Crackdown on Sight-Unseen Inspections
Illegal issuing of sight-unseen pink and blue slips has serious consequences for authorised examiners and third parties.
A joint investigation by NSW Police and Transport, which began in 2022, uncovered widespread fraud involving inspection reports issued without vehicles ever being inspected.
The investigation followed the advertising of unseen inspections on social media, and escalated in February 2025 after NSW Police detected a vehicle that had a major defect notice cleared the following day.
The investigation identified a third-party individual who facilitated the issuing of fraudulent inspection reports through multiple AIS stations, despite not being a mechanic or part of the AIS. Financial records revealed he was paid $85,815 to facilitate 196 inspection reports across multiple locations in NSW.
The individual was arrested in September 2025 and charged with multiple counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. He was sentenced to an Intensive Correction Order (20 months) and Community Service Work (200 hours).
To date, NSW Police and Transport have identified 10 authorised examiners from separate AIS stations who allegedly participated in the scheme.
One station was found to have issued sight-unseen reports for more than 18 months, despite the physical station no longer existing. These examiners are expected to face charges, and if convicted, their examiner authorities will be cancelled.
Transport inspected vehicles that received fraudulent pink and blue slips. All were non-compliant and were defected. Vehicle owners reported paying up to $900 for sight-unseen inspections.
This investigation sends a clear message that enforcement action against sight-unseen inspections is ongoing, and the consequences for authorised examiners and third parties involved are serious, including criminal charges and loss of authority.
Compliance with inspection requirements is essential to protect road safety and the integrity of the AIS.
