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An Act To Change the Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements To Extend the Time between Inspections
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1751, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
1. Inspection required.   Except as provided in this chapter or section 2307, subsection 1, a motor vehicle required to be registered in this State must have an annual inspection every 2 years. A person may have a motor vehicle inspected more frequently.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1751, sub-§1-A  is enacted to read:
 
1-A.  Exception; new motor vehicles.     Notwithstanding subsection 1, a new motor vehicle that has had an inspection under this section is not required to have another inspection until 4 years from the last day of the month in which it was initially registered. For purposes of this subsection, "new motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle that has not been previously titled and registered and does not include a commercial motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1751, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 786, §1, is amended to read:
 
2-A. Enhanced inspection.  Beginning January 1, 1999, aA motor vehicle that is required to be registered in Cumberland County and that is subject to inspection pursuant to subsection 1 must have an annual enhanced inspection every 2 years. The following equipment is subject to inspection:
 
A. Equipment subject to inspection pursuant to subsection 2;
 
B. The fuel tank cap on 1974 and subsequent models of gasoline-powered vehicles; and
 
C. The on-board diagnostic system on 1996 and subsequent models.
 
A motor vehicle that is not required to be registered in Cumberland County may have an enhanced inspection under this subsection.
 
SUMMARY
This bill changes the annual inspection requirement for motor vehicles, except for commercial vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, to a biennial inspection requirement. The bill provides that a new motor vehicle that has had an inspection is not required to have another inspection until 4 years from the last day of the month in which it was initially registered. The bill provides that a new motor vehicle does not include a commercial motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer. The bill also changes the annual enhanced inspection requirement for vehicles registered in Cumberland County in a similar manner.