Any city, village or incorporated town having a population of 40,000 or over, may, by ordinance, require the resident owner of a motor vehicle to submit, not more often than semi-annually, such motor vehicle for inspection to determine the sufficiency of the equipment required by “The Illinois Vehicle Code”, as now and hereafter amended, for safe operation on public highways and may provide testing stations, located at convenient places in each such city, village or incorporated town, for the inspection of such equipment. The testing stations may be constructed, maintained and operated from funds authorized to be appropriated for such purpose by Section 8-11-4. No fee shall be charged such owner for such inspection.