customer service phone centers in Mongolia. Some other possible reasons: (1) Your vehicle was recognized as having been used as a hearse; (2) You were mistaken for a notoriously volatile gang leader; (3) You had repairs or tests done previously by your mechanic which somehow made it into the DC DMV database and qualified you for a two-year waiver; (4) You were the lucky beneficiary of "DC DMV Inspection Day," always celebrated each year on March 26th, during which any passenger vehicle with more than two wheels and not pushed in, is perfunctorily inspected or (5) Yours was the 100,000th 2008 Civic inspected.
According to https://dmv.dc.gov/service/pass-dc-dmv-vehicle-inspection, it sounds like they just check to make sure your gas cap is tight and the Check Engine Light isn't on. It doesn't appear that they are interested in anything except emissions.
"Inspecto Jalopycus"
I assume Gene wants to know the spell the inspector chanted when waving the wand about.
Either:
1. Your car is registered as a/n Historical Vehicle.
2. You were eligible to receive a waiver from emission inspection for 2 years because your vehicle failed emission inspection and you spent $1,044.00 or more in emission-related repairs…
[dmv.dc.gov/es/service/inspection-exemptions-and-waivers] OR
3. You sneaked in just under the wire before the DMV closed for the long weekend and they waved you through, out of the kindness of their hearts.
And Gene, can you gift us the article you wrote? I refuse to even create an account with WaPo at this time. Still aggrieved.
I do not know when it started, but computers in cars have all the information they need for an inspection and they can read that data in a media called V2V. That waving in the first minute may have done it. Or your car was just too old. I had my car inspected many years ago, and they were quite good and slapped my head light to get it to work properly.
???
Well, I did once pour the chicken stock down the drain, saving the bones and vegetables in the colander. I suspect I'm not alone.
This happened to my sister-in-law when she was a teenager driving back from college. She stopped at a pay phone fairly late at night, called her dad, and told him the car was making a funny noise. He must have decided she was being a silly girl about it all, and told her to turn the radio up. Two miles later, the rear axle seized.
This is the same sister-in-law who had a car burn to the ground on her. The family traditionally has bad luck with cars.