CLEARFIELD – A Clearfield man jailed on drug charges is also being accused of falsifying vehicle inspection records while conducting inspections without a license/certification.
Jason D. Peters, 44, is charged by the Clearfield-based state police with 142 counts of misdemeanor tampering with records or identification.
He’s also charged with 137 counts of summary prohibition against inspection without certification and 615 counts of summary violation of rules/regulations of motor vehicle code.
Peters waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail.
The investigation into Peters’ business, Peters Tinting and Detailing, began Aug. 20, 2019, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The business was located at 1503 Airstream Way, Hyde, at the time, and Peters owned and operated it with a business partner until they parted ways several months prior to the investigation.
It was learned Peters continued to conduct vehicle inspections without a mechanic’s license, and signed the name of his former business partner on PennDOT records and or inspection stickers.
He reportedly signed her name on inspection records at least 13 times and a relative’s name over 100 times. She said Peters’ relative neither worked there, nor inspected any vehicles.
State police seized and examined Peters’ records, determining 56 people took their vehicles to his business for inspection between Feb. 28 and Aug. 19, 2019.
Contact was made with the customers, and of those, 19 were able to confirm that it was Peters, who inspected their vehicles. The others were either not present or couldn’t remember.
When state police contacted Peters’ relative, he said he never signed his name to PennDOT inspection records, and that Peters usually inspected vehicles and asked him to sign the inspection stickers.
Peters also entered 47 PennDOT inspection records that were not clear, legible or entirely complete as required, according to the affidavit.
State police said they contacted Peters and he failed to come to the Clearfield-based state police barracks for the purpose of an interview.