La. Admin. Code tit. 55 § III-811

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 4, April 20, 2024

Section III-811 - Inspection Procedures

A. The mechanic inspector shall record the expired sticker number on the log report then remove the expired sticker prior to continuing with the inspection. The expired motor vehicle inspection sticker must be immediately destroyed.

B. The mechanic inspector will conduct a review of the documents for the vehicle ensuring that all documents are in agreement.

1. Certificate of registration contains information which must be verified with the corresponding information on the vehicle. A photocopy or original registration is acceptable. In lieu of a registration certificate, a vehicle may be inspected with a valid temporary license plate. The valid temporary registration is normally taped to the back of the temporary license plate.

2. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN must agree with Certificate of Registration and the insurance document. It must match the VIN displayed on the vehicle.

3. License Plate. The registration indicates a license plate number and expiration date of the plate. This information must correspond with the information displayed on the vehicle. The license plate cannot be expired. An out-of-state vehicle may be inspected, as long as it meets the criteria.

a. Vehicles which display apportioned license plates for trucks which travel out of Louisiana are issued a Louisiana apportioned cab card in lieu of a registration. The cab card will indicate an expiration and a grace period.

b. A temporary registration authorization indicating an apportioned plate has been applied for is also acceptable in lieu of a registration. When this condition exists, no license plate is present. The temporary registration allows the vehicle to be used until the apportioned plate and cab card are issued.

c. Vehicles which display either a dealer plate or a temporary cardboard plate with green lettering on a white background are exempt from presenting a registration certificate. The driver must provide proof of fleet liability insurance coverage. The insurance must be in the name of the dealership which carries the vehicle in its inventory.

d. Drivers of vehicles which display a valid 60 day temporary marker must also present a bona fide bill of sale. The bill of sale must indicate the vehicle was purchased within 60 days from the date the vehicle is presented for inspection.

e. All vehicles which display a public license plate are exempt from presenting a registration certificate and proof of insurance. City, parish or state-owned vehicles, if licensed with Louisiana license plates, are required to be inspected and must meet the same requirements of any other vehicle of that same size and weight.

4. Operator license must be valid and in the immediate possession of the vehicle operator. It must be presented to the mechanic inspector, and the license number must be taken from the driver's license and recorded in the appropriate block on the log report or DEQ computer system.

a. A valid out-of-state driver's license is acceptable. The state in which it was issued must be noted on the log report.

b. A temporary driving permit issued in connection with a traffic violation when the operator's license is held may be accepted until the permit expires on the court date noted.

c. When inspecting motorcycles, the operator's license must have a motorcycle endorsement.

d. Operators of school buses and commercial motor vehicles must possess the appropriate type commercial driver's license.

5. Proof of current liability insurance must be shown to the mechanic inspector. Electronic proof of insurance will be accepted. The vehicle operator must also sign the log report indicating the vehicle is covered by liability insurance. (Note: Government vehicles are exempt from furnishing proof of insurance.) One of the following must be presented as proof of insurance. Although a trailer is not required to have liability insurance, the inspector must verify that the towing unit complies with one of the below requirements.

a. A current certificate of insurance, motor vehicle liability insurance policy (or duplicate of the original) or a binder for the same is acceptable. A vehicle's policy identification card or photocopy of the same may also be accepted. These documents shall designate the name of the insurance company affording coverage, the policy number, the effective dates of coverage (both the beginning and ending dates are required) and a description of the vehicle covered including the VIN. A binder must be an official accord binder form and can be handwritten.

b. A copy of a motor vehicle liability bond. This document may or may not describe the vehicle covered.

c. A certificate from the state treasurer indicating a deposit was made to the state. It will not have a description of the vehicle, but the vehicle must be registered under the same name as noted on the certificate.

d. A certificate of self-insurance issued by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. It is not required to describe the vehicle covered.

6. License Plate Mounting and Condition: In addition to being valid, the license plate will be inspected for the following:

a. must be secured to their mounting brackets;

b. must be clean, clearly visible and readable for a distance of 50 feet to the rear of the vehicle. Plates shall not be obscured or damaged so that the numbers cannot be identified;

c. must be mounted in the rear;

d. truck-trailer, emergency fire fighting equipment, dump-body trucks, trucks over 6,000 pounds and forestry product licensed vehicles may display the plate on either the front or rear of the vehicle.

C. All vehicles presented for inspection will be inspected for all of the following items: vehicle registration, vehicle license plate, driver's license and proof of liability insurance.

D. Every motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer and pole trailer registered in this state shall bear a valid safety inspection certificate issued in the state of Louisiana except as provided in R.S. 32:1311.

E. The director may authorize the acceptance of out-of-state inspection certificates when the state's inspection laws are similar to those stated herein. The director may also extend the time within which a certificate shall be obtained by the resident owner of a vehicle which was temporarily out of state during the time an inspection was required. However, once the vehicle is returned to Louisiana, a valid Louisiana inspection certificate must be obtained immediately.

F. State mechanic inspectors must check registrations prior to inspecting vehicles. Any vehicle registered in the municipalities of New Orleans, Kenner or Westwego must be inspected in those municipalities. In addition, inspectors must refer to the four-digit domicile code on the registration. Effective January 2000, any vehicle registered with a domicile code beginning with 03 (Ascension Parish), 17 (East Baton Rouge Parish), 24 (Iberville Parish), 32 (Livingston Parish), or 61 (West Baton Rouge Parish), and that are subject to the Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) Program as provided in R.S. 32:1306(B)(3) and LAC 55:III.817 must be inspected within that five-parish area.

G. When a vehicle is presented for inspection, the mechanic inspector will collect the inspection fee and request that the driver present his operator's license, vehicle registration certificate and proof of liability insurance for the vehicle being inspected.

H. The vehicle registration must indicate an address other than in Kenner, Westwego or New Orleans. Residents of these areas are required to comply with the municipal ordinances of periodic inspections of the area in which they reside.

Exception: In hardship cases approved by the department, vehicles from these areas with an expired inspection certificate may be inspected at state inspection stations which will be valid until the return of the vehicle to these municipal areas.

I. The mechanic inspector shall verify whether or not he is qualified to inspect and the station is approved for the vehicle type being inspected, such as a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle, school bus, etc.

La. Admin. Code tit. 55, § III-811

Promulgated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, Safety Enforcement Section, LR 25:2427 (December 1999), amended by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, LR 38:2553 (October 2012), Amended by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Police, LR 42435 (3/1/2016).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 32:1304-1310.