<good morning!
does any one in portland (or oregon, or anywhere) know if i can still pass
inspection (DEQ) with out my reverse lights>

Don't know about Oregon, but in Virginia it's bizarre. IF the vehicle doesn't have them, it's OK. I had this happen just last week getting my wifes car through Virginia state inspection. The car ahead of me was a clapped out '78 Chevy van. The van owner and I were talking while we were waiting in line, he told me he was worried because his back up lights didn't work and he hoped it was a fuse and that the inspector would replace it. When the inspector finished with the van, he told the guy it wasn't a fuse, but in Virginia vehicles are NOT required to have back up lights. He went on to say that he pulled the bulbs to the back up lights out of the tail lights, therefore his van now no longer HAD back up lights! I should mention that the van owner and inspector have known each other for 30 years, so it could also be a case of "who you know, or who you..."                           Jeff