Page 13 - TPA Journal November December 2014

Commercial Inspections

For commercial vehicles subject to the requirements of 49 CFR part 396, there will be no inspection cer-
tificate issued, and the registration does not represent that a valid inspection has been performed on the
vehicle within the previous 12 months. When a commercial vehicle passes its annual inspection, a
receipt will be produced that identifies the vehicle with a statement that the inspection conformed to the
requirements of 49 CFR Part 396. This receipt or a copy thereof must be produced during a roadside
inspection or traffic stop to show compliance with state and federal law. There is no grace period for
commercial vehicles and House Bill 2305 does not provide relief from the requirements of part 396 or
State law.

Registration / Inspection Scenarios

Example 1: Inspection expires December, 2014; registration expires March, 2015:

Vehicle must be inspected by December 31, 2014 and the station must affix an inspection certificate to
the vehicle with an expiration of December, 2015. The station will collect the total inspection fee for the
type inspection being conducted. When the vehicle owner seeks registration renewal in March of 2015,
TxDMV or county tax assessor/collector will verify the record of a passing inspection in the DPS inspec-
tion database and issue the renewal registration certificate to the vehicle. The owner will only pay the
registration fee.

Example 2: Registration due March, 2015; inspection expires April, 2015:

When owner seeks registration renewal, TxDMV or county tax assessor/collector will verify passing
inspection in the DPS database and issue the registration certificate to the vehicle.

Example 3: Inspection expires November, 2015; registration expires March, 2016:

Following the expiration of the inspection certificate in November, the vehicle may be operated without
a valid inspection sticker or report (Trans. Code 548.602 repealed effective March 1, 2015). But in order
to register the vehicle, vehicle owner must obtain a passing inspection report no more than 90 days in
advance of registration expiration.

Further general information can be obtained by going to www.twostepsonesticker.com

POC: Texas Department of Public Safety

Bulletin created by Texas DPS Joint Crime Information Center
phone 1-866-786-5972,
e-mail:TXJCIC@dps.texas.gov.

Nov/Dec. 2014 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • 866-997-8282 9