An Act To Reduce Conflicts of Interest in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Program
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0780
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: KUMIEGA, BLACK, HARLOW, RUSSELL
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1751, 29-A MRSA §1769

Legislative Document 
No. 780 
H.P. 531 
House of Representatives, February 28, 2013 
An Act To Reduce Conflicts of Interest in the Motor Vehicle 
Inspection Program 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KUMIEGA of Deer Isle. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BLACK of Wilton, HARLOW of Portland, RUSSELL of 
Portland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §1751, sub-§3-A, ¶¶A to C, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
234, §2, are amended to read: 
A.  For inspections performed under subsection 2, the fee may not be more than 
$12.50 $20; 
B.  For inspections of pre-1996 model vehicles performed under subsection 2-A, the 
fee may not be more than $15.50 $23; and 
C.  For inspections of 1996 and subsequent model vehicles performed under 
subsection 2-A, the fee may not be more than $18.50 $26. 
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1769, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3.  Cost-benefit analysis of rules.  The Chief of the State Police, prior to the 
adoption of any rule governing the motor vehicle inspection program, shall conduct an 
analysis, as described in Title 5, section 8063-A, of the benefits and costs of the proposed 
rule to evaluate the effects of the rule, including but not limited to additional costs to 
motorists and public safety improvements, on the distribution of benefits and costs for 
specific groups and on the overall economic welfare of the State.  The Chief of the State 
Police may not adopt a proposed rule if upon completion of the cost-benefit analysis the 
Chief of the State Police determines that the cost of the proposed rule is greater than the 
benefit of the proposed rule. 
Sec. 3.  Chief of State Police to amend rules governing inspection station 
licensee.  The Chief of the State Police, as authorized by the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 29-A, section 1769, shall amend Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State 
Police rules governing the responsibilities of an inspection station licensee to prohibit an 
inspection station licensee from paying commissions to an inspection technician for 
additional sales resulting from a motor vehicle inspection.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill increases the maximum amount charged for vehicle inspections by $7.50.  
The bill also directs the Chief of the State Police to amend rules governing the 
responsibilities of an inspection station licensee to prohibit an inspection station licensee 
from paying commissions to an inspection technician for additional sales resulting from a 
motor vehicle inspection. 
The bill also requires the Chief of the State Police, prior to the adoption of a rule 
governing the motor vehicle inspection program, to weigh the additional costs to 
motorists against any public safety improvements from new inspection requirements and 
to not enact new rules unless the safety benefits outweigh the costs.