Organized Crime in Pennsylvania

This week we decided to transfer our vehicle registration to Pennsylvania. Our Idaho tags are set to expire in July, and we already have our insurance in PA., sooooo

Pennsylvania has a vehicle safety inspection requirement, which is alright. We had one in Texas, and it was no big deal. I went to the inspection station. They are private entities. In my case it happened to be Monroe Muffler. I asked for a vehicle inspection. They told me that I could not have my vehicle inspected unless it was registered. My bad. I just assumed that it would be the other way around. I went to the place that was suggested for me to get my vehicle registered. In this case it was the AAA. Another "private entity" licensed by the state. With three titles in hand (Truck, SUV, Harley) I walked up to the counter and said that I would like to register 3 out of state vehicles. They informed me that in order to register an out of state vehicle I would have to get the VIN numbers verified first. Where can I get that done? Back at the inspection station. So it was back to Monroe Muffler. During this complicated process the technician looked at my window and transcribed the VIN number on a form and signed it. I think that this is another job that could be done by illegal aliens, as there is no need for any knowlege of the english language, and the level of technical skill required is minimal, ie. pen and paper.
With VIN numbers and Titles in hand I triumphantly head back to the AAA office to register my vehicles. The first question asked is; "Are you an AAA member?" to which I reply, "No, I just want to register my vehicles". This process takes just over an hour, because the girl at the window has never registered an out of state vehicle before, and the computer goes down during the processing of the second one, which means that it and the last have to be done by hand. Grand total for registering each vehicle. Harley: $25 title transfer, $20 registration. SUV: $25 title transfer, $41 registration. Truck: $25 title transfer, $56 registration. The subtotal is now at roughly $150. Now the girl behind the counter informs me that the processing fee for the three transactions is $51 per vehicle. What is that for I ask? She tells me that it is the processing fee that is required by the DMV. Here is the kicker... The check needs to be payable to AAA. I ask. If the fee is charged by the DMV why is the check made out to AAA, and if there is a processing fee, why is there also a title transfer fee? It turns out that this fee is how the AAA gets paid for having a vehicle registration desk in their office.

Now $300 lighter I head back to Monroe Muffler to get my state inspection done. I can't just drop in and get it inspected. The whole process is said to take up to 1 1/2 hours, and includes pulling off all the tires to inspect the brakes, hoses, exhaust, etc. the fee for this is $20. Not bad I'm thinking, but how can they stay in business when they only charge $20 for an hour and a half's worth of work, when the big sign behind the counter says shop rate is $75 per hour...

I am told that if I can get my truck in first thing Thursday morning they will be able to get right on it. I did them one better. I left my truck with them at closing time on Wednesday night. They would be on it first thing in the morning, and I could call them by lunch and see if there were any repairs indicated. Well, I wasn't free at the hospital until 3pm on Thursday, so that was when I called. Much to my lessening suprise, they hadn't had time to get to it yet. By the time I had drove home from work it was 4 pm and they still had not started on the vehicle. I was going to tell them to forget it, but I was looking at booking an appointment somewhere else, and waiting several more days, so I had them continue. I received a call at 5:30pm from the shop manager, who informed me of the multiple items needing repair. A bill which in the end, with tax, came out to $720, and no they did not throw in the inspection for free. $1000 dollars later I have 3 vehicles registered in Pennsylvania, and just my truck inspected. 2 more vehicles to go...


Here is my solution to the problem. The DMV is a state agency. License plates should only be able to be obtained there. Yes, temporary tags should be available from the dealer if you buy a car, but you should still have to go to the DMV to register your vehicle. Allowing the AAA or any other agency (it turns out there are lots of places to get plates) to issue plates, and charge a fee in addition to what the DMV already charges for the transaction is criminal. Earlier I mentioned that the girl at the counter asked if I was an AAA member. It turns out that for the $100 membership in the AAA the fee per vehicle for registration is only $10. It doesn't matter that my vehicle insurance already covers towing, and roadside assistance. I could have saved $20 by joining the AAA. If that isn't an old fashioned "stick'em up" I don't know what is.

Now on to the vehicle inspection stations... A place that inspects your vehicle should have no vested intrest in whether or not your vehicle passes or fails the inspection. I have spoken to several of my classmates, and they all say that they plan on spending about $500 every two years to pass inspection with their vehicle. $500!!!!! That tiny little $20 dollar fee for inspection sure sounds good until like me you are out $700 plus dollars to get your vehicle back. The state inspection stations should be unaffiliated with any repair shop. Vehicles that do not make the grade should be given a list of required repairs that can be taked to the repair shop of the drivers choice. The repair shop should be allowed to sign off the repairs, so that the driver can return to the DMV inspection station, present the work order signed "completed", and get the inspection sticker. If the driver wants to do the repair him/herself, they should be allowed to and then have the vehicle reinspected to ensure that the work was done properly.
If you take your car to get inspected at a place that does brake and muffler work (like I did), they are going to find brake and muffler problems. They don't keep the technicians employed by doing $20 state inspections.

IT IS ORGANIZED, STATE SPONSORED CRIME!!