An Act to Eliminate Certain Motor Vehicle Inspections
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1242
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: PERKINS, BABIN, BOYER, HAGGAN, WHITE
Amends: 10 MRSA §1471, 10 MRSA §1474, 10 MRSA §1478, 29-A MRSA §101, 29-A MRSA §458-B, 29-A MRSA §470, 29-A MRSA §517, 29-A MRSA §517-A, 29-A MRSA §525, 29-A MRSA §1751, 29-A MRSA §1752, 29-A MRSA §1753, 29-A MRSA §1754, 29-A MRSA §1756, 29-A MRSA §1757, 29-A MRSA §1758, 29-A MRSA §1762

Legislative Document
No. 1242
H.P. 790
House of Representatives, March 21, 2023
An Act to Eliminate Certain Motor Vehicle Inspections
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BABIN of Fort Fairfield, BOYER of Poland, HAGGAN of 
Hampden, WHITE of Guilford.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  10 MRSA §1471, sub-§6-A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §19 and 
affected by §153 and Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read:
6-A.  Reconstructable motor vehicle.  "Reconstructable motor vehicle" means a used 
motor vehicle that does not meet the inspection standards as set forth in Title 29-A, section 
1751, and that is sold, offered for sale or negotiated for sale to a person other than another 
dealer for the purpose of transportation after repair or rebuilding.
Sec. 2.  10 MRSA §1474, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §20 and 
affected by §153 and Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read:
1.  Warranty content.  A dealer warrants that the motor vehicle the dealer sells, 
negotiates the sale of, offers for sale or transfers to a person other than another dealer has 
been inspected in accordance with met the inspection standards in Title 29-A, section 1751, 
and with the rules promulgated under that section: 1756.
A.  That the motor vehicle is in the condition and meets the standards required by that 
law and the rules; or
B.  If the motor vehicle is a reconstructable motor vehicle, that the motor vehicle is in 
the condition specified in the disclosure statement affixed to the vehicle as required by 
subsection 4.
Sec. 3.  10 MRSA §1474, sub-§4, ¶G, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 429, §4, is 
amended to read:
G.  In addition to the penalties described in section 1477, any violation of subsection 
1, paragraph B, and this subsection shall be is a Class E crime.
Sec. 4.  10 MRSA §1478, sub-§4, ¶A, as amended by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §22 
and affected by §153 and Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read:
A.  In the event that a motor vehicle subject to inspection pursuant to Title 29-A, 
chapter 15 is submitted by a state agency to the state auction and does not possess a 
valid inspection certificate that has been issued within 180 days previous to the auction, 
the motor vehicle is subject to inspection pursuant to Title 29-A, chapter 15.  If the 
motor vehicle passes inspection, a current and valid inspection certificate must be 
affixed to the vehicle.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §101, sub-§47-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 216, §8, is 
further amended to read:
47-A.  Off-road vehicle.  "Off-road vehicle" means a motor vehicle that, because of 
the vehicle's design, configuration, original manufacture or original intended use, does not 
meet the inspection standards of chapter 15, former section 1751, the Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency's pollutant 
requirements or the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration's crash testing 
standards and that is not a moped or motorcycle.
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §458-B, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2011, c. 139, §3, is 
repealed.
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §470, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 125, §1, is amended 
to read:
2.  Inspection and equipment Equipment.  An experimental motor vehicle is exempt 
from inspection requirements under section 1751 but must comply with the equipment 
standards of chapter 17 to include at a minimum: body components, an exhaust system, 
reflectors, running gear, tires, a horn, lights, directional signals, brakes, a steering 
mechanism, windshield wipers, safety seat belts and rearview mirrors.
Sec. 8.  29-A MRSA §517, sub-§1-B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 490, Pt. D, §1, is 
amended to read:
1-B.  Low-speed vehicle.  A low-speed vehicle loaned by a dealer to a municipality is 
exempt from registration fees and is not subject to inspection pursuant to section 1752 but 
must be registered and must be in compliance with equipment provisions under section 
1925.
Sec. 9.  29-A MRSA §517-A, first ¶, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 116, §1, is amended 
to read:
Vehicles owned by an organized veterans group and used exclusively for ceremonial 
activities, including parades, are exempt from registration requirements and registration 
fees.  These vehicles must be inspected A vehicle for which inspections are required 
pursuant to chapter 15, subchapter I 1 must be inspected.  For purposes of this section, 
"organized veterans group" means the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars or an 
organized league of veterans of the United States Marine Corps.
Sec. 10.  29-A MRSA §525, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
4.  Exception.  A farm vehicle or farm truck formerly subject to limited inspection 
under former section 1752, subsections 2 and 4 is not required to have a fuel use 
identification decal.
Sec. 11.  29-A MRSA §1751, as amended by PL 2001, c. 234, §§1 and 2, is repealed.
Sec. 12.  29-A MRSA §1752, as amended by PL 2017, c. 165, §6, is repealed.
Sec. 13.  29-A MRSA §1753, sub-§4, ¶D, as amended by PL 2007, c. 348, §3, is 
further amended to read:
D.  A farm truck or a fish truck formerly exempted under former section 1752;
Sec. 14.  29-A MRSA §1754, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 191, §1, is 
repealed.
Sec. 15.  29-A MRSA §1756, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and 
affected by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 16.  29-A MRSA §1756, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 786, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. 17.  29-A MRSA §1756, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 786, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. 18.  29-A MRSA §1757, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected 
by Pt. B, §5, is repealed.
Sec. 19.  29-A MRSA §1758, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 167, §2 and 
affected by §§3 and 7, is further amended to read:
3.  Motorcycles; proof of inspection.  If a motorcycle meets the inspection standard, 
upon payment of applicable inspection fees pursuant to section 1751, subsection 3‑A a 
valid certificate of inspection and an official inspection sticker for the motorcycle must be 
issued.  The certificate of inspection must be kept with the registration certificate of the 
motorcycle and the official inspection sticker must be affixed to the rear of the motorcycle 
on the registration plate.
The official inspection sticker must be located so that it is completely and clearly visible 
from the rear of the motorcycle.  If the registration plate is reassigned to another motorcycle 
pursuant to section 463, subsection 4, the certificate of inspection and the official inspection 
sticker expire upon reassignment.
Sec. 20.  29-A MRSA §1762, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 786, §5, is 
repealed.
Sec. 21.  Additional changes to law.  The Department of the Secretary of State, 
Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 131st 
Legislature to make changes in the Maine Revised Statutes to fully abolish inspection 
requirements for motor vehicles registered in the State, with the exception of inspection 
requirements for commercial motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers under Title 29-A, 
section 1753; inspection of fire trucks under Title 29-A, section 1755; and inspection by 
dealers and transporters under Title 29-A, section 1754, which must be retained.
SUMMARY
This bill repeals statutory provisions requiring inspections for motor vehicles registered 
in the State, except that the provisions regarding inspection of commercial motor vehicles, 
trailers and semitrailers under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, section 1753; 
inspection of fire trucks under Title 29-A, section 1755; and inspection by dealers and 
transporters under Title 29-A, section 1754 are not repealed.