Displaying a Fictitious or Fraudulent Inspection Certificate

The 1990 Clean Air Act required the implementation of vehicle inspection and maintenance programs in areas that were moderate or worse nonattainment for ozone or carbon monoxide. Over half of the states have such programs in operation. The vehicle inspection programs vary by state. Some of the programs test only emissions, while other programs include inspections for safety features along with the emissions tests.

The required frequency of vehicle inspections also varies by state. For example, in the State of New York all registered vehicles must get a safety inspection and emissions inspection every 12 months. Other states require the inspections every two years. Some states also allow a waiver for hybrid vehicles or vehicles that are less than two years old.

Upon successfully passing such an inspection, a certificate is issued as proof that the motor vehicle has passed the inspection. As the requirements for inspection certificates increase, some people have opted to acquire fraudulent inspection certificates. If you provide a fraudulent vehicle inspection certificate, you will be charged, in most states, with a misdemeanor. The penalty for displaying a fraudulent certificate usually involves a fine and possibly a jail sentence. However, in some states you can be charged with a felony. For example, in New York the charges can include summonses carrying fines of up to $75 and the possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, a felony with a penalty of more than one year in jail.

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