Fake Inspection Sticker Spotted in Upstate New York

If your vehicle inspection is expired, putting a fake inspection sticker on your windshield probably isn't the best way to get around it.

New York State Inspections

If you own a vehicle in New York, you're well aware that once a year you are required by law to have your vehicle inspected at a licensed auto repair shop. The yearly inspection checks various parts of your vehicle, including the lights, tires, brakes, and more. If your vehicle passes, you pay the $21 inspection fee, and you're on your way. If it doesn't, you're required to fix whatever is wrong before you can get an inspection sticker.

One thing you should never do is try to fool police by making your own inspection sticker.

That's exactly what one driver in Upstate New York allegedly tried to do.

Fake New York Inspection Sticker — New York State Police

Fake New York State Inspection Sticker

According to the New York State Police, it all happened on Thursday, August 6, when a Trooper from SP Homer was conducting traffic enforcement on Interstate 81 in the Town of Homer. The Trooper spotted a 2013 Subaru Legacy committing vehicle and traffic violations and pulled the car over.

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It didn't take long for the Trooper to discover there was a problem with the vehicle's inspection. A check of New York State Department of Motor Vehicles records showed that the Subaru's inspection had actually expired in 2024.

But there was an inspection sticker sitting right there on the windshield.

And that's where things get interesting.

The New York State Police shared a photo showing two inspection stickers side-by-side. One is legitimate, and the other was confiscated from the Subaru during the traffic stop.

So, which one is fake?

The sticker on the left is fake. The sticker on the right is real.

The Trooper took a closer look at the sticker displayed on the Subaru and determined that it wasn't valid at all. It was a fake, and apparently, that wasn't the only problem the driver had.

Driver Issued Multiple Tickets

During the investigation, the Trooper also determined that the operator's driver's license had been revoked. The driver was identified as 32-year-old Otis Lavon Tillie of Syracuse. He was issued traffic tickets for Forged Inspection Certificate and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation in the 2nd Degree, both misdemeanors.

The Subaru was also impounded.

State Police's message accompanying the photo was pretty simple:

"Nice try, but we check."

And that's probably a good reminder for anyone thinking about putting a fake inspection sticker on their windshield. If your inspection is expired, putting a fake sticker on your car isn't going to make it legal. In fact, it could turn a simple expired inspection into a much bigger problem.