This might be important to those from Pennsylvania

Found this on the Ol' Skool Rodz forum...sounds like a pretty serious threat to hot-rodding in Pennsylvania:


"If you live in PA, your rights to own and customize a car is in serious jeopardy. In January, 2007, PENNDOT implemented a new "ENHANCED VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM" known as EVIP. This program was developed and enacted without any public exposure, debate, input, or knowledge, just like the insideous midnight pay raise that they tried to foist upon us. Please read about what is going on, or you will soon be paying huge amounts in fines, and new procedures.

Basically, PENNDOT began to develop a program to regulate and identify problem cars, like reconstructions, flood damaged vehicles, etc. Unfortunately, as wilth eveything that the state decides to stick its nose into, it went awry, and some brilliant idiot decided to include any and all cars that are not absolute, 100% stock vehicles.

Here's how it goes. Once the plan gets fully implemented, there will be a network of special inspection stations across the state, and you will have to take your custom, collector, hotrod, streetrod, etc (Or any vehicle tagged by a state trooper as not being 100% stock) to one of these stations for inspection. Inspections may range in price from $100 up to $500, but that is still unknown. If your car p***es inspection, you will be issued (And have to pay for) a new ***le, and the specifics of your vehicle will be entered into a data base.

Now here's where the fun comes in. A state trooper may pull you over at any time, even if you are legally licensed, inspected, etc, and doing absolutely nothing wrong. He will print out a list of specifics from the data base, and compare them to your vehicle. If ANYTHING has changed on your vehicle, he will fine you, declare that your ***le is now invalid, and force you to go through the expensive inspection and re***ling process all over again, and you will not be able to use your car until you comply. Listen to what I said. ANY CHANGE IN YOUR VEHICLE can result in a fine, and costly reinspection and re***leing. So that means that if you change the size of your tires, put on different wheels, add air shocks, add a lift kit, add ground effects, ANYTHING, you are in trouble.

This will affect EVERY SINGLE CAR OWNER AND DRIVER IN THE STATE OF PA, NEW CARS AND OLD. If you buy a brand new truck and put bigger tires on it, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you buy a tuner and put ground effects on it, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you buy a motorcycle and put custom pipes on it, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you replace the engine in your cars with another size engine, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you repaint your car, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If your car develops rust, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you put headers on your car, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you change the exhaust on your car, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. If you change the air induction system on your car, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS. I repeat, anything that deviates from 100% stock, or changes your vehicle in any way from the last time it was ***led, IS IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS.

This is a savage, and brutal attack on the drivers of PA, and especially the car enthusiasts in this state.

What can you do? If you are concerned (You should be FURIOUS!), there are things you can do. Groups are starting to form, but we need all of the help and support we can get from all of you. This is a battle that will depend on gr***roots support. No one will fight for us or help us, unless we show that we will not take this sort of thing lying down. Car clubs are starting to rally, pe***ions are starting to be p***ed around. People are starting to complain to their elected officials. I urge every driver in PA to sign one of the pe***ions, and join one of the groups. Volunteer a little of your time and service, or it will untimately cost you much more. Call, email, or write to the state senators and representatives and tell them that you want this stopped. The people that are implementing this insideous program are appointed, but the politicians are elected, so tell them straight out that you are so mad, that if they don't do anything about this, you will not vote for them in the next election.

There has been almost no information about these new laws let out to the public. The state is trying to get inspection stations to sign a contract to become one of these enhanced inspection stations, so if you, or someone you know owns an inspections station, tell them to refuse to join up. If they read the fine print of the contract, they will find out that if they accept the terms of the contract, THEY WILL AGREE TO ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR ANY CURRENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS RELATED TO OR CAUSED BY ANY VEHICLE THEY INSPECT.

A friend of mine, and longtime car enthusiast, Bob Pisaneschi is locally spearheading the fight against the new laws. He has already been in contact with State Representative Dan Surra, who was totally unaware of the extent of PENNDOTS plans. Mr Surra, a car enthusiast himself, was quick to promote the creation of a MOTORSPORTS CAUCUS in the state legislature, to protect the rights of car enthusiasts in the state of PA. Every driver in PA needs to contact MR. Surra (814-375-4688), and give him your support, and tell him that you don't agree with the new Enhanced Vehicle Inspection Program, and its impact on drivers, car owners, and car enthusiasts in the state of PA. Every driver should also contact his or her own State Representatives and Senators, and voice these same concerns to them. If you would like Bob Pisaneschi to talk to your group or car club, to learn the true extent and potential impact of these new laws, and to see how you can help, PM me, and I will put you in touch with him.

Please, I urge every driver and car owner in PA, and especially those of us who own custom, collector, streetrod, hotrod, or any other type of special vehicle, to get involved in the fight now, and not let the state of PA pull these Gestapo-like tactics on the law abiding drivers and car enthusaists of PA. If you don;t do it, no one else will, and you will have no one else to blame, but yourself, when collector and special interest vehicles become a thing of the past. This is truely a sad day in the history of this great state, when a decent, law-abiding interest and hobby like ours is targeted for destruction by a few self-serving, misinformed, beurocratic bozos like the ones who developed these new policies"

 

Well, it affects the lift kit and custom wheel industries, so I sure SEMA will take care of it. But seriously, bummer.

 

****, I'm screwed..

 

There has been almost no information about these new laws let out to the public.

This has been in the works for quite a while, and most PA rodders were aware the changes were coming. Like the article mentioned, they became effective in January. Details are available on the PENNDOT website. PA finally started allowing fenderless, bumperless, and hoodless rods about three years ago, so things aren't all bad. SEMA and other groups have been involved in the process.....Woody

 

I wonder what "reference materials" the inspectors will be relying on to determine whether a vehicle is 100% as per originally manufactured?

How could they possibly verify every make and model's original equipment over the past 100 years? Sounds to me like there will have to be a lot of "subject to discretion" type of decisions made by inspectors.

Anytime the government starts poking it's nose into your business...it's not good. I can understand safety issues, but this seems to be well beyond making sure that "modified vehicles" are safe.

 

You guys talk like SEMA is a group of others that magically make things happen. They are not "others", they are US!

There's no time for complacency when the Government starts attacking our hobby.

 

i think that this is going down in flames

the stations that ive heard about dont want to be these "specialty" places and penndot is having a hard time getting enough

i have a feeling its not going to work out
Zach

 

I already had a problem with the New system. It is to long to type again. But I did made a comment on the other site. The new system ****s.

 

Minnesota had a bill that sounded much like that one several years ago. It came close to p***ing, until someone mentioned the fact that if it p***ed, all state snow plows would be illegal.

 

What if you are from another state and doing a car show there?

 

What other site?

 

Is there really so many customized cars out there that don't already fall under normal inspection rules that they need something like this. Anytime I here anything government related I just get pissed off. I here Michigan doesn't even have state inspections. If so maybe I need to move.

 

Hey all, I sent this along to SAN (the SEMA Action Network). They have been spearheading this lobbying group against legislation just like this.

When I hear if anything is up I will repost...

 

Looks like it is time to retire to Florida. Was planning on buying land down there, looks like sooner maybe better.

 

Thats funny. In South Dakota our "learned" poli***ions did something similar with weight restrictions.......................................made most county snowplows in the state too heavy to be legal! DOH!

 

Yeah I suppose all the guys plowing driveways would be up S***s creek too. I doubt the local poli***ians would like it if they had to dig out their OWN driveways!

 

this seems highly unlikely to work. i hope... i thought thats why we now had a street rod plate and other plates? what if you just dont get inspected at all?

 

the man strikes again

 

I wasn't aware they changed the rules on this. I'll have to dig around for the details.

 

Thats Why I Moved The Hell Out Of That Messed Up Nazi State Its Comunist Not Comonwealth

 

Having just looked at the PennDot website, it appears that these new rules apply to un-registered reconstructed vehicles. Vehicles that have already received branded ***les for reconstructed vehicles prior to 1/1/07 need not go thru the process.

A couple of FAQ's posted on the website indicated this:

RECONSTRUCTED VEHICLES​

As you know, the Enhanced Vehicle Safety Inspection Program started on January 1, 2007. Since that time,
several questions have surfaced that need to be addressed not only with the enhanced stations, but with all
safety inspection stations in the Commonwealth. The following questions and answers should help clarify
some of the recent issues that have come to our attention.

Q. Must a vehicle with a previously branded ***le be returned to an Enhanced Vehicle Safety Inspection
Station for the required annual or semi-annual inspection after a correctly branded ***le has been issued?
A. No. The vehicle owner can take his vehicle to any Official Safety Inspection Station for any inspection
performed after the vehicle has been ***led through the use of an MV-426B application.
Q. Must a correctly branded vehicle, which has gone through the old MV-426B process, (prior to January 1,
2007) be reinspected under the new enhanced program?​

A. No. Vehicles with a previous ***le brand are not required to go through this process.

Most street rods and customs that have been ***led previously have "branded ***les", although some may not. All new applications will now have to be inspected and approved by the new Enhanced Vehicle Inspection stations and not regular stations. If authorized the EVIP stations can issues registration plates, cards and stickers to those who p*** inspection, where as now only PennDot can do that.

I will try to get a copy of the new regs for review and post anything new.

 

Problem is with laws like this...if politicians see it p***ed in one state...they think it will work in theirs and they can make points with their environmentalist voters...and OldSkewl61...just becuz you moved doesn't mean sooner or later those politicians in Aridzona won't get to thinking like thoughts...and make Aridzona another one of your "Nazi states"...best thing any of you can do IS register to vote...the politicians only LISTEN to those that can vote them in or out of office...

R-

 

Exactly what is this new law accomplishing? This is just another retarded idea thought up by some guy in a suit who we elected into office. We don't need the government attempting to save us all from ourselves by implementing REDUNDANT legislation. Are yearly safety inspections not enough?? Now we have to go to a station that the state has deemed a ‘special’ inspection station to have a ‘special’ inspection? What are they inspecting in the regular safety inspections???? A SAFETY INSPECTION IS A SAFETY INSPECTION!!! This ‘idea’ of inspecting a modified vehicle needs to be directed at the TRAINING and WEEDING OUT of the vehicle inspectors themselves.

Everyday of my life I am more convinced that if the guy wears a suit, he has NO COMMON SENCE!

Vote 'em out you guys in PA.

 

I'm no expert but my understanding of the INTENT, was just what you said. They wanted stations with specially qualified inspectors to inspect first ***led cars and other cars that applied for street rod ***les. (Street rod ***les meant no fenders, bumpers, etc.) These specially certified inspection stations would be able to give temporary license plates so the car would be on the road quicker. I've heard of guys waiting 3 or more months for plates. Looked pretty good at first. It seems like some of the law was changed from when it first was written. It is still only for the first inspection.

My understanding is PennDOT is having trouble getting stations to apply for the Enhanced program.

 

As of mid Feb.there are about 230 stations that have signed up to do this new "enhanced inspection"I'm sure that more are added every day.....What a bunch of Bull ****!!!!

 

Hey...I wonder if the cop cars have reconstructed ***les????!!!

I hate to say it but I think it's here to stay. There are two stations doing it locally and my wife just started working at one. You should hear the stories.

Not only does this effect hot rods customs and etc. It's also for flood damaged , fire and out of state cars that have had odd ***le work done.

Even though my wife now works at one of these places and knows the ins and outs I'll still find other ways to register my cars. The hoops they are making people jump through is unbelievable.

Mopar34...did you know Florida has a special plan for snowbirds. You can register your vehicle in FLA and they will send the registration to your PA home The only glitch is a cop has to verify the vin.
Clark

 

My mistake. I know one local guy's lawyer recommended that he not sign up.

In one of the first drafts I believe that PennDOT was going to have a special team that would travel and do the inspections. You would have to find a garage willing to let you use their lift while PennDOT did the inspection. That was changed anyway.

Bill

 

Here is a good one my wife told me..

They wouldn't p*** a vehicle with airbags because of the scrubline. They lett the air out of the bags to check the scrub. I don't think any car would p*** the scrubline law sitting on it's bumpstops. Not even the Lincolns with factory bags.

I'd love to get ahold of these guys to give them a trick to p***...just install spacers in the bumpstops!
Clark

 

Oh...I believe that. It is a huge responsibility for the shop owners...Just another way for the state to say "not our fault" if and when someone has a problem.

 

Air bags are not legal anyway.No matter how you try to register the vehicle.