Sometimes you just need to scream!!!

[snickerd3]

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We just got informed that if we use our personal vehicles the mileage we claim has to match the mileage listed when you map the route in mapquest. If it doesn't match you only get paid for what mapquest says. Mapquest is usually wrong and isn't able to locate most of the sites I'd be visiting, while using my personal vehicle.

We have to include a print out from map quest with the designated route and mileage with our reimbursement requests. what a logistic nightmare.

 

[roadwreck]

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We just got informed that if we use our personal vehicles the mileage we claim has to match the mileage listed when you map the route in mapquest. If it doesn't match you only get paid for what mapquest says. Mapquest is usually wrong and isn't able to locate most of the sites I'd be visiting, while using my personal vehicle.
We have to include a print out from map quest with the designated route and mileage with our reimbursement requests. what a logistic nightmare.

you know you can click and drag both the start location and the ending location to where ever you want on the map right? So even if the location shown as the address doesn't give the precise location you can move the destination or starting point to where it should be. You can also click and drag to add points anywhere along the route, so if the directions given in Mapquest don't match the actual route traveled, or if you have to make a stop along the way you can manually adjust that. Or you can just throw in random detours to increase the mileage.

 

[snickerd3]

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We just got informed that if we use our personal vehicles the mileage we claim has to match the mileage listed when you map the route in mapquest. If it doesn't match you only get paid for what mapquest says. Mapquest is usually wrong and isn't able to locate most of the sites I'd be visiting, while using my personal vehicle.
We have to include a print out from map quest with the designated route and mileage with our reimbursement requests. what a logistic nightmare.

you know you can click and drag both the start location and the ending location to where ever you want on the map right? So even if the location shown as the address doesn't give the precise location you can move the destination or starting point to where it should be. You can also click and drag to add points anywhere along the route, so if the directions given in Mapquest don't match the actual route traveled, or if you have to make a stop along the way you can manually adjust that. Or you can just throw in random detours to increase the mileage.

I know it can...but that would assume the person reviewing the request agrees with my determination of where the destination is if mapquest doesn't find it. Common sense eludes them...These same people questioned my boss's travel to santa fe on a sunday afternoon for a meeting that started at 8:30AM monday morning.

 

[Master slacker]

1) If your mileage is questioned, keep track of the time you spend discussing the route and destination with the approver. Based on your pay, determine how much that time cost the company. Ex: You spend 30 minutes explaining the charge and you are paid $40 / hr = $20 the company is essentially out.

2) Determine the difference between the approver's determined mileage and yours (ex: App - 100 miles, You - 110 miles, Difference - 10 miles). At $0.50 per mile, that's a $5 difference.

3) Discuss with your boss that in saving $5 from an expense report, the mileage approver cost your boss $20 and he's net $15 in the hole.

 

[snickerd3]

1) If your mileage is questioned, keep track of the time you spend discussing the route and destination with the approver. Based on your pay, determine how much that time cost the company. Ex: You spend 30 minutes explaining the charge and you are paid $40 / hr = $20 the company is essentially out.
2) Determine the difference between the approver's determined mileage and yours (ex: App - 100 miles, You - 110 miles, Difference - 10 miles). At $0.50 per mile, that's a $5 difference.

3) Discuss with your boss that in saving $5 from an expense report, the mileage approver cost your boss $20 and he's net $15 in the hole.

While that makes logical sense in the real world, to government (state) fiscal people that sort of stuff doesn't matter. and if they screw over one of those devout union members you can bet your bottom a greivance will be filed for something as small as $5.

I'm just dreading the stupid headache of remembering to submit the extra information, and the time it will take to map out the trip with all stops.

 

[Master slacker]

Oh, the approver is a government fiscal person? Just put in the expense description area, "Duuuuuhhh eeeeeeerrrrrhhhh beeellllhhh" and draw a stick person with a red crayon. They'll approve it for sure since you'll be communicating on their level.

 

[Master slacker]

Something good happened for once. I ordered that damned fuel hose Tuesday morning and got it Wednesday afternoon. Sometimes 3-5 business days can translate to a day and a half.

Replaced hose last night, no gas smell this morning, state inspection this afternoon. Hopefully no rant will ensue.

 

[wilheldp_PE]

You have interaction with a government agency this afternoon and you don't expect a rant to ensue. That's a good one.

 

[Master slacker]

Technically I'm not interacting with them. The gas station performs the inspection, which sometimes entails a kick of the tires and giving them $18. Hopefully I'll luck out and get that inspection today.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I'm glad SC doesn't do that inspection BS anymore. I remember I took my sister's bug in once. They turned on the headlights, gave the adjuster screw a quarter turn clockwise, then a quarter turn counter-clockwise, and presented me wih a $35 dollar invoice for 'headlight alighnment and inspection.' The inspection was $2 bucks.

 

[Sschell]

^I'm in the wrong business.

 

[MA_PE]

Just took a car in fopr inspection. $30. Having the "check engine light" on is a cause for failure. They hook up to the computer and pull the codes. you need to have it fixed before they'll remove the rejection sticker.

The printed sticker is barcoded so in the database it brings up the car VIN and registration number which is tied to the DMV database (which is accessible to law enforcement). Gone are the days of buying a black-market inspection sticker to validate a $100 POS car to get around town in.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I'm glad I don't live in MA....

 

[Master slacker]

Car passed inspections. YAY!

Oh... this is the rant room...

Rant: My Impala is covered in dirt, dust, white paint overspray, and generally nasty now because I took so long in fixing the old beater. :angry:

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

The printed sticker is barcoded so in the database it brings up the car VIN and registration number which is tied to the DMV database (which is accessible to law enforcement). Gone are the days of buying a black-market inspection sticker to validate a $100 POS car to get around town in.

My wife's car technically won't pass inspection due to a cracked fog light. It would cost several hundred to repair, so she's not interested. She just takes it to the local (no speak Ingles) scheisty garage and they pass it for her.

Legit sticker, and if there's ever an issue, it's the shop's cheese flapping in the wind, not hers. It's a nice arrangement.

 

[roadwreck]

The printed sticker is barcoded so in the database it brings up the car VIN and registration number which is tied to the DMV database (which is accessible to law enforcement). Gone are the days of buying a black-market inspection sticker to validate a $100 POS car to get around town in.

My wife's car technically won't pass inspection due to a cracked fog light. It would cost several hundred to repair, so she's not interested. She just takes it to the local (no speak Ingles) scheisty garage and they pass it for her.

Legit sticker, and if there's ever an issue, it's the shop's cheese flapping in the wind, not hers. It's a nice arrangement.

a cracked fog lamp is several hundred to repair? Can you not replace it yourself? A fog lamp shouldn't be to hard to get to and a lot of the time you can just order a new assembly, unscrew the cracked one and replace it with a new one. I'm sure you can find detailed directions online.

The most difficult part of repairs like that is simply the amount of space you have to work with in the engine bay. I've replaced both headlights on my car before and they are a bitch to get to, but the job itself is very straightforward. I would imagine fog lamps should be easier to access.

 

[MA_PE]

I can see a cracked fog light being a $200+ repair at a dealer, however IMHO fog lights are not a required safety feature (like a headlight) and should not be a reason for failure. Also if the lens is cracked who cares. Does the light work? Similarly if your headlight lens was cracked but the light worked, there is no safety issue involved and it should not be cause for rejection. If the lens were BROKEN then I wouldn't expect the light to work as it's exposed to the weather.

I'd tell whomever failed it for a cracked or even broken fog light to cram it.

 

[RIP - VTEnviro]

a cracked fog lamp is several hundred to repair?

Two quotes to replace the whole assembly were ~$359. The light doesn't work and the housing is broken.

Can you not replace it yourself?

[Dr. McCoy] I'm an engineer, not a mechanic. [/Dr. McCoy] I've replaced a dead headlight before when it was just the bulb, but this is a whole assembly.

I'd tell whomever failed it for a cracked or even broken fog light to cram it.

Honda wouldn't pass it, but they are probably looking for the repair money. Seeing as the guys inspecting it are here illegally anyway, I'm sure they don't mind taking a few liberties with inspection laws.

 

[MA_PE]

The situation intrigued me to the point whee I looked it up.

from http://www.mass.gov/rmv/faq/inspection.htm

"Will a vehicle with a small crack in a tail light or missing reflector pass inspection?

No, the regulation clearly states that all lenses and reflectors must be intact, clean, unobstructed, and free from cracks. The use of adhesive tape to repair lenses is prohibited. If the lens has been repaired with an epoxy and is sealed from any water intrusion, it should pass."

I guess literally interpreted this pertains to all "lenses or reflectors" on the vehicle. I'd also interpret it so that if you remove the fog light completely you should be OK, but leave a broken one on is cause for failure. That's for the birds. Welcome to the people's republic of MA.

I thought these two were contraditory.

The airbag light is on in my vehicle, am I going to fail inspection?

Yes. Airbags are now part of the state inspection. If your airbag indicator light indicates a malfunction in the system, or any airbag has been deployed, you will fail the inspection.

and

My Anti-lock brake light is on, am I going to fail inspection?

No, anti-lock brakes are not part of the state inspection. However, if the brake light is on, indicating a failure in the hydraulic braking system, you will be failed. This indicates a serious condition which must be checked immediately. The anti-lock brake light indicates a problem with that specific feature of your braking system. We do, however, suggest you have the brakes checked as soon as possible.

Amazing.

 

[Capt Worley PE]

I taped over an airbag warning light. I am perfectly fine with the explosive device aimed at my head not going off.