Steven Cook - The Daily Gazette




AMSTERDAM - A Montgomery County Sheriff's deputy pulled over a driver in Amsterdam Monday for an inspection sticker that didn't look right, sheriff's officials said.

As it turns out, there was a good reason it didn't look right: It was hand-drawn and made from construction paper, Montgomery County Sheriff Jeffrey Smith said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office posted a copy of the "sticker" to Facebook Tuesday, a post that had received nearly 4,000 shares in six hours.

"So, we appreciate people who take some initiative, however this will not work as your vehicle inspection sticker," the post read. "NICE TRY!!"

Officials identified the driver as Manuel Muniz, 35, of Amsterdam. He faces a violation for having an unregistered motor vehicle, Smith said. The investigation into the "sticker" continued.

The stop happened just after 10 a.m. on Market Street in Amsterdam, near the McDonalds, Smith said, after the deputy spotted the unusual decal.

A closer look revealed the "sticker" read "NEW YORK State Safety Emission Inspection Certificate 2020" all hand-written. The months and boxes were all hand-written and this "sticker" had the January box punched.

It even had the bar code at the top, a series of hand-drawn lines.

Muniz was released to appear in Amsterdam City Court later.