Act 228 of 2004 created a task force to develop an enhanced safety inspection program for reconstructed, specially constructed and modified vehicles. The purpose of the program was to meet the following goals.

http://www.dot10.state.pa.us/pdotforms/inspections/enhancedstations.pdf

COMMENT

If you live in PA, your rights to own and customize a car are 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 insidious 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.

PennDOT Response

Act 228 of 2004, required the formation of the Reconstructed Vehicle Advisory Panel. The Panel was made up of representatives from the General Assembly, PennDOT, the Office of Attorney General, a vehicle salvage dealer, a licensed vehicle dealer who reconstructs or modifies vehicles, a member of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, a member of the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, a member of the Pennsylvania Independent Automotive Dealers Association, a certified mechanic and a certified collision repair technician. This ensured that all aspects and interests regarding this issue had a voice in the process. Additionally, PennDOT sent numerous inspection station bulletins, starting in September 2005, regarding the development of the program and continued with numerous updates until the start of the program in January 2007.

COMMENT

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

PennDOT Response

Vehicles which have been salvaged and are subsequently reconstructed must be restored to their original configuration. For example, if the original vehicle had air bags and those air bags were deployed in an accident, they must be restored to original condition in order to again be titled in Pennsylvania. This does not mean that the vehicle must be painted the same color as original or that after market replacement parts cannot be used.

The enhanced inspection process which began in January 2007 did nothing to alter the definition of a "modified vehicle," which was established in the Vehicle Code in 2002. Modified vehicles are defined as, "A vehicle of a type required to be registered under this title materially altered by the addition, deletion, substitution or modification of the body, chassis or essential parts, new or used. The term does not include vehicles that have been repaired to the function and appearance of vehicles in their original condition or vehicles where final-stage or second-stage manufacturers provide a manufacturer statement of origin or a federally required certification label at the time of the original title and registration application."

Essential parts are defined as, "All major component parts of a vehicle of a type required to be registered under this title, the removal, alteration or substitution of which would tend to conceal the identity of the vehicle or substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation."

COMMENT

Here is 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, street rod, 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 passes inspection, you will be issued (And have to pay for) a new title and the specifics of your vehicle will be entered into a database.

PennDOT Response

There is no database containing the specific repairs or modifications performed on a Pennsylvania titled/registered vehicle, and there are no plans to create one.

COMMENT

Now here is 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 database, and compare them to your vehicle. If ANYTHING has changed on your vehicle, he will fine you, declare that your title is now invalid, and force you to go through the expensive inspection and retiling 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 retitleing. 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.

PennDOT Response

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 titled, IS IN VIOLATION OF THE NEW LAWS.

PennDOT Response

Ground effects and other such ornamental lights are and have for many years been prohibited. Similarly, if a vehicle is fitted with tires that are of a size where the tread sticks out beyond the wheel well or rub the frame would be in violation of the Vehicle Equipment and Inspection Regulations. These aspects have not changed. As a result, these conditions would cause a vehicle being inspected for the purpose of receiving a reconstructed title to fail the enhanced inspection. An engine replacement with that of a different size is a modification that would warrant the title to indicate it as being modified. Should the car later be sold, the buyer has a right to know that the vehicle has been changed from its original configuration. Other changes that do not conceal the identity of the vehicle (such as repainting the vehicle, rust, the addition of an air induction system or exhaust modifications) or substantially alter its appearance, model, type or mode of operation would require no change to the vehicle’s title record.

COMMENT

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 grassroots 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, petitions are starting to be passed around. People are starting to complain to their elected officials. I urge every driver in PA to sign one of the petitions, 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.

PennDOT Response

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 truly 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.

PennDOT Response

In summary, only three things changed as a result of the new process.

1) The application for titling a reconstructed, specially constructed, flood, recovered theft, modified, collectible vehicle or street rod was shortened to make it easier to complete.

2) Where the vehicles can be inspected - the limited number of stations under contract helps assure that there is consistency.

3) Where the applications can be processed - by allowing on-line agents in the field to process the applications, the time before the vehicle owner can operate his vehicle has been substantially reduced.

Information regarding the Enhanced Vehicle Safety Inspection program has and will continue to be available on PennDOT’s website at www.dmv.state.pa.us . Click on "Business Partners" then "Station Owners and Mechanics" for links to Enhanced Vehicle Safety Inspection Program information.