§ 31-18-301 — Permanent cards and decals; operation without authority; inspections

(a) The authority of any motor carrier issued after April
1, 1989, is valid until cancelled, suspended or revoked.
(b) No motor carrier that is required to have authority
shall operate on the highways without a copy of the current
authority carried in each power unit.
(c) A copy of the current authority shall upon demand, be
presented by the driver of the vehicle to any of the field
investigators of the department, members of the state highway
patrol or authorized personnel of the department at its ports of
entry. Investigators, troopers and authorized personnel may
compel the driver to stop and submit the vehicle to an
inspection by signs directing commercial vehicles or the motor
carrier to stop at ports of entry or other locations designated
by the department or by warning devices on vehicles of
investigators, troopers or authorized personnel. All ports of
entry shall post signs or signals indicating when the facility
is open and directing commercial vehicles or motor carriers to
stop for inspection. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
section, a vehicle that is properly registered, has a proper
fuel license, valid authority and is legal in size and weight,
upon approval by the department, may be authorized to bypass a
port of entry unless specifically directed to stop by an
investigator, trooper or authorized personnel or by a sign or
signal specifically requiring those vehicles to stop. These
vehicles may, however, be required to slow to the designated
speed and use the directed traffic lane for size and weight
screening purposes.
(d) Vehicles checking through a port of entry shall not be
required to stop at any other port of entry within the state on
that trip unless there is an increase in the size or weight of
the vehicle or its load, or unless specifically directed to stop
by an investigator, trooper or authorized personnel or by a sign
or signal specifically requiring those vehicles to stop.