As of 2021, the state of New York claimed just over 3.1 million registered vehicles, coming in at number nine on a list of the most registered cars per state. With so many vehicles on the road, though, safety is of the utmost importance.
As a means of ensuring that standards regarding safe operating conditions are met, state law requires annual inspections of registered vehicles, which must be completed before their current inspection stickers expire; unfortunately, failing to complete the required inspection and update the sticker on your vehicle could lead to ticketing and fines.
Below, learn about what happens if you get ticketed for an expired inspection in NY and how you can rectify the situation.
Penalties for Expired Inspection Tickets
Safety inspection stickers are valid until the last day of the month printed on them. If you haven’t gotten an inspection and replaced the sticker by the expiration date, you could be subject to a range of penalties, the most notable of which being that you will not be able to renew your vehicle registration.
Alongside that, you may also be fined if traffic authorities spot an incorrect or missing sticker. A sticker that has expired in the past 60 days will result in a fine between $25 and $50; if the sticker is more than 60 days out of date or if there’s no inspection sticker to be seen, the fine jumps to a range of $50-$100. There’s also a mandatory state surcharge of either $88 (city) or $93 (town court).
In addition, vehicles parked with an expired sticker can also receive a parking ticket. Traffic rules state, “No person shall stand or park a vehicle bearing New York plates unless it is properly inspected and properly displays a current inspection sticker or certificate.” Multiple violations can even result in jail time.
What to Do if You’re Ticketed
As has been made clear, there are several potential penalties you stand to face if you fail to display a current inspection sticker; that said, there are measures you can take after being ticketed to ensure the least amount of financial and record-based harm:
Provide Relevant Information
If you received an extension on your inspection deadline because you purchased a vehicle from a private seller or you (and, by extension, your vehicle) were out of state at the time of expiration, you can provide such evidence to fight your ticket.
Alternatively, if you had a valid sticker that ended up lost or damaged, you can either file a “Request for Replacement Inspection Sticker” form at your local DMV branch or have your car re-inspected. Having copies of the documents showing your efforts to comply with state laws can help sway a judge.
Look for Missing Ticket Information
Another great way to fight a ticket for an expired vehicle inspection sticker is by simply reading the ticket issued. Officers must enter specific information when filling out the ticket, and if they forget any required entries or otherwise enter information incorrectly, that can create an opportunity to successfully fight the ticket.
In addition to vehicle information, such as the make, model, VIN, and license plate number, the ticket must also cite the correct traffic rules subsection for the violation, so it’s worth checking traffic rules for accuracy. The comments section must also include the correct inspection sticker number and its proper expiration date.
Hire a Qualified Attorney
Your best chance of fighting off a ticket for an expired vehicle inspection sticker is to turn to the help of an experienced attorney. A professional can help you understand if your case is worth pursuing and go to court on your behalf. Should you receive an expired vehicle inspection ticket in Syracuse, NY, contact the qualified team at the New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation.
