§1306. Operation of official inspection stations

A. No permit for an official station shall be assigned or transferred or used at any location other than therein designated and every said permit shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the location designated.

B. The person operating an official inspection station shall issue a certificate of inspection and approval upon an official form to the owner of a vehicle upon inspecting such vehicle and determining that its equipment required under the provisions of this act is in good condition and proper adjustment, otherwise no certificate shall be issued. When required by the director a record and report shall be made of every inspection and every certificate so issued.

C.(1)(a) A charge or fee shall be charged for each certificate of inspection and approval issued, as provided in this Subsection.

(b) Persons operating an official inspection station shall offer certificates of inspection that are valid for both one year and two year periods. The owner of the vehicle shall have the option of purchasing a one year or a two year certificate. A charge or fee shall be charged for each year of validity of the certificate of inspection and approval issued, as provided in this Subsection.

(c) The provisions of Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph shall not apply to the inspection programs provided for in Paragraphs (3) and (5) of this Subsection and to student transportation vehicles.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, for each year of validity of the certificate issued, a charge or fee of ten dollars shall be charged, four dollars and seventy-five cents of which shall be retained by the operator of the motor vehicle inspection station conducting the inspection, four dollars of which shall be transferred to the office of state police for use in traffic law enforcement, and one dollar and twenty-five cents shall be transferred to the office of motor vehicles for expenses associated with the motor vehicle inspection and financial responsibility programs. Included in the inspection shall be the adjustment of headlights when needed and mechanically practical, at no additional cost to the operator of the motor vehicle inspected.

(3)(a) For parishes and municipalities that have a vehicle inspection and maintenance program required by the federal Clean Air Act or regulations promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an additional eight dollars shall be charged for each inspection that includes the performance of the inspection and maintenance (I/M) program pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 30:2054(B)(8) for 1980 or newer model year motor vehicles. The motor vehicle inspection station shall retain six dollars of the additional charge for implementation and performance of the I/M program. Two dollars of the additional charge shall be transferred to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to implement and operate the inspection and maintenance program.

(b) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Paragraph.

(c) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any trailer, light trailer, or semitrailer.

(4) The maintenance and inspection program and the fees provided for in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall be discontinued when the I/M program is discontinued as allowed by the federal Clean Air Act and regulations promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or agreements with the agency concerning the implementation of this program, or result in any other noncompliance regarding this Subsection.

(5) An annual charge or fee of thirty dollars shall be charged for the inspection of all commercial motor vehicles which are required to be inspected under the provisions of Part 396 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Part 396.17 and "Appendix G" thereof. No charges or fees other than the thirty-dollar fee shall be charged for a commercial motor vehicle inspection. Of the thirty-dollar fee, the motor vehicle inspection station operator who performs this inspection shall retain twenty-three dollars and seventy-five cents; two dollars and twenty-five cents shall be transferred to the office of motor vehicles for expenses associated with motor vehicle and financial responsibility programs; and four dollars of which shall be transferred to the office of state police for use in traffic law enforcement. Included in the inspection shall be the adjustment of headlights at no additional cost to the operator of the motor vehicle being inspected. The Legislature of Louisiana hereby declares that a commercial motor vehicle inspection is much more extensive than the inspection mandated in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and that the increase in the fee or charge for the inspection of commercial vehicles is based on the difference in the two types of inspection.

(6)(a) The charge or fee for the inspection of student transportation vehicles which are required to be inspected under LAC 28:CXIII.701(A)(3) shall be twenty dollars. No charges or fees other than the twenty-dollar fee shall be charged for a student transportation vehicle inspection. Of the twenty-dollar fee, the motor vehicle inspection station operator who performs this inspection shall retain fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents; one dollar and twenty-five cents shall be transferred to the office of motor vehicles for expenses associated with motor vehicle and financial responsibility programs; and four dollars shall be transferred to the office of state police for use in traffic law enforcement.

(b) The adjustment of headlights shall be included in the inspection at no additional cost to the owner or operator of the school bus being inspected.

(c) The Legislature of Louisiana hereby declares that a student transportation vehicle inspection is much more extensive than the inspection required of other motor vehicles and that the increase in the fee or charge for the inspection of student transportation vehicles is based on the difference in these types of inspections.

D. The Department of Public Safety shall adopt guidelines for the certification of motor vehicle inspection stations. Any applicant meeting the guidelines shall be certified as a motor vehicle inspection station. Geographical location shall not be a criteria for certification.

E. Until such time as a system of electronic filing of inspection information and print on-demand motor vehicle inspection certificates is implemented, the office of motor vehicles shall distribute motor vehicle inspection stickers to each district office throughout the state and shall make such stickers available for purchase by certified motor vehicle inspection stations during normal business hours. The stickers shall be in convenient book form and shall be sold in such practical increments as will not present a financial hardship to low volume stations. Motor vehicle inspection stickers shall not be distributed to each district office throughout the state or made available for purchase when a system of electronic filing or inspection information and print on-demand motor vehicle inspection certificates is implemented.

F. Each certified motor vehicle inspection station shall replace motor vehicle inspection stickers which are damaged, or which are attached to windshields which have become damaged, upon the presentation of proof of purchase of the damaged sticker, the presentation of identification of the person applying for the replacement sticker, and the payment of a fee of five dollars and twenty-five cents. The deputy secretary of public safety services shall design a notice that shall be posted in public view at all certified motor vehicle inspection stations, which shall include the availability and cost of the replacement of a damaged motor vehicle inspection sticker.

G. Notwithstanding any law or rule or administrative policy to the contrary, official motor vehicle inspection stations shall not be required to reserve a service bay or stall for the exclusive purpose of conducting motor vehicle inspections. Each official motor vehicle inspection station shall give priority to customers seeking motor vehicle inspections.

H. All certified motor vehicle inspection stations may inspect vehicles, for good condition and proper adjustment, when it is raining if the conditions are safe and the vehicle can accurately be checked.

Acts 1960, No. 405, §6. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 33, §2; Acts 1975, No. 610, §1; Acts 1981, No. 579, §1; Acts 1983, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 33, §2, eff. Jan. 19, 1983; Acts 1984, No. 212, §3, eff. Sept. 1, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 52, §1; Acts 1987, No. 424, §1; Acts 1988, No. 198, §1, eff. July 6, 1988; Acts 1989, No. 668, §1, eff. July 7, 1989; Acts 1991, No. 929, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 129, §1; Acts 1995, No. 267, §1; Acts 1999, No. 576, §2, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 469, §1; Acts 2004, No. 584, §2, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2010, No. 393, §2; Acts 2012, No. 674, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 438, §1; Acts 2015, No. 344, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 365, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2017.

NOTE: SEE ACTS 1988, NO. 198, §2.