An Act to Modernize the State's Vehicle Inspection System by Requiring Inspections Biennially and Allowing for an Electronic Inspection Program
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0746
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: VITELLI, PLUECKER, JACKSON, STEWART, ANKELES, ARATA, DILL, FAULKINGHAM
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1751, 29-A MRSA §1751-A

Legislative Document
No. 746
S.P. 304
In Senate, February 16, 2023
An Act to Modernize the State's Vehicle Inspection System by 
Requiring Inspections Biennially and Allowing for an Electronic 
Inspection Program
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Representative PLUECKER of Warren and
Senators: President JACKSON of Aroostook, STEWART of Aroostook, Representatives: 
ANKELES of Brunswick, ARATA of New Gloucester, DILL of Old Town, FAULKINGHAM 
of Winter Harbor.
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 other year.  A person may have a motor vehicle inspected more frequently.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §1751-A is enacted to read:
§1751-A.  Electronic inspection program
The Chief of the State Police may make available, but may not require the use of, an 
electronic inspection program for the purpose of inspections performed under this chapter. 
For the purposes of this section, "electronic inspection program" means a program, 
designated by the Chief of the State Police by rule, that uses electronically generated data 
as part of an inspection and permits the creation and exchange of an electronic record for 
maintaining inspection information.
1.  Implementation.  The Chief of the State Police may contract with a private entity 
to implement an electronic inspection program.
2.  Phased approach.  The Chief of the State Police may develop by rule an approach 
to phase in the implementation of an electronic inspection program throughout the State.
3.  Fee.  The Chief of the State Police may designate by rule a fee that an inspection 
station must pay to the State for each inspection performed using an electronic inspection 
program. A fee required under this subsection may not be more than the cost to the State 
of using the program to perform an inspection.
4.  Rules.  The Chief of the State Police shall adopt rules to implement this section. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to Maine's motor vehicle inspection program. 
1.  It changes the annual vehicle inspection requirement to an inspection every other 
year. 
2.  It allows the Chief of the State Police to make available, but does not authorize the 
chief to require the use of, an electronic inspection program for the purpose of performing 
motor vehicle inspections.
3.  It defines "electronic inspection program" as a program that uses electronically 
generated data as part of an inspection and permits the creation and exchange of an 
electronic record for maintaining inspection information.