More than a few drivers have been irked by a rules change implemented this week at DMV, where car owners are being told to pay for repeat safety and emissions inspections of vehicles that were checked just a few months ago.

DMV changed the rules Monday, saying now that your inspection is good only if it came no more than 90 days before the deadline to renew your car registration. This conflicts with DMV's pledge that nobody will be forced to get two inspections within 12 months.

Henry Martin of Charlotte called a toll-free DMV number (877-421-0020). Tracy Keel, who oversees DMV inspections, had promised N&O and Charlotte Observer readers that operators would solve such problems.

No such luck, Martin said.

“According to them, the information in the article is not correct,” Martin said today. “Somebody at DMV told me they’re only going to let you go back to August.

“Mine was inspected in June. They’re going to require me to inspect it again.”

So I gave Martin the direct phone number for Keel (919-861-3144). That took care of it.

Somebody on Keel’s staff spoke with Martin and cleared the way to renew his registration without the expense of a second, unnecessary inspection.

"He said he’d correct it and I’d be able to go ahead and getting it registered," Martin said. "It's just really confusing."

It's even more confusing for Joseph Wright of Franklinton.

“I had my truck inspected last September, and the guys told me it was good for at least a year. I had to spend another $30 to get mine inspected again this week.

“So why won’t they give me a rebate?”

I gave him Tracy Keel's number.

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