TITLE 31

Motor and Other vehicles

CHAPTER 31-38

Inspection of Motor Vehicles

SECTION 31-38-4



   § 31-38-4  Director of department of

revenue to require periodic inspection. –

(a)(1) The director of revenue shall at least once each year, but not more

frequently than twice each year, or on the schedule defined pursuant to chapter

47.1 of this title require that every vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole

trailer registered in this state or upon a retail seller's premise, be

inspected and that an official certificate of inspection and approval be

obtained for the vehicle, provided, that the director of revenue shall require

the first inspection of any new motor vehicle within two (2) years from the

date of purchase or before the vehicle accumulates twenty-four thousand

(24,000) miles whichever occurs first.



   (2) The inspections shall be made and the certificates

obtained with respect to the mechanism, brakes, and equipment of the vehicle as

shall be designated by the director of department of revenue.



   (3) The director of the department of revenue is authorized

to make necessary rules and regulations for the administration and enforcement

of this chapter including, but not limited to, upgraded standards of operation

and standards for mechanical testing equipment, and to designate any period or

periods of time during which sellers at retail and owners of any vehicles,

subject to this chapter, shall display upon the vehicles certificates of

inspection and approval, or shall produce these certificates upon demand of any

proper officer or employee of the department of revenue designated by the

director of the department of revenue. In addition, the director shall require

each inspection facility to file a copy of their active garage keeper's legal

liability insurance policy and maintain a minimum of twenty-five thousand

dollars ($25,000) liability coverage. Said coverage shall be purchased for the

purpose of insuring against any damage sustained to a vehicle while under the

control of the inspection facility.



   (b) The director of the department of revenue may authorize

the acceptance in this state of a certificate of inspection and approval issued

in another state having an inspection law similar to this chapter, and may

extend the time within which a certificate shall be obtained.



   (c) The director of the department of revenue, or the

director's designee, may suspend the registration of any vehicle which he or

she determines is in such unsafe condition as to constitute a menace to safety,

or which, after notice and demand, is not equipped as required in this chapter

or for which a required certificate of inspection and approval has not been

obtained.



   (d) The director of the department of revenue shall provide

for a staggered inspection system by regulations.



   (e) Violations of this section are subject to fines

enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.



History of Section.

(P.L. 1977, ch. 14, § 2; P.L. 1984, ch. 186, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 254,

§ 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 327, § 2; P.L. 2000, ch. 109, § 43; P.L.

2002, ch. 292, § 125; P.L. 2005, ch. 46, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 57,

§ 1; P.L. 2008, ch. 98, § 26; P.L. 2008, ch. 145, §

26.)