§ 32:1306 — Operation of official inspection stations

§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.
NOTE: SEE ACTS 1988, NO. 198, §2.

Legislative History

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.