I think they have de-bunked that, not sure of the links, but the fine is only if you get 6 monthes past when you were supposed to do it. I think it was on WRAL a couple weeks ago, somebody got their wires crossed that sent out the original email. Lord knows we just got one of those letters last year! Embarrassing!
Thanks kdc! That's why I went to the site. It caught my attention because I'm one of those who usually notice my sticker a week after it expires.
http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=5963587 False E-mails About Car Inspections NEWS 6 NEWSBOXStrange News WILMINGTON -- E-mail can be a great way to spread the word quickly, but when the information in that e-mail is untrue, it can be a problem. The Department of Motor Vehicles is trying to put the brakes on a rumor that's spread like wildfire. According to state law, drivers have three months from the date their car inspection expires to get a new inspection. After those three months drivers will face a fine of $250. But according to the DMV, an auto shop in Cherry Point near Havelock sent out an e-mail falsely stating the inspections must be done before the date on their tags. DMV officials say they believe it was a scam to drum up business, and now their offices are flooded with calls. They're setting people straight, and so are auto shop workers in Wilmington. The DMV has ordered the auto shop in Cherry Point to stop sending out the e-mails.
YW I did not know about the $250 fine, that must be new this year. Glad they give you a 3-month grace period before it kicks in, though. Also glad I already got mine inspected. I have a funky "service engine soon" light, it comes on randomly, stays on for a few days or weeks, goes off for a while, comes back on again, and of course it won't pass the emissions test when that light is on. So last week I noticed it was off, stopped by PJ's & got inspected, no worries about that for another year! Somebody said I probably had a bad gas cap that was making that light come on, so I got a new one, but it still does it. Oh well, it still drives OK. :lol:
While I thought I had read it was four months, they will fine you and will only give you one written notice before issuing the fine. Sort of have that happen to a relative of mine. What happened was that when the car was bought new, the inspection sticker was already in place and the issue of the registration tag on the license plate differed from the inspection month. The car was carried to a neighboring county where the car was purchased and the dealership only did the required SAFETY inspection and not the full EMISSIONS/SAFETY inspection. The state claimed that it was not done in time and issued the fine. Of course, after hearing the explanation, they dismissed it after seeing that the car had been properly inspected. Any paperwork generated for state requirements I now keep for awhile because once they scrape off that old inspection sticker, you have no proof unless the dealership can help you and that I wouldn't count on.
It's true! I paid a dealership to do the inspection last year, along with the 5000 mile check and all point inspection. Didn't think anything about it until I receive a notice saying it was overdue and I owed a 250.00 fine. I go into my records, see that the dealership CHARGED me for it, but never did the inspection. That said, I called the dealer and asked them what I was supposed to do!!????? Initially they told me to pay for it and they would reimburse me....NO NO NO I said, that isn't gonna fly cause I don't have 250.00 spare cash to cough up. Your problem...your slack dog mechanics! Long story short, they cut me a check, I paid the fine...done deal. Moral of the story, "Even if you paid for it doesn't necessarily mean they did it...make sure you look at the windshield and check for the sticker!"
