points of interest:
if an officer or a shop hassles you about your mods, but they're legal by these statues, tell em to get lost.
Section 170
chapter 10. STEERING, ALIGNMENT, AND SUSPENSION
section J, number 5 (page 25):
(5) Reject vehicle if the minimum frame end height is less than
10 inches, or less than the frame end height if the vehicle was
originally manufactured lower than 10 inches. Street rods
and custom vehicles are exempt from this requirement.
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 7
(4) Reject vehicle if the fender does not cover the tire tread.
[hence flares are cool, and stretched tire that has just the tread inside the fender is cool]
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 9
E. Reject vehicle if it leaks oil in an amount or in such a location as to
constitute a fire hazard.
[so oil leaks are ok, just not ones onto the header, for example]
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 9
H. Registration Plates;
(1) Reject vehicle if it does not have a registration plate attached
to the front and the rear that are clearly visible and legible.
Exception: only one dealer registration plate, transit
registration plate or temporary registration plate is required to
be displayed on applicable vehicles. Vehicles registered in
another state may require only one registration plate.
(2) Reject vehicle if all registration plates are not displayed
horizontally.
(3) Reject vehicle if any covering or discoloration affects the
original color or reduces the visibility of the registration
plates.
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 10
B. [Exahust] Rejection Standards;
(8) Reject vehicle if the exhaust system or a modified exhaust
system does not discharge completely to the side or rear of
the enclosed passenger portion of the body of the vehicle.
(9) Reject vehicle if it is not equipped with a muffler or mufflers
that are effective in reducing noise. No muffler may be
altered to amplify noise, and
all mufflers must prevent
excessive or unusual noise.
[nothing about decibel levels is mentioned till below]
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 12
C. Window Tinting
(4) Reject vehicle if the vehicle has tinted windows and the
owner of the vehicle cannot provide the Inspection
Technician with a certificate of compliance approved by the
Bureau of the Maine State Police that states that the vehicle
meets the standards set forth by Maine law and this Chapter
for light transmittance.
(a) Any window tinting treatment or covering must be
removed if it fails to meet the inspection standard.
(
Multipurpose
vehicles such as sport utility vehicles,
pickup
trucks, and vans equipped with tinted glass on
the rear side windows and rear window are exempt
from this requirement.
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 15
9. LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL
A. General Lamp Inspection
[car lowering/headlight height]
(12) Reject vehicle if a headlamp, measured from its center, is
located less than 22 inches or more than 54 inches above the
level surface on which the vehicle stands. This restriction
does not apply to vehicles equipped with a snowplow.
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 18
G. Optional Auxiliary Lighting and UnderVehicle
Lighting
(6) Reject vehicle if any auxiliary light emits a beam that is
brighter than, has a greater candlepower than or distracts
from the visibility of standard lighting equipment.
[your HID rally lights cant be brighter than your stock highbeams]
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170
10. STEERING, ALIGNMENT, AND SUSPENSION
section J, number 5 (page 25):
(5) Reject vehicle if the minimum frame end height is less than
10 inches, or less than the frame end height if the vehicle was
originally manufactured lower than 10 inches. Street rods
and custom vehicles are exempt from this requirement.
[frame end height on unibody cars is the bumper beam]
(7)
Lowering kits are permitted if they are manufactured by an
after market manufacturer, are designed for the make and
model vehicle on which they are installed, and if the kit is
installed according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
The entire kit must be used.
16-222 Chapter 1 Section 170 page 9
A. Exhaust System Examination;
(1) The exhaust system includes the exhaust manifold, the piping
leading from the flange at the exhaust manifold to and
including the mufflers, the tail piping, and the catalytic
converter.
(1) Reject vehicle if there are any loose or leaking joints or
seams in the exhaust system.
(2) Reject vehicle if there are any holes in the exhaust system,
other than small holes obviously made by the manufacturer to
provide drainage.
(3) Reject vehicle if there are any loose interior baffles.
(4) Reject vehicle if the exhaust system has been repaired with a
jacket, patch, or in any other manner.
(5) Reject vehicle if any exhaust system elements are not
fastened securely by use of hangers or clamps.
(6) Reject vehicle if any part of the exhaust system passes
through the passenger compartment.
(7) Reject vehicle if flexible tubing has been used to replace any
part of the exhaust system, unless such seamless bendable
tubing was factory installed as original equipment.
(8) Reject vehicle if the exhaust system or a modified exhaust
system does not discharge completely to the side or rear of
the enclosed passenger portion of the body of the vehicle.
(9) Reject vehicle if it is not equipped with a muffler or mufflers
that are effective in reducing noise. No muffler may be
altered to amplify noise, and all mufflers must prevent
excessive or unusual noise.
(10) Reject vehicle if it was manufactured after the 1982 model
years and it is not equipped with a catalytic converter.
[no mention of testing of decibels is listed]
Chapter 17: EQUIPMENT
Subchapter 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS