Maine Could Soon End Vehicle Inspection Requirements

For nearly a century, Maine has required vehicles on the road to undergo an annual safety inspection.

According to the Maine Policy Institute, road inspections have been required since 1930.  During these inspections, mechanics check to make sure the vehicle's brakes, tires, steering systems, signal lights, headlights, and or equipment is in good working order.

While the regulation is meant to insure that the vehicles you encounter on the road are safe, the rule is also a revenue generator for the state.  Because of that, some people are not happy with the requirement.

In fact, lawmakers are once again discussing the abolishment of the requirement.

HP 220 - An Act to Repeal Certain Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements

According to WGME, Maine State Representative Ann Fredericks has sponsored HP 220, a bill that would drop the mandatory requirement for annual vehicle inspections in Maine.

The bill is co-sponsored by Senator Jeff Timberlake, of Androscoggin, Representative Ardell of Monticello, Representative Daigle of Fort Kent, Representative Dana of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Representative Guerrette of Caribou, Representative Lavigne of Berwick, and Representative Paul of Winterport.

A summary of the bill reads:

This bill repeals statutory provisions requiring inspections for certain motor vehicles 18 in the State. It repeals statutory provisions requiring inspections for motor vehicles 19 registered in the State, except that the provisions regarding inspection of commercial motor 20 vehicles, trailers and semitrailers

If passed and signed into law, this bill would make it so that the only vehicles required to have annual safety inspections are commercial vehicles and trailers.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

Proponents of the bill are concerned that it will allow unsafe vehicles on the road.  For example, if you are not required to spend $1,000+ to replace all four of your vehicle's tires on a regular basis, there is a greater chance that more people will be driving around with bald tires.  This could lead to vehicles sliding all over the place in a snowstorm.

The next step is for it to be presented to the Transportation Committee.