Page 12 - TPA Journal November December 2014

Key Implementation Strategies

First Year of the Program March 2015 thru February 2016:

To avoid the possibility of a motorist having to obtain two inspections in a 12 month period, a vehicle
having a current passing (unexpired) vehicle inspection at time of registration will be allowed to register.
The next inspection due date will be the same as the next registration due date.

Commercial vehicles will continue to follow the current annual inspection requirements.

Second Year of the Program March 2016 going forward:

All vehicles, with the exception of those required to obtain a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation
(FMCSR-commercial) inspection, will be required to obtain a passing inspection within 90 days of their
registration expiration in order to be registered.

Traffic Enforcement

First Year March 2015 thru February 2016.

After March 1, 2015, a vehicle passing the annual inspection will not be issued an inspection certificate.
If the vehicles registration renewal is not due until some month after March, 2015, it is possible that Law
Enforcement Officers will see vehicles with no inspection certificate displayed. The registration decal
issued to the vehicle will serve as the visual indicator that the vehicle is in compliance with the vehicle
inspection requirements in Transportation Code Chapter 548.

Section 548.602, Failure to Display Inspection Certificate, and Section 548.605, Dismissal of Charge;
Administrative Fee, have been repealed effective March 1, 2015. It will no longer be a violation of the
Transportation Code to operate a motor vehicle without a valid inspection certificate on or after March
1, 2015.

Second Year March 2016 and Going Forward

Effective March 1, 2016, before a vehicle may be registered or have its registration renewed, it must
pass the required inspection within 90 days prior to the registration expiration date.

8 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • 866-997-8282 Texas Police Journal