Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
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.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
32:1304-1310.
