2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 29-A: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC › Chapter 15: INSPECTION AND REPAIR › Subchapter 1: INSPECTION › 29-A §1753. Inspection of commercial vehicles, trailers and semitrailers

§1753. Inspection of commercial vehicles, trailers and semitrailers
1.  Inspection required.
Except as provided in subsection 4, a commercial motor vehicle that is required to be registered in this State, is used in intrastate or interstate commerce and has a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds, including the gross vehicle weight rating or gross weight of any trailer or semitrailer, must be inspected annually pursuant to this chapter. Except as provided in subsection 4, a trailer or semitrailer that has a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating greater than 7,000 pounds, independent of the towing vehicle, must be inspected annually. A trailer or semitrailer must also be inspected annually when:
A. Engaged in interstate commerce and used with a motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds, including the gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of a trailer or semitrailer and load; or   [PL 2007, c. 348, §2 (NEW).]
B. Except as provided in subsection 4, engaged in intrastate commerce and used with a motor vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,000 pounds, including the gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of a trailer or semitrailer and load.   [PL 2007, c. 348, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 348, §2 (AMD).]
2.  Scope of inspection.
The Chief of the State Police shall adopt rules for the inspection required by subsection 1 that meet the requirements of 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 396.17.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3.  Fee.
Except as provided in this subsection, the fee for an inspection under this section is based on the inspector's normal hourly labor charge and is due whether or not the vehicle passes inspection. A licensed inspection station shall post the hourly labor charge in a conspicuous place.
The fee for an inspection under this section of a farm truck registered under section 505 is $45. The inspection fee is payable whether the vehicle passes inspection or not.
[PL 2007, c. 190, §1 (AMD).]
4.  Vehicles exempt from annual inspection.
The following vehicles are exempt from the requirements of this section:
A. When used exclusively in intrastate commerce, a trailer or semitrailer with a gross vehicle weight, including any load, that does not exceed 3,000 pounds;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. When used exclusively in intrastate commerce, a semitrailer designed and used exclusively for dispensing cable from reels attached to the semitrailer, commonly called a reel trailer, and any semitrailer designed and used exclusively to support the ends of poles being transported, commonly called a pole dolly, when the gross weight of the semitrailer and load does not exceed 12,000 pounds;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. Any mobile home, empty storage trailer or empty storage semitrailer displaying a trailer transit plate in accordance with section 954, subsections 4 and 5;   [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. A farm truck or a fish truck exempted under section 1752;   [PL 2007, c. 348, §3 (AMD).]
E. A trailer or semitrailer displaying a valid certificate of inspection from another state or a federally approved commercial vehicle inspection program until the normal expiration of its certificate of inspection; and   [PL 2007, c. 348, §4 (AMD).]
F. A camp trailer.   [PL 2007, c. 348, §5 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 348, §§3-5 (AMD).]
5.  Proof of inspection.
Proof of inspection must be shown either by a report that certifies that the inspection satisfies the requirements of this section or by an inspection sticker placed on the vehicle. If proof is shown by a report, the report must be produced on the demand of a law enforcement officer.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 190, §1 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 348, §§2-5 (AMD).