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Assembly approves requirement for inspection stations to post notice about limousine inspections
Summary
The Assembly passed a bill requiring inspection stations to display a conspicuous sign informing customers and staff that certain limousine inspections and repairs must be handled by the Department of Transportation, a measure supporters said could help prevent improper work on specialty vehicles.
The Assembly voted March 12 to require vehicle inspection stations to post a conspicuous notice explaining that certain limousine inspections and repairs are not authorized at ordinary inspection shops and must be performed or cleared by the Department of Transportation.
Sponsor Assemblymember Pollan said the bill aims to increase transparency at inspection stations after recent high-profile crashes involving limousines that had not been properly inspected or maintained. "This legislation would display a sign notifying customers that the station is not authorized to inspect limousines and instruct customers to get the limousine inspected by DOT," Pollan said during the floor explanation.
Opponents characterized the measure as unnecessary and questioned whether signage would change the conduct of owners or unscrupulous operators. Assemblymember Tague, among those urging a no vote, said inspection owners and employees are professionals who already know inspection limits and that the legislation would impose another small compliance task on small businesses. Other members asked for implementation details: the bill specifies a conspicuous and legible notice, 24-point type on 8-1/2 by 11-inch format was discussed on the floor, and a sponsor aide said the measure can be satisfied by a printed page posted inside a facility. The floor also confirmed potential enforcement would include fines or license action; during debate the sponsor noted penalties for failure to post could include administrative action (the floor later referenced a not-to-exceed $1,000 penalty in discussion).
The Assembly recorded an aye vote of 100 to 44 and the clerk announced the act will take effect 60 days after enactment. Supporters said the poster is a simple, low-cost transparency measure that could inform workers and customers and help prevent inappropriate inspections of vehicles subject to DOT rules; critics called it redundant and an operational burden on small shops.
The bill does not change DOT—s inspection authority or create new DOT inspection obligations; it only requires that stations display a notice advising that some limousine inspections/repairs must be handled through DOT.
