Used Cars: Dealer didnt inform us about failed inspection, emissions test, acura dealer

Question
My wife and I bought a used 2003 Honda Accord back in Aug/Sept timeframe of 2007 from a nearby Acura dealer.  Just yesterday, we get mail from the state of Texas informing us that the car FAILED it's emissions test over a year ago and that they don't have records of it passing since.  As long as we have had the vehicle, we haven't had it inspected which is actually a bit of a problem itself as it expired on 5/08...we just never noticed it.  Anyhow, so evidently the prior owner somehow was able to get an inspection sticker showing that it passed emissions but the state is still saying that it never did.  Isn't there some responsibility on the part of car dealers to do their own inspections to ensure that the used vehicles they sell can pass?  Or do they have no responsibility because the car came in with a sticker on it already...albeit a fake or illegal one?  Seems like to me, there should be some laws or regulations on the books holding dealers accountable.

Answer
This can be complicated to say who is at fault.I am going by 2007 rules, 2008 changed, "IF"-- the person who traded the car in to the dealer could of had the car inspected in  a county that required emission testing, when it failed they could have taken the car to another county that did not require emissions and used a address in that county and obtained a legal sticker. With the inspection being good, the dealer who sold you the car was not required to re-do an inspection or emission test on the car. When you sold a car in 2007 and registered with the state you had to report the inspection number to the state, the state would of found out then that you had a bad or stolen sticker on the car, the car model and year would of not matched.The last part of your question is yes there are new laws for 2008, every car sold by a dealer has to have entirely new license plates and every car has to have a new emission slip to register with state, there are no more counties without emissions, it's state wide. Now the dealers are accountable for what they sell. As far as your car is concerned you just take it and have it inspected like normal. Anymore pls let me know. Thanks.