Should a broken fog lamp cause rejection on a passenger vehicle inspection? | Ask the DMV
Q: Should a broken lens on a fog lamp cause rejection on a passenger vehicle inspection? I view them as optional equipment.
The testing manual does not address them, and they are mounted too low to be considered headlights. Also, according to the manual, backup lights do not have to work, just be white and only work in reverse gear when they do.
— Jim M., West Warwick
A: I sent your questions over to the chief of Safety and Emissions, which oversees vehicle inspections and inspection stations. Here is his response:
“Fog lamps would be considered optional equipment and their functionality would not be part of a safety inspection. As long as there is not an issue with any broken glass or sharp edges, fog lights would not be cause for failure. As far as the reverse lights: they would only be cause for rejection if they were a color other than white or they were illuminated when the vehicle is in any gear other than reverse.“
Q: I went to the Department of Motor Vehicles in Cranston and paid a fine several months ago for failure to have insurance on my car. I have yet to receive my stickers. I'm also not able to get my car inspected because I don't have stickers. What is my next step?
— Nicholas H.
A: I see on your record that there was a vehicle that expired in June 2020 that was registered in your name. Since this registration has been expired for more than a year, you will need to make a reservation to come into any DMV branch to do a re-registration.
Please bring your old plates, a completed TR-1 form, and a form of payment. Instructions on how to make a reservation can be found on the front page of our website: www.dmv.ri.gov. The TR-1 form can be printed out from our website and it can be found in the “Forms & Fees” tab under the “Registration Forms”. If you don’t have a printer to print the application, we will give it to you when you check in at the branch.
Our online registration renewal transaction will only allow you to renew if the registration has been expired for less than one year. Your other options are to mail in the paperwork (600 New London Ave., Cranston, RI 02920) or drop off the paperwork at any DMV Drop Box.
Please make sure all the paperwork is complete and you include a form of payment. If you have proof that you paid your registration renewal last year for this vehicle, please provide that proof and we will print you out a new registration certificate and give you new registration stickers, too.
Chuck Hollis is assistant administrator of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles. Please email your questions to cars@providencejournal.com with “Ask the DMV” in the subject field.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ask the DMV: A broken lens on a fog lamp causes inspection rejection
