1 week Ago By Teresa Mettela
DRIVERS have slammed a fee that could be tacked onto their bill at the dealership. If a driver needs to get their vehicle inspected, they could be expected to pay $20 extra.WGMEA proposed law could force drivers to pay more for an auto inspection in Maine[/caption]WGMELawmakers believe that the proposed bill would lead to safer streets[/caption]Some Maine lawmakers want to digitize car inspections which would force drivers to pay even more at the dealership, as reported by CBS affiliate WGME.
Two auto shops in Maine were asked to set up an electronic system that would inspect vehicles after a public hearing with the Transportation Committee on Tuesday. The additional cost for the electronic check would be $20 or two and a half times the minimum wage. Drivers are worried that they won’t be afford the additional cost.
“The issue I have is the process,” Bill Montejo told WGME. “When there is no option or you can’t find the part, it’s a redundant system.”Another driver, Alec Wall, said this bill would be robbing Maine’s drivers of their hard-earned money.
“It’s the voter. It’s the driver,” Wall said. “It’s the people in the state of Maine who are in fear of this thing.
It drives them crazy,” he added.Still, lawmakers believe electronic systems would help protect the state’s roads. “We can better track inspections, making it much harder for fraudulent stickers making it on the road,” Senator Brad Farrin said.
“That means safer roads, safe vehicles for all of us.”Authorities have also backed the bill, saying the new technology would make auto inspections easier and faster. According to Lieutenant Bruce Scott from Maine State Police, over 1.
2 million inspection stickers are printed every year in Maine.How to spot add-on fees at the dealershipThe Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on dealerships that charge buyers unfairly.However, as many transactions aren’t spotted due to electronically signed documents, many added-on fees aren’t spotted.
Here’s how the agency says you can spot them. Demand a physical copy of the sales contract or invoice, and read it carefully. Customers aren’t required to pay for add-ons they don’t want, like nitrogen-filled tires, paint protectant, wheel and tire insurance, etc.
Be sure you understand the total cost, not just the monthly. Make sure the total cost is in writing so you can get an idea of how other fees play into the monthly fee. If it’s different from what you originally agreed on, the dealer may be adding fees.
Explore your options for financing. First, check with your bank, as they can give better rates on auto loans depending on your credit. Bring a hard copy of your preapproval notice to entice the dealer to meet or beat those terms.
If you’ve been charged illegally, the FTC encourages you to report it.Source: FTCDespite the mixed response, the bill has not officially been passed into law. There are still changes that could be made to the proposed legislation.
At the hearing, the committee heard testimony that proposed all passenger cars be exempt from the electric inspection. Another modification would require inspections every other year using the new system. Separate from the inspection bill, some lawmakers have tried to get rid of Maine’s car inspection requirements altogether.
These efforts have been unsuccessful so far..
