State of Maryland

A Maryland State Police (MSP) Vehicle Safety Inspector I is the intermediate level of work conducting inspections and investigations of Maryland licensed Vehicle Safety Inspection Stations and previously inspected and certified motor vehicles to ensure compliance and enforcement of State and federal motor vehicle safety laws and regulations.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from an MSP Vehicle Safety Inspector Supervisor or a designated law enforcement officer.  Employees may be required to work evenings, nights and weekends or work a rotating shift and may be subject to call-in duty. The work is primarily performed outdoors under varying weather conditions and requires travel throughout the State.  The work is performed at service station bays and may require use of safety equipment, such as protective clothing, eyewear and gloves. Employees may be exposed to physical hazards such as toxic materials and fumes and other hazardous conditions.  The work may require bending or stooping in confined spaces and carrying specialized tools and testing devices.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The MSP Vehicle Safety Inspector I and MSP Vehicle Safety Inspector II are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The MSP Vehicle Safety Inspector I performs duties under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed while the MSP Vehicle Safety Inspector II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision. 

Conducts inspections and investigations of Maryland licensed Vehicle Safety Inspection Stations to ensure compliance and enforcement of State and federal motor vehicle safety laws, rules and regulations;

Inspects and measures the following systems/components: toe, ball joints, king pins, drums, rotors, brake pads linings, headlights, steering, alignment, suspension, brakes, wheels, tires, fuel, exhaust, bumpers, fenders, lighting, electrical, mirrors, glazing, wipers, hood/catches, door handle/latches, floor/trunk/frame, speedometer/odometer, driver’s seat, safety belts, motor mounts, gear shift indicator, universal/constant velocity joints and emissions components of previously inspected and certified motor vehicles;

Investigates inspection related complaints at Maryland licensed Vehicle Safety Inspection Stations;

Issues citations, safety equipment repair orders, and warnings at Maryland licensed Vehicle Inspection Stations for violations to Code of Maryland (COMAR) regulations;

Collects and records survey data from Maryland licensed Vehicle Inspection Stations;

Prepares and maintains inspection and investigation reports and manuals;

Lifts, transports and maintains tools and computer equipment;

Revokes registration of non-compliant vehicles;

Testifies in court and administrative hearings regarding COMAR violations and post crash investigative findings;

Attends in-service, out-of-service or seminar training in order to keep abreast of changes involving State and federal laws and regulations and inspection procedures and practices;

Assists with the examination of post collision vehicles in accident investigations;

Performs salvage inspections;

Assists with Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO) classes given to Department of Maryland State Police (MSP) and allied agency personnel;

May rotate as an informational liaison at the Department of Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) offices;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of motor vehicle operating systems, mechanical components and safety equipment;

Ability to conduct inspections and investigations to ensure compliance with State and federal motor vehicle safety laws and regulations;

Ability to recognize regulation violations and determine appropriate course of action;

Ability to prepare and maintain inspection and investigation logs and reports;

Ability to use and maintain testing and measuring equipment;

Ability to use computer systems and access informational resources;

Ability to testify at court proceedings concerning safety violations and post crash investigative findings.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Six months of experience performing mechanical repair, maintenance or inspection of motor vehicles.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience in the mechanical repair, maintenance orinspection of motor vehicles on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute additional experience in law enforcement activities including vehicle inspections on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing inaccordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

2. In accordance with Public Safety Article, Title 2. Department of State Police, Section 2-204 (b)(6) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to an initial drug screening, a physical examination and a complete criminal background investigation, to include a polygraph examination, before permanent appointment can be made.  A criminal conviction may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit C, Regulatory, Inspection and Licensure and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are exempt from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.