§ 175.42. Recording inspection.
(a) Fraudulent recording. Fraudulent recording of an inspection will be considered cause for suspension of inspection privileges.
(b) Signature. The certified mechanic who performed the entire inspection shall place his signature in accordance with the following recordkeeping requirements:
(1) At stations utilizing Form MV-431 or MV-480, the certified mechanic who performed the entire inspection shall place his signature in the appropriate column of Form MV-431 or MV-480 immediately following the inspection. Both the mechanic exempted from performing the road test under this chapter and the certified mechanic who performed the road test shall place their signatures in the appropriate column.
(i) When the inspection information is transferred from a work order to the Form MV-431 or MV-480 by anyone other than the certified mechanic who performed the inspection, the work order shall contain the certified mechanic’s signature and be retained for audit.
(ii) The person who enters the information shall place the name of the certified mechanic in the appropriate column and the initials of the person putting the information on the form in the appropriate column.
(iii) A mechanic exempted from performing the road test under this chapter and the certified mechanic who performed the road test shall sign the work order.
(iv) The person who transfers the information shall place the names of both certified mechanics in the appropriate column.
(2) At stations utilizing an electronic data collection and storage program, the certified mechanic who performed the entire inspection shall place his signature on the work order immediately following the inspection. Both the mechanic exempted from performing the road test under this chapter and the certified mechanic who performed the road test shall place their signatures on the work order. Work orders shall be retained for audit.
(c) Records retention.
(1) The original official inspection report sheet (Form MV-431 or MV-480) shall be retained as a garage record and kept on file at the station for audit. At the close of each inspection period, the official inspection report sheet shall be placed in the station’s files, even though all spaces may not have been used, and a new inspection report sheet shall be started for the new inspection period.
(2) A work order signed by the inspecting mechanic as required under this section shall be available for inspection upon request by the inspection station supervisor or an authorized representative of the Department.
(d) Content.
(1) Stations utilizing Form MV-431 or MV-480. The paper inspection report sheet (Form MV-431 for passenger cars, trucks and buses or MV-480 for motorcycles and trailers) shall be neat and legible and completed in its entirety. Details pertinent to every vehicle inspected, including rejections, shall be recorded on the report sheet at the time of inspection. Items inspected, adjusted or repaired shall be recorded. If the report sheet lists a piece of equipment which does not apply to the specific type of vehicle being inspected, a dash shall be placed in the column to indicate it has not been overlooked or neglected. Certificates of inspection issued shall be listed in numeric order.
(i) Temporary inspection approval indicators, if issued in lieu of a certificate of inspection, shall be recorded on a separate report sheet (Form MV-431) and shall be indicated in the area designated for the sticker number. This separate report sheet shall be completed as described in this subsection except a ‘‘T’’ shall be entered in the area designated for the sticker number to indicate that a temporary inspection approval indicator was issued. An inspection station may not impose a sticker charge for the issuance of a temporary inspection approval indicator.
(ii) Upon the return of a vehicle for which a temporary inspection approval indicator has been issued, the station which originally affixed the temporary inspection approval indicator shall:
(A) Verify the year, make, body style, VIN and proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle presented for a renewed certificate of inspection to ensure it is the same vehicle indicated on the report sheet (Form MV-431) when the original inspection was performed. This information shall be recorded as a new entry on the regular report sheet (Form MV-431) where all inspection sticker serial numbers issued are recorded.
(B) Record, on the Form MV-431, the serial number of the new certificate of inspection to be affixed to the vehicle along with the vehicle owner’s name, address, VIN, license plate number, vehicle year make and body style. A reference to the date and number of the original inspection performed shall be noted in the shaded area to the left of the area designated for the sticker serial number and total cost (that is, See T-inspection number 123 dated 01/01/97).
(C) Enter, in the appropriate area of the report sheet (Form MV-431), the name of the certified inspection mechanic that verified the original inspection information and that is replacing the certificate of inspection.
(2) Stations utilizing an electronic data collection and storage program. The inspection record shall be completed in its entirety. Details pertinent to every vehicle inspected, including rejections, shall be recorded at the time of inspection. Items inspected, adjusted or repaired shall be recorded. If the inspection record lists a piece of equipment which does not apply to the specific type of vehicle being inspected, it shall be designated in the inspection record as ‘‘N/A’’ to indicate it has not been overlooked or neglected.
(i) For those vehicles which pass the safety inspection but do not yet display a renewed emission certificate of inspection as required, stations shall record a pending or incomplete safety inspection without issuing a safety certificate of inspection.
(ii) The temporary inspection approval indicator shall be affixed as described in § 175.41 (relating to procedure). Upon the return of a vehicle for which a temporary inspection approval indicator has been issued, the station which originally affixed the temporary inspection approval indicator shall:
(A) Verify the year, make, body style, VIN and proof of financial responsibility for the vehicle presented for a renewed certificate of inspection to ensure it is the same vehicle indicated on the inspector record when the original inspection was performed.
(B) Record, on the pending inspection record, the serial number of the new certificate of inspection to be affixed to the vehicle.
(C) If the name of the certified inspection mechanic that verified the original inspection information and that is replacing the certificate of inspection is someone other than the certified inspection mechanic who performed the original inspection, he shall also sign the work order.
(3) Replacing a certificate of inspection. The certified inspection mechanic replacing the certificate of inspection shall sign the back of the new certificate of inspection and record the information from the original inspection entry (wheels pulled, date of inspection, and the like) on the new certificate of inspection before it is affixed to the vehicle.
(4) Prohibitions against replacing a certificate of inspection. Inspection stations may not replace a certificate of inspection to which a temporary inspection approval indicator has been affixed if one or more of the following apply:
(i) The inspection station did not perform the original inspection of the vehicle or issue the temporary inspection approval indicator affixed to the current certificate of inspection.
(ii) The vehicle does not display a renewed emission certificate of inspection.
(iii) The original safety certificate of inspection has expired.
(iv) The vehicle is in an obviously unsafe condition, including, but not limited to, bald tires, exhaust leaks, broken glazing and broken or missing lighting.
(e) Nonrelated items. Gas, oil or other nonrelated items may not be included in total charges for repair and inspection.
(f) Classifications. The form numbers listed in this subsection explain the general classification of vehicles to be recorded on each type of inspection record:
(1) Form MV-431. Motor vehicles except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles shall be recorded on this form.
(2) Form MV-480. Trailer, motorcycle and motor-driven cycles shall be recorded on this form.
Authority The provisions of this § 175.42 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. § § 4101, 4103, 4103(a), 4107, 4301, 4501, 4521, 4702, 4703, 4706(e), 4728 and 6103.
Source The provisions of this § 175.42 adopted July 9, 1982, effective July 10, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 2181; amended October 29, 1982, effective October 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 3859; amended October 29, 1982, effective October 30, 1982, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective February 1, 1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; readopted December 2, 1988, effective December 3, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362; amended February 18, 1994, effective February 19, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 962; amended September 26, 1997, effective September 27, 1997, 27 Pa.B. 5003; corrected March 5, 2004, effective February 7, 2004, 34 Pa.B. 1327; amended October 25, 2013, effective October 26, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 6349. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (302897) to (302898) and (305143).
Notes of Decisions As licensee, inspection station owes duty to conform to requirements of Department of Transportation regulations, and harm to members of public is not prerequisite for suspension of license where fraudulent recordkeeping is charged. Department of Transportation v. Midas Muffler Shop, 529 A.2d 91 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1987).
While 67 Pa. Code § 175.202(b) (now 67 Pa. Code § 175.42(b)(1)), which allows someone other than the certified mechanic who performed the inspection to enter the required information onto the inspection form, requires the mechanic to sign the appropriate forms immediately after he has performed the inspection, there is no similar provision regarding the time when someone other than the mechanic must record the necessary information on the official forms. Department of Transportation v. Sortino, 462 A.2d 925 (Pa. Cmwlth. 1983).
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