Despite crash, garages inspect
Shops that illegally OK’D limo in fatal Schoharie accident still issuing DMV stickers
The two Saratoga County auto repair shops that affixed state inspection stickers to the stretch limousine involved in the deadly Schoharie County crash are still conducting inspections despite having apparently violated Department of Motor Vehicle regulations.
Prestige Limousine, the Wilton-based company that purchased the 2001 Ford Excursion limousine two years ago, had its first
DMV inspection in July
2016 at the Wilton Truck
Center off Exit 16 of the
Northway.
The second DMV inspection took place in May at the Mavis Discount Tire store in Saratoga Springs, 10 months after the 2016 inspection sticker had lapsed.
Neither inspection should have taken place because the limousine was subject to much more rigorous inspections that are conducted by the state Department of Transportation. Also, DMV regulations that have been in place since February 2011 specifically ban DMV inspection stations from performing inspections of stretch limos unless they have a special waiver.
On Oct. 6, the driver and 17 passengers aboard the Excursion for a birthday party, as well as two bystanders, died in the crash.
But as of Thursday, both shops were still offering state inspections to customers, and the DMV still had them on their list of approved inspection stations.
State DMV officials won’t say if they have taken any action against the shops, which
can be fined or have their inspection certifications revoked for violating state motor vehicle inspection law or DMV regulations, although they are allowed to appeal any penalties. All state DMV inspection stations are privately owned.
“Facilities are required to strictly follow the New York State DMV Motor Vehicle Inspection regulations,” DMV spokeswoman Lisa Koumjian told the Times Union, when asked if they are investigating the stations or pursuing any administrative action against them. “In light of the ongoing criminal investigation into the deadly limo crash in Schoharie, it would be irresponsible to comment on any information that could compromise the integrity of that investigation.”
Neither corporate officials with Mavis Discount Tire nor the owner of the Wilton Truck Center responded to requests for comment.
The DMV’S motor vehicle inspection regulations handbook clearly states that stretch limos must be turned away if their operators request to have an inspection done without an exemption letter.
“The inspection station shall refuse to perform the inspection,” the handbook states. “The inspection station shall not charge the motorist for the inspection, and shall provide the motorist with instructions about how to comply with (DOT) periodic inspection requirements.”
Despite having a DMV inspection sticker, the 2001 Excursion was subjected to DOT inspections in March and September, and ordered to be taken off the road in both instances due to a variety of safety violations, including faulty brakes.
In between those two spot DOT inspections, Prestige brought the Excursion to the Saratoga Springs Mavis shop and was issued a new DMV inspection sticker, which may have aided in giving it the appearance of being legally operated.
The DOT inspections conducted this year documented that the vehicle was improperly registered, and also found other problems including that it had not been authorized to carry passengers; had faulty brakes, including a dangling hydraulic line and another brake line with a vice grip clamped onto it; and that the conversion of the stretch limousine to hold 18 people may not have been properly certified.
State DOT officials have highlighted that Prestige Limousine did not have the proper certification, known as DOT “operating authority” to operate a limousine company, and that DOT inspectors were ignored when they twice ordered the Excursion taken off the road due to safety and paperwork violations.