Encounters with the Maryland State Bureaucracy, Chapter 459.
I get an email this week from MVA saying I can't get new plates for my car because I failed to get the emissions checked. Okay. I vaguely recall getting sent a notice for the useless nozzle up the tailpipe check imposed by the tree-huggers in our state. I sorta thought my wife took care of it, but whatever.
So I drive to the Vehicle Emissions Inspection spot which happens to be about a mile from my house. A two-minute test follows. Congratulations that'll be $258. Yes, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY EIGHT dollars.
I literally laughed in the guy's face, assuming he'd just made a mistake. But no. I'd rolled up a year or so of late fees that double every two weeks.
So, rather than pick on this peon I told him to get the station manager. The woman confirms that I owe $258. I tell her, "You better figure something out fast. Because I'm not paying more than the $14 fee. And you are going to give me a release to get my license plate before I leave. The only variable is how long that takes."
She blinked a couple times, then says, "Okay, I'll waive the late fee." I gave them $14 and made sure I had my release for the plates.
As I'm paying my $14, I said to the woman, "You realize it's absurd to keep doubling these fees for some nuisance emissions check that late model cars always pass anyway?" She says, "Well, it's the law." I asked her if there was any limit to the late fees. "No." So, I said, if I managed not to get caught with expired plates and drove around for ten years, my late fee could be "$30,000 or so?" Yes, she said.
God bless the Free State, as they laughingly call this place, among other things,
