Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

We were loading up the boat this morning to go out for the day when my neighbor walked over. He told me I may not know this, but my boat trailer is actually supposed to have an inspection sticker. Its the same as one for a car but you just staple it to the trailer registration. I shrugged it off and we set out. When I got home this evening I dove into the trusty Google search bar and found out its true. I heard stories of $200.00 fines and even having to keep it on your boat in case its asked for by law enforcement (I think that last bit is baloney, what if I don't trailer my boat). They said its always been the law, which I confirmed on the DMV website, but only recently has it started being enforced more. I find it strange that Suntracker didn't do this when we bought the boat and trailer new like car dealerships do.

Just curious how many of you guys have or have ever gotten your trailer inspected? I plan on doing it since there's an inspection station right down the road and its just a few bucks but I'm wondering if they will even know what I'm talking about. lol

John

which state?

as far as i know.... GA doesn't require it...

CA ?????????????

Silly me, thought I typed that...duh. I'm in Louisiana.

John, I've never had my trailer inspected, didn't know I was supposed to. The only thing I've done with regard to my trailer was, when I bought the license plate, Louisiana gives you the option of buying the plates for 2 years or you can buy a lifetime tag.... Don't remember how much difference it was, but it wasn't a great deal so I opted for the one time buy.... but I need to look into that trailer inspection... thanks for the heads up.

To view Louisiana Statutes: http://www.legis.state.la.us/

AUTHORITYR.S. 32:1301 - 1314

DEFINITIONThe Motor Vehicle Inspection Law states that every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer registered in this state shall bear a valid safety inspection certificate issued in the state of Louisiana, except as otherwise provided by R.S. 32:1305(G).

EXEMPTIONSThe following vehicles are exempt from obtaining a motor vehicle inspection:
Farm tractors, self propelled farm equipment, rubber-tired farm wagons and carts, drawn rubber-tired farm equipment, and implements of husbandry designed primarily for field use.
Motor vehicles which are twenty five years old or older that are used primarily for exhibition in shows, parades and tours and not for general transportation and which are registered and licensed as antique as provided for by R.S. 32:707(L).
Vehicles which are designed to transport more than 15 passengers: such vehicles require a commercial MVI sticker.
Vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more which are used in the transportation of hazardous materials or vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or more. These type vehicles require a commercial MVI Sticker.
Mini Trucks

ELIGIBILITY
A Motor Vehicle Inspection station must possess a current license issued by the LA State Police Weights and Standards/ MVI Unit.
A requisition for Inspection/Rejection Certificate (DPSMV 1018) must be completed and submitted by the station representative.

TERM OF MVI STICKERVehicle owners shall have the option to purchase a certificate of inspection that is valid for a duration of one year (12 months) or two years (24 months) if:
The vehicle is domiciled in a parish that does not require emissions testing.
The vehicle is domiciled in a non-attainment area and does not require emissions testing. Vehicles exempt from emissions testing are:
Vehicles manufactured prior to 1980
Any vehicle that are not gasoline- fueled vehicles such as diesel vehicles
Trailers that do not fall under the commercial inspection guidelines
Vehicles with a gvwr over 10,000 pounds
Vehicles domiciled in one of the five parishes designated as ozone non-attainment areas, that require emissions testing shall only be eligible to receive a certificate of inspection that is valid for the duration of one year (12 months). The five parishes currently designed as non-attainment areas are East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Iberville, and Livingston.

MONTHLY INSERTS
Monthly inserts will be issued for each book.
Stations must specify to the office which monthly inserts are needed.
If an office runs out of monthly inserts, the station may use the stamp kit.

Fees
Each book contains twenty-five (25) stickers and are sold at the following rates:
$131.25 1 year regular MVI
$262.50 2 year MVI
$156.25 Commercial
$ 8.00 Handling Fee is collected on each sale regardless of the number of books purchased.
No charge for Rejections (If no other items are purchased, the $8.00 handling fee is collected)

elefntkpr


I'm only a few miles away from you in St. James Parish, LA. Early this summer I heard people around town warning me and others to make sure you have your boat trailer inspection sticker. Local authorities have been reported to have been checking each boat that launches at St. James Boat Club at Blind River on any give4n Saturday or Sunday and giving out fines to those without the trailer inspection. I just received my new license plate and registration for my new boat and glad I read this which reminds me to go get my trailer inspection. FYI, in Louisiana they are now offering inspections good for 2 years for $20 versus 1 year for $10. Hardest thing is to remember to get it renewed.

Inspections, what are vehicle inspections? though I've seen some pretty ratty home built trailers that should be inspected. I may live in the land of 10,000 taxes, I mean lakes, but at least I don't have to deal with inspections/smog yearly.

Berkshire 514 wrote:elefntkpr


I'm only a few miles away from you in St. James Parish, LA. Early this summer I heard people around town warning me and others to make sure you have your boat trailer inspection sticker. Local authorities have been reported to have been checking each boat that launches at St. James Boat Club at Blind River on any give4n Saturday or Sunday and giving out fines to those without the trailer inspection. I just received my new license plate and registration for my new boat and glad I read this which reminds me to go get my trailer inspection. FYI, in Louisiana they are now offering inspections good for 2 years for $20 versus 1 year for $10. Hardest thing is to remember to get it renewed.

Really? We were on the Blind yesterday but we launch on Diversion. I had read this was mostly happening in northern La, but it looks like that's changed. Thanks for the heads up!

ROLAND wrote:John, I've never had my trailer inspected, didn't know I was supposed to. The only thing I've done with regard to my trailer was, when I bought the license plate, Louisiana gives you the option of buying the plates for 2 years or you can buy a lifetime tag.... Don't remember how much difference it was, but it wasn't a great deal so I opted for the one time buy.... but I need to look into that trailer inspection... thanks for the heads up.

That's what gets me, with the exception of my neighbor who brought this to my attention, no one I know has heard of this either. The DMV website clearly says you have to but I would have never thought to look. I have never heard anyone talk about getting a trailer inspected. From the looks of trailers I see at the launch, I bet hardly anyone does this. The state will make a killing cracking down on this those turds. I'm definitely calling the Tracker boat dealer and asking why they didn't do this or at least tell me I needed to.

In Maryland, vehicles are inspected ONCE..which doesn't make sense since new vehicles have no safety issues. Never again until re registered to a new owner. Same with boat trailers. The inspection shop gives you a card you have to carry. NEVER had a cop ask to see it though.

In VA, if you have brakes, you need to be inspected annually. If you're gross weight is over 3000 lbs, you need brakes. The cops in VA Beach are notorious for trolling the boat ramps on weekends for easy quotas. I guess it's good to know that most of the rigs on the road are stoppable.

I used to have a local "good ole boy" sell me a trailer inspection sticker without me hauling my trailer to him. I keep 2 boats and a jet ski stored at False River (New Roads, LA) and have quit getting trailer inspections because I haul less than a mile and usually launch and retrieve during "off" hours. But yes, if you trailer very much and to/from places where DWF love to hang out and issue tickets then it is wise to keep the inspection sticker up to date.

In PA, any trailer over 3000 GVW has to have brakes and be inspected yearly. If its a tandem, both axles must have brakes. About 10 years ago there was a big crackdown on all trailers after a breakaway killed a family. There are random inspection sticker checks at the public ramps, but its not too often. You get a sticker put on the tongue of your trailer like you would for your windshield. I am all for inspections if it saves a life. This was just on the news last week... http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/07/ ... -trailers/