Inspection stickers when out-of-state

[Curt581]

Correct. In PA, after buying and registering a vehicle, you have 10 days to pass inspection.

So I guess the general consensus is that technically, I could get a ticket in a different state for not having my vehicle inspected... but probably wouldn't get stopped for that issue alone. If I got pulled over for, say, speeding, the officer would then be more inclined to add another ticket for expired inspection.

There really is no "technically" about it. In my state, you'd be cited for operating an unregistered vehicle. I couldn't care less about the ins and outs of your state's inspection laws, but if failing to have your car inspected invalidates your registration, you're fair game.

Yes, you can be stopped for that issue alone. Courts have ruled that I do not need a reason to check your registration through the computer. I can perform random registration checks. If I happen to check yours, and the computer says your reg is cancelled, expired, suspended, or in any way invalid, I can (and usually will) stop and cite you.

It's a great way to find unlicensed drivers, open warrants, and dope arrests.

[United0417]

In VA an expired out of state registration would fall under "no registration" for us. This is how I've been taught to charge it. If someone is travelling I generally leave them alone but if I run it and its several months out, I'm gonna write the ticket. Even though we have inspection laws I've never tried to write an out of state one, so I don't know how that would turn out in court.

Its similar to a "suspended" PA driver is considered an "unlicensed driver" in va.

[greg72982]

Its similar to a "suspended" PA driver is considered an "unlicensed driver" in va.

I was always taught if you are suspended in another state we still cite for driving under suspension in PA. Here is our statute:

§ 1543. Driving while operating privilege is suspended or
revoked.
(a) Offense defined.--Except as provided in subsection (b),
any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway or
trafficway of this Commonwealth after the commencement of a
suspension, revocation or cancellation of the operating
privilege and before the operating privilege has been restored
is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be
sentenced to pay a fine of $200.

Note it just says "after commencement of a suspension," it doesn't specify anything about the state where the license is suspended. It always upheld, but then again the defendant never challenged that aspect.

[Ispbear]

Why was a 5 month old thread brought back from the dead????????

[grumpyirishman]

You cannot enforce the vehicle inspection requirement of another state!!!

If the vehicle does not have a valid registration (dead tags), and the driver does not have valid operator's license, you can write them, because of reciprocal agreements between states.

A dead inspection is only enforceable in the state it is required and registered in.....if it is not your state, you cannot write it. You cannot enforce another state's laws.

If you have to be a stickler, look for the defective equipment, if there is any, and write that.

[retdetsgt]

You cannot enforce the vehicle inspection requirement of another state!!!

That sounds reasonable to me. I don't know if it's still true, but PA at least used to have one of the most strict inspection criteria in the US.

Oregon tried to have inspections years ago and it didn't last long. It was a windfall to some many unethical mechanics that they dropped it.

We can still write tickets for equipment violations, which is why I think inspections are kinda dumb and another layer of bureaucracy.

In the metro area, years ago they put in air quality laws because of the smog. If you live in the tri county area around Portland you have to run your car through a state inspection station where they put a tube up your exhaust. Well, the exhaust of your car, fortunately.....

The law itself was a good idea, but like everything else the government does, they kept upping the costs. It started out at 8 bucks, now it's about 3 times that, at least. It did get rid of the oil burning cars though.