Inspections due on annual basis
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Inspections are a fact of life if you own a vehicle, ensuring your ride is in safe operating order and road-ready.
The cost for the annual inspection sticker required in Maine is $12.50 and can only be obtained at state licensed service stations.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
GENERAL REPAIRS, such as replacing a battery and testing antifreeze, often mean the difference between getting where you’re going in the winter or getting stranded in a parking lot or alongside the road in bad weather. Here, Jeff Curtis, an automotive technician at Mike Cowett’s Auto Body and Towing Service in Presque Isle, works under the hood, preparing a car for a safe winter driving season.
“They must be done on an annual basis. Drivers are given a 30-day grace period when their sticker comes due — they have 30 days from the time the old one runs out to get a new one put on. After that, if they’re caught without an up-to-date inspection, police can charge them accordingly,” said Mike Cowett, owner of Mike Cowett’s Auto Body and Towing Service, located on the Fort Road in Presque Isle.
“If a driver fails to display a current or valid inspection sticker, the fine is $133. If they’re found operating a defective motor vehicle, the fine is $137,” said Corporal Wayne Selfridge, Presque Isle Police Department.
If an officer determines the vehicle to be defective, the sticker is removed, with the operator then required to get the vehicle repaired before another sticker can be put on.
In all, technicians check 21 mechanical items on the vehicle, including: service brake, emergency/parking brake, windshield wipers, horn, rear view mirror, window glass, seatbelts, steering mechanism, suspension system, exhaust system, tires, headlights, tail lights, registration plate and rear plate lighting, directional lights (blinkers), rear reflector, body elements and sheet metal, splash guards (as required on trucks), catalytic converter and fuel neck restriction, gas cap pressure (if required) and on-board diagnostic (if required). The inspection also includes: verifying validity of registration, checking the vehicle serial number or vehicle identification number (VIN) against registration certificate, record odometer reading, record inspection on sticker receipt and remove old sticker and affix new sticker.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
REPLACING A HEADLIGHT is just one of the many repairs a driver might need in order for a vehicle to pass inspection. Here, Jerry Klein, an automotive technician at Mike Cowett’s Auto Body and Towing Service in Presque Isle, replaces a headlight on a truck brought in for repairs.
“By law, all inspection stations are required to prominently display this information where customers can see it,” Cowett said.
Cowett said tires and brakes are two of the most common problems he sees.
“Brakes are the most common problem causing a car not to pass. Brake lines corrode. Corrosion, due to winter driving conditions, cause brake and gas lines to wear. Rust is another problem. Rust holes in rocker panels and frames will prevent a vehicle from passing inspection,” said Cowett.
Terry Berube, owner of TA Service on Dyer Street in Presque Isle, agreed that brakes tend to be the item preventing vehicles from passing inspection.
“Brake jobs are usually the most costly item, so people tend to put off replacing them,” Berube said.
He said inspections can be time-consuming, depending on the extent of repairs needed.
“On average, an inspection takes about a half hour. It’s not a five-minute process,” he said.
Berube said inspections aren’t a big money maker for any garage. That’s why he decided last month to give a portion of the proceeds to the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
“What’s charged for an inspection doesn’t cover the cost of the mechanic doing it. So I decided instead of keeping the money, it would be nice to help the animal shelter. $10 of each inspection done in September went to the shelter, with the remainder paid to the state,” said Berube. “It’s not something I make a lot of money on — figured I may as well give the money away.”
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
TIRES AND BRAKES are two of the most important items checked on a vehicle during an annual inspection. Checking the balance of a tire before installation on an SUV is Todd Tompkins, automotive technician at TA Service in Presque Isle.
Berube said he hopes to do it again possibly in December.
“I raised a couple hundred for the shelter the first time. I’d like to raise even more next time around,” Berube said.
Berube said although inspections are inevitable, he’s seen more people putting off getting needed repairs and thus delaying getting their vehicles inspected.
“Everyone’s hurting. A lack of money is causing people to wait longer to get repairs done to get their vehicles inspected,” said Berube. “But it’s something all vehicle owners need done on an annual basis.”
For more information or to schedule an inspection appointment, call Cowett at 764-8009 or Berube at 768-3360.
For more information or to view the Maine vehicle inspection manual, visit: www.maine.gov/dps/msp/vehicles_inspections/motor_vehicle_inspections.html.
