The Mercury (Pottstown, PA)

New website lists suspended inspection stations

- By Steven Henshaw shenshaw@readingeag­le.com

PennDOT has launched a database showing which vehicle inspection stations, inspectors, dealers and issuing agents are under suspension for infraction­s of state inspection regulation­s and laws as well as contract violations.

The move is designed to improve transparen­cy for consumers, officials said.

“Vehicle inspection­s, license plate issuance, registrati­on and titling are an integral part of ensuring the safety and proper registrati­on of all who travel our roadways, and consumers can use this new tool to help in making an informed decision about those services,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said.

Consumers can visit the Suspended Inspection Stations and Inspectors page https://bit.ly/39NQI8m to see what stations or inspectors are under suspension, or visit the Suspended Issuing Agents page https://bit. ly/3OCPIlY for a list of dealers or issuing agents under suspension.

These web pages consist of a daily up-to-date listing of suspended inspection stations, inspectors, dealers and issuing agents in the state. Suspension­s are levied on an inspection station and/or inspector for a violation of the Pennsylvan­ia Vehicle Equipment and Inspection regulation­s and/or

Emissions Inspection­s regulation­s.

Suspension­s imposed on a station or inspector are the result of violations uncovered during audits or from investigat­ions into complaints.

Suspension­s only affect a business’ ability to perform vehicle safety and emission inspection­s, not their ability to offer other services. Dealers and issuing agents can be suspended for a variety of reasons when they infringe on the provisions of their contract with PennDOT.

Approximat­ely 17,000 safety inspection stations and 7,700 emission inspection stations are registered in Pennsylvan­ia, monitored by PennDOT quality assurance officers.

Approximat­ely 8,000 dealers or issuing agents in the commonweal­th are contracted to provide services to customers on behalf of PennDOT. They are monitored by PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services’ regulated client services section through unannounce­d audits, scheduled site inspection­s, analysis of internal reports of title transactio­ns and public reports of suspected wrongdoing via the website.

In cases involving criminal activity by inspection stations or agents, PennDOT turns to the Pennsylvan­ia State Police for investigat­ions.

Consumers may report concerns by contacting the PennDOT tip line at 717-7059913. They may also email to RA-pdPennDOTT­ip@ pa.gov. Customers with concerns with agents should call 717- 412-5300 or lodge them through a driver/vehicle contact.

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