A. Members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other employees of the Department of Public Safety as designated by the Commissioner, may at any time upon reasonable cause to believe that a vehicle is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair or the operator is not properly licensed, require the driver of such vehicle to stop and submit such vehicle to an inspection and such test with reference thereto as may be appropriate.

B. In the event such vehicle or combination of vehicles is found to be in an unsafe mechanical condition or is not equipped as required by this act, the officer making the inspection may give the driver a notice of arrest or written warning. Any person producing proof within ten (10) working days from the date the citation was issued that a condition or equipment for which the person was cited as defective, missing, prohibited, improper, unauthorized or otherwise in violation of this chapter has been remedied by the person shall be entitled to dismissal of such charges without assessment of court costs.

C. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any vehicle or combination of vehicles after notice of arrest or written warning has been issued of such unsafe condition or that the vehicle is not equipped as required by this act, except as may be necessary to return such vehicle or combination of vehicles to the residence or place of business of the owner or driver if within a distance of twenty (20) miles or to a garage, until said vehicle and its equipment has been made to conform with the requirements of this act.

D. Any vehicle or combination of vehicles found to have major mechanical defects which would be hazardous to other users of the highways if it were driven from the place of inspection as provided for in subsection C of this section shall be towed to a garage for repairs, and any repair charge, tow charge or storage charge for the repair, removal and storing of the vehicle shall be the obligation of the owner or operator.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 412, § 13-102, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 199, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2005, c. 50, § 21, eff. Nov. 1, 2005.