Eat vegetables, exercise, get your car inspected. We might not always like it, but it’s the smart thing to do.

Maine’s automobile safety inspection program, which is scrutinized in today’s Sun Journal, is part art, part science, and gives many car owners heartburn. The state provides guidelines for mechanics and tries to guarantee that inspections are the same, no matter where they are performed.

Truth is, there’s plenty of room for interpretation.

And while every car and motorcycle in the state is required to have a yearly inspection, there are no hard numbers to support the idea that safety inspections reduce the number of accidents in Maine. The state ranks second in the nation for cheap auto insurance, Iowa – with no safety inspection – comes in first place.

For many, the inspection process is a hurdle to be cleared, a hassle that takes time and costs money. Determined scofflaws can shop around until they find an inspector with a more generous interpretation of the rules. People who want to game the system can.

But for those who are concerned about their own safety and the safety of others, the inspections are a good, low-cost opportunity for peace of mind.

The merit of the system is that once a year, vehicle owners are forced to think about safety and their car at the same time. Instead of just jumping in, starting up and driving away, we have to consider bald tires, worn-out brakes and misaligned headlights.

That’s a good thing.

Who wants to risk life and limb to save a few bucks? In those terms, the inevitable repair bill, like nicely prepared spinach, becomes easier to swallow.
Common sense


The Attorney General’s Office dismissed charges against Auburn Mayor Normand Guay last week, citing a lack of evidence in the case.

Guay was arrested and charged with operating under the influence after a traffic stop by city police. The police report of the arrest says Guay failed a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest, taken to the police station and administered a breath test. He passed the breath test by a wide margin, registering a blood alcohol content of just .01. The legal limit is .08.

Guay admitted to drinking two or three beers the night of the stop, and may or may not have been taking prescription medication. The mayor told this paper he was not medicated; the police report indicates he told the officers he was taking medicine for an infection. No drug evaluation was administered at the time of his arrest.

The police union and the city remain embroiled in contentious labor negotiations and the mayor and his supporters have questioned the motivation behind his arrest. Police maintain they followed procedure by charging the mayor even with a legal BAC. Lawyers hired by the city are investigating the arrest.

This whole messy affair should be a reminder not to drink and drive. Period.

After years of warnings and countless dollars spent on educating people about the dangers of drinking and driving, it remains an avoidable social problem. A little common sense could have prevented this entire affair. The mayor shouldn’t have driven after drinking.
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