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1995 SESSION

LD8559432
HOUSE BILL NO. 1658
Offered January 16, 1995
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1157 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor vehicle safety inspections.
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Patron--Robinson
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Referred to Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-1157 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.2-1157. Requirement of inspection; well-drilling machinery, antique motor vehicle excepted.

The Superintendent may compel, by proclamation of the Governor or otherwise, the owner or operator of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer registered in Virginia and operated on a highway within this Commonwealth to submit his vehicle to an inspection of its mechanism and equipment by an official inspection station, designated for that purpose, in accordance with § 46.2-1158. No owner or operator shall fail to submit a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer operated on the highways in this Commonwealth to such inspection or fail or refuse to correct or have corrected in accordance with the requirements of this title any mechanical defects found by such inspection to exist.

The provisions of this section requiring safety inspections of motor vehicles shall also apply to (i) farm vehicles exempt from registration pursuant to §§ 46.2-664, 46.2-665, 46.2-666, 46.2-667, 46.2-670, or § 46.2-672, (ii) vehicles registered as farm vehicles pursuant to § 46.2-698, and (iii) vehicles used for fire fighting; inspections. Inspections of fire-fighting vehicles shall be conducted pursuant to regulations promulgated by the Superintendent of State Police, taking into consideration the special purpose of such vehicles and the conditions under which they operate. Fire-fighting vehicles located on Tangier Island are exempted from the requirements of this section.

Each day during which such motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is operated on any highway in this Commonwealth after failure to comply with this law shall constitute a separate offense. However, no penalty shall be imposed on any owner or operator for operation of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer after the expiration of a period fixed for the inspection thereof, over the most direct route between the place where such vehicle is kept or garaged and an official inspection station, for the purpose of having it inspected pursuant to a prior appointment with such station.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to any vehicle for transporting well-drilling machinery licensed under § 46.2-700 or to any antique motor vehicle as defined in § 46.2-100 and licensed pursuant to § 46.2-730.

Notwithstanding the penalty provisions of § 46.2-1171, a violation of this section constitutes a traffic infraction.