I'm not sure of NY laws, but don't you have to have your car inspected in your birth month? In NH most dealers typically do the inspection for you as a courtesy and throw the sticker on. If not you have 10 days from purchase if bought second hand and 10 days after registering it for a new car.
Check link... explains.
www.nysdmv.com/vehsafe.htm
You get a "10 day" when you put a car on the road. You can ask DMV for 2 additional "10 day" stickers after that they void your registraition basically.
In New York the inspection requirs the following.
Mirrors
horn (musical horns are ok)
tires (good tred)
headlights (high/low)
blinkers
hazard lights (four ways)
parking lights (markers)
reverse lights
brake lights
windshield wipers
no cracks in windshield (sometimes small crack on bottom edge that is unnoticable and won't "spider" is ok...sometimes
quiet muffler
E-brake (must work...though if the mechanic "likes" you...you can sometimes slide..sometimes)
working brakes
check engin light CAN NOT be on (1996 and newer no codes can be found on computer)
If your frame is bent or rusted (to point of possible weakness) it fails (real problem in most forein cars)
Fuel leaks can fail car aswell
Working passenger restraint system (seatbelts).
Front end must not be lose (tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings idler arms, ect..)
And car must have front rear bumpers (pressure treated lumber is accdeptible).
Oh yeah, rear licence plate lights must work.
That's the basics...I think that's everything. Worked as a mech and that's what we were told to look for.
Problem is this gives garuages more power when your lucky to get away with your paycheck in the first place. If they fail your car during inspection it's reported to "big brother" so you can't just go to another mech and get it inspected. Mechanic #2 cannot pass your car without fixing what mech #1's computer reported (this includes crap like cracked windshied or non emisions) Machanic #2 looses his licence and they void your registration.
Furthermore. Even if the car isn't yours and you get tagged by a cop you are resposible for ticket. The driver is resposible for the condition of car anytime you drive. You are to do a "walk around" every time before you get into a car to ensure that EVERYTHING is in proper working order. so basically your spos to spend 20 minutes checking your car for safty every time before you get in... Now days you can't get away with anything and I don't know how many times i've gotten pulled over for stupid crap (i'm white so I can't use race as an exscuse) like a crooked licence plate (helped push a frend when stuck with my car and screw got pulled out). One (not both) of my rear plate lights was blown, cracked driver side mirror. What pisses me off more then anything is when I see peole driving with one headlight, blown tail lights ect and they never seem to get pulled over. I drive to the store...
Stragly enough, if you fail to appear in court and you licence is suspended it emediatly comes up on the cops computer. But after you pay the fine itr can take 6 to 9 months before it's in the system. And if you get pulled over and don't have the paperwork with you, you can be arrested. Or they'll let you go but your car is towed, but if your lucky they'll let you choose a tow company of your choice...or if your really lucky they might let a friend/relitive come get your car.
The date of inspection is dependent on the month when the vehicle is purchased. So, for example, if I buy a car Jan 3 2008, It must be inspected by Jan 31 2009.
Car doesn't have to be inspected after you buy it. You can buy a car and have it sit in your yard for 50 years or whatnot. The inspection isn't REQUIRED until you put it on the road (register it). The "ten day" sticker you get when you register the car at the DMV is the "grace period." However, if you get caught at a DWI checkpoint or such and a cop see's you have a "ten day" you'll get flagged and told to pull over to check that it's still valid.
There are so many laws that can get you into crap that if a cop was having a bad day he could write you a ticket for anything. You know when the officer is haveing a real baqd day when he takes out his knitestick and smashes something.
Most times you get lucky when you get a "dusk to dawn ticket." Were you get 24 hours to fix whatevers wrong. If your lucky you can just go to local police station and have an officer sign the paper verifying that the work has been performed. then you have to show the county cleark or show the judge. Even then you may get a fine.