Did You Get One of These?

The form you see on your right is called a Maryland Safety Equipment Repair Order. It looks like a traffic ticket, however it is not. A Safety Equipment Repair Order is actually a document issued by police officers to the owners or drivers of Maryland-registered vehicles which have safety equipment violations, and requires the violations to be corrected within Ten (10) Days, or the registration (tags) on the vehicle will be suspended. Once the vehicle's problems have been corrected, the vehicle has to be inspected, and the bottom half of the form must be signed by the vehicle equipment inspector. One copy must then be mailed to the Maryland State Police Automotive Equipment Safety Division.

The A.S.E.D gives the vehicle owner Thirty (30) days to get the signed form mailed to them, however the inspection must have been done within Ten (10) Days, as stated above. In most cases, a Maryland Safety Equipment Repair Order can be signed by the employees of any Maryland Authorized Inspection Station (usually at gas stations), or by any Maryland Police Officer.

There are however some violations which cannot be signed by Police Officers. Vehicle Equipment violations which require specialized equipment for inspection, such as Wheel Alignment, Suspension, Steering, Tires, etc., require that the vehicle be inspected only a Maryland Authorized Inspection Station. Additionally, if the Repair Order was issued for a Tinted Window Violation, the inspection MUST be done by a member of the A.S.E.D. Team, during DRY weather only.

Members of the A.S.E.D. are available for vehicle inspections at most MVA locations throughout Maryland, on various days and times of the week. Contact your local MVA office for the inspector's availability.

For other certification locations or for further information about Maryland’s vehicle inspection laws, contact the Maryland State Police Automotive Safety Equipment Division at (410) 768-7389.

You should be aware that violations of vehicle equipment laws DO subject the operator of the vehicle to a traffic citation. The issuance of a Vehicle Safety Equipment Repair Order does not prevent the police officer from issuing a traffic citation (usually in the amount of $50.00), as well. If you have been issued a Repair Order for your vehicle without being issued a citation, consider that the police officer has given you "a break." Please return the gesture by getting your vehicle repaired as soon as possible.