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An Act To Reduce Motor Vehicle Inspection Costs
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 for all vehicles under 6 year old. Vehicles over 6 years old must be inspected annually. A person may have a motor vehicle inspected more frequently.
Sec. 2. 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 for all vehicles under 6 year old. Vehicles over 6 years old must be inspected annually. 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.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§10, as amended by PL 2003, c. 397, §7, is further amended to read:
 
10. Experimental motor vehicle.   A vehicle registered as an experimental motor vehicle pursuant to section 470. An experimental motor vehicle must meet minimum equipment standards pursuant to section 470, subsection 2; and
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§11, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 397, §8, is amended to read:
 
11. Low-speed vehicle.   A low-speed vehicle registered pursuant to section 501, subsection 11. A low-speed vehicle must be equipped in accordance with section 1925.; and
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §1752, sub-§12  is enacted to read:
 
12.  Vehicles with dealer plates.     A motor vehicle with an attached dealer plate pursuant to section 1002.
 
SUMMARY
This bill changes the annual inspection requirement for motor vehicles, except for commercial vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, to a biennial inspection requirement unless the motor vehicle is over 6 years old. This bill also changes the annual enhanced inspection requirement for vehicles registered in Cumberland County in a similar manner. It exempts motor vehicles with an attached dealer plate from inspection.