An Act To Change the Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements To Extend the Time between Inspections
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0381
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: MIRAMANT, COOPER, BREEN, DIAMOND, DUTREMBLE, CRAFTS, DION, EVANGELOS, JORGENSEN, PIERCE
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1751

Legislative Document 
No. 381 
S.P. 149 
In Senate, February 12, 2015 
An Act To Change the Motor Vehicle Inspection Requirements To 
Extend the Time between Inspections 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator MIRAMANT of Knox. 
Cosponsored by Representative COOPER of Yarmouth and 
Senators: BREEN of Cumberland, DIAMOND of Cumberland, DUTREMBLE of York, 
Representatives: CRAFTS of Lisbon, DION of Portland, EVANGELOS of Friendship, 
JORGENSEN of Portland, PIERCE of Dresden. 
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, a A 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.