Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 175.28 - Certified inspection mechanics(a)General. An official inspection station shall have at least one certified inspection mechanic. Every inspection shall be performed by a certified inspection mechanic. The mechanic shall only inspect the type of vehicle for which he is certified and for which he holds a valid driver's license, except as otherwise provided in 75 Pa.C.S. § 4726(a) (relating to certification of mechanics). The mechanic signing the inspection sticker shall conduct and be responsible for the entire inspection of the vehicle, including the road test, except that the Department may exempt a mechanic from the requirement to perform a road test because of a physical disability. See 75 Pa.C.S. § 4726.(b)Multiple stations. A certified inspection mechanic may work part time at more than one official inspection station if the mechanic notifies the inspection station supervisor and the Vehicle Control Division of the names and station numbers of all current employers. Failure to do so may result in suspension of the mechanic's inspection privileges.(c)Number of inspections. A certified mechanic may not inspect more than: (1) Two vehicles other than motorcycles per hour.(2) Three motorcycles per hour.(d)Certification requirements. A mechanic desiring to maintain certification or to become certified:(1) Shall be 18 years of age or older.(2) Shall, as provided in subsection (a), have a valid driver's license for each class of vehicle which the mechanic will inspect; except that a certified mechanic who inspects school buses is not required to hold a school bus driver endorsement. For the purposes of this chapter, a valid driver's license does not include a learner's permit, a probationary license held by a driver for less than 3 years, an occupational limited license or an interlock license. A mechanic exempted from the requirement to perform the road test shall also be exempt from the requirement of this paragraph.(3) Shall have completed an approved certification course and successfully completed the required examination.(4) Shall pass the required tactile test administered by a certified/qualified automotive instructor at an approved education facility.(e)Recertification. A mechanic shall be certified for no more than 5 years. Mechanics may renew their mechanic certification by passing the required examination within 180 days of receipt of notice from the Department that the mechanic card is due to expire.(f)Prior certification. A mechanic card without an expiration date shall remain valid for 180 days after the date of notice to the mechanic to attend the certification course. Failure to complete the certification course and pass the required tests within 180 days will result in cancellation.(g)Mechanic license codes. A mechanic will be issued codes from the following table for the types of vehicle inspections and equipment testing the mechanic is authorized to perform: | Code | Authorized Inspection or Testing |
| 1 | Inspection of passenger cars, trucks 17,000 pounds or less and trailers less than 10,000 pounds |
| 2 | Inspection of motorcycles |
| 3 | Inspection of trucks over 17,000 pounds, trailers over 10,000 pounds and buses |
| 4 | Inspection of vehicles |
| 5 | Inspection under codes 1 and 2 |
| 6 | Inspections under codes 2 and 3 |
| 7 | Inspections under codes 1 and 3 |
| 9 | Testing and calibration of electronic (nonradar) speed timing devices that measure elapsed time between two sensors |
| A | Testing and calibration of electronic (radar) speed timing devices |
| B | Testing and calibration of stopwatches |
| C | Testing and calibration of speedometers |
| D | Testing and calibration of electronic (nonradar) speed timing devices that calculate average speed between two points |
| J | Enhanced vehicle safety inspection in conjunction with inspection under existing mechanic license codes in this table for the purpose of authorizing the issuance of a branded Pennsylvania certificate of title |
(h)Mechanic card. The valid mechanic card shall be carried by the mechanic when performing an inspection.(i)Certified document reviewer. The Department may certify nonmechanics to perform document review for the purpose of authorizing the issuance of a branded Pennsylvania certificate of title.The provisions of this § 175.28 adopted December 2, 1977, effective 2/1/1978, 7 Pa.B. 3499; amended July 14, 1978, effective 8/1/1978, 8 Pa.B. 2006; amended December 8, 1979, effective 12/9/1979, 9 Pa.B. 3495; corrected April 23, 1982, effective 5/9/1981, 12 Pa.B. 1344; amended October 29, 1982, effective 1/1/1983, 12 Pa.B. 3862; corrected November 12, 1982, effective 1/1/1983, 12 Pa.B. 3947; readopted December 2, 1988, effective 12/3/1988, 18 Pa.B. 5362; amended October 25, 2013, effective 10/26/2013, 43 Pa.B. 6349.The provisions of this § 175.28 amended under the Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 4103, 4301, 4501, 4521 and 6103.