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S.B. 277

             1     

MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2001 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars

             6      This act modifies the Public Safety Code by authorizing a safety inspection apprenticeship
             7      program for high schools, beginning on January 1, 2002. This act amends the frequency for
             8      the safety inspection of vehicles and increases the authorized safety inspection fees. This act
             9      takes effect on July 1, 2001.
             10      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             11      AMENDS:
             12          53-8-204, as last amended by Chapter 238, Laws of Utah 1998
             13          53-8-205, as last amended by Chapters 128 and 238, Laws of Utah 1998
             14          53-8-206, as last amended by Chapter 238, Laws of Utah 1998
             15      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             16          Section 1. Section 53-8-204 is amended to read:
             17           53-8-204. Division duties -- Official inspection stations -- Permits -- Fees --
             18      Suspension or revocation -- Utah-based interstate commercial motor carriers.
             19          (1) The division shall:
             20          (a) conduct examinations of every safety inspection station permit applicant and safety
             21      inspector certificate applicant to determine whether the applicant is properly equipped and
             22      qualified to make safety inspections;
             23          (b) issue safety inspection station permits and safety inspector certificates to qualified
             24      applicants;
             25          (c) establish application, renewal, and reapplication fees in accordance with Section
             26      63-38-3.2 for safety inspection station permits and safety inspector certificates;
             27          (d) provide instructions and all necessary forms, including safety inspection certificates,


             28      to safety inspection stations for the inspection of motor vehicles and the issuance of the safety
             29      inspection certificates;
             30          (e) charge a $1.50 fee for each safety inspection certificate;
             31          (f) investigate complaints regarding safety inspection stations and safety inspectors;
             32          (g) compile and publish all applicable safety inspection laws, rules, instructions, and
             33      standards and distribute them to all safety inspection stations and provide updates to the compiled
             34      laws, rules, instructions, and standards as needed;
             35          (h) establish a fee in accordance with Section 63-38-3.2 to cover the cost of compiling and
             36      publishing the safety inspection laws, rules, instructions, and standards and any updates; and
             37          (i) assist the council in conducting its meetings and hearings.
             38          (2) (a) (i) Receipts from the fees established in accordance with Subsection (1)(h) are fixed
             39      collections to be used by the division for the expenses of the Utah Highway Patrol incurred under
             40      Subsection (1)(h).
             41          (ii) Funds received in excess of the expenses under Subsection (1)(h) shall be deposited
             42      in the Transportation Fund.
             43          (b) (i) The first $.50 of the fee under Subsection (1)(e) is a dedicated credit to be used
             44      solely by the Utah Highway Patrol for the expenses of administering this section.
             45          (ii) Funds in excess of the first $.50 collected under Subsection (1)(e) shall be deposited
             46      in the Transportation Fund.
             47          (iii) The dedicated credits described under Subsection (2)(b)(i) are in addition to any other
             48      appropriations provided to administer the safety inspection program duties under this section.
             49          (3) The division may:
             50          (a) before issuing a safety inspection permit, require an applicant, other than a fleet station
             51      or government station, to file a bond that will provide a guarantee that the applicant safety
             52      inspection station will make compensation for any damage to a motor vehicle during an inspection
             53      or adjustment due to negligence on the part of an applicant or his employees;
             54          (b) establish procedures governing the issuance of safety inspection certificates to
             55      Utah-based interstate commercial motor carriers; and
             56          (c) suspend, revoke, or refuse renewal of any safety inspection station permit issued when
             57      the division finds that the safety inspection station is not:
             58          (i) properly equipped; or


             59          (ii) complying with rules made by the division; and
             60          (d) suspend, revoke, or refuse renewal of any safety inspection station permit or safety
             61      inspector certificate issued when the station or inspector has violated any safety inspection law or
             62      rule.
             63          (4) The division shall maintain a record of safety inspection station permits and safety
             64      inspector certificates issued, suspended, revoked, or refused renewal under Subsection (3)(c).
             65          (5) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             66      division shall make rules:
             67          (a) setting minimum standards covering the design, construction, condition, and operation
             68      of motor vehicle equipment for safely operating a motor vehicle on the highway;
             69          (b) establishing motor vehicle safety inspection procedures to ensure a motor vehicle can
             70      be operated safely;
             71          (c) establishing safety inspection station building, equipment, and personnel requirements
             72      necessary to qualify to perform safety inspections;
             73          (d) establishing age, training, examination, and renewal requirements to qualify for a safety
             74      inspector certificate;
             75          (e) establishing a safety inspection apprenticeship program for high school students,
             76      beginning on January 1, 2002;
             77          [(e)] (f) establishing requirements:
             78          (i) designed to protect consumers from unwanted or unneeded repairs or adjustments;
             79          (ii) for maintaining safety inspection records;
             80          (iii) for providing reports to the division; and
             81          (iv) for maintaining and protecting safety inspection certificates;
             82          [(f)] (g) establishing procedures for a motor vehicle that fails a safety inspection;
             83          [(g)] (h) setting bonding amounts for safety inspection stations if bonds are required under
             84      Subsection (3)(a); and
             85          [(h)] (i) establishing procedures for a safety inspection station to follow if the station is
             86      going out of business.
             87          (6) The rules of the division:
             88          (a) shall conform as nearly as practical to federal motor vehicle safety standards including
             89      49 CFR 393, 396, 396 Appendix G, and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 205; and


             90          (b) may incorporate by reference, in whole or in part, the federal standards under
             91      Subsection (6)(a) and nationally recognized and readily available standards and codes on motor
             92      vehicle safety.
             93          Section 2. Section 53-8-205 is amended to read:
             94           53-8-205. Safety inspection required -- Safety inspection certificate required -- Out
             95      of state permits.
             96          (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), a person may not operate on a highway
             97      a motor vehicle required to be registered in this state unless the motor vehicle has passed a safety
             98      inspection.
             99          (b) Subsection (1)(a) does not apply to:
             100          (i) vehicles exempt from registration under Section 41-1a-205 ; and
             101          (ii) off-highway vehicles.
             102          (2) The frequency of the safety inspection shall be determined based on the age of the
             103      vehicle determined by model year and shall be required:
             104          (a) for a vehicle that is three years old on January 1; and
             105          [(a)] (b) each year for a vehicle that is five or more years old on January 1[; or].
             106          [(b) every two years for each vehicle that is less than five years old on January 1 as
             107      follows:]
             108          [(i) in odd-numbered years for a vehicle with an odd-numbered model year; and]
             109          [(ii) in even-numbered years for a vehicle with an even-numbered model year;]
             110          (3) A safety inspection shall:
             111          [(c)] (a) be made by a safety inspector certified by the division at a safety inspection station
             112      authorized by the division;
             113          [(d)] (b) cover an inspection of the motor vehicle mechanism, brakes, and equipment to
             114      ensure proper adjustment and condition as required by department rules; and
             115          [(e)] (c) include an inspection for the display of license plates in accordance with Section
             116      41-1a-404 .
             117          [(3)] (4) A safety inspection station shall issue a safety inspection certificate to the owner
             118      of each motor vehicle that passes a safety inspection under this section.
             119          [(4)] (5) The division may:
             120          (a) authorize the acceptance in this state of a safety inspection certificate issued in another


             121      state having a safety inspection law similar to this state; and
             122          (b) extend the time within which a safety inspection certificate must be obtained by the
             123      resident owner of a vehicle that was not in this state during the time a safety inspection was
             124      required.
             125          Section 3. Section 53-8-206 is amended to read:
             126           53-8-206. Safety inspection -- Station requirements -- Permits not transferable --
             127      Certificate of inspection -- Fees -- Unused certificates -- Suspension or revocation of permits.
             128          (1) The safety inspection required under Section 53-8-205 may only be performed:
             129          (a) by a person certified by the division as a safety inspector; and
             130          (b) at a safety inspection station with a valid safety inspection station permit issued by the
             131      division.
             132          (2) A safety inspection station permit may not be assigned or transferred or used at any
             133      location other than a designated location, and every safety inspection station permit shall be posted
             134      in a conspicuous place at the location designated.
             135          (3) If required by the division, a record and report shall be made of every safety inspection
             136      and every safety inspection certificate issued.
             137          (4) A safety inspection station holding a safety inspection station permit issued by the
             138      division may charge:
             139          (a) a fee as reimbursement for the safety inspection certificate fee as specified in
             140      Subsection 53-8-204 (1)(e); and
             141          (b) a reasonable fee for labor in performing safety inspections, not to exceed:
             142          (i) [$5] $6 or less for motorcycles;
             143          (ii) unless Subsection (4)(b)(i) or (iii) applies, [$9] $12 or less for motor vehicles; or
             144          (iii) [$12] $16 or less for 4-wheel drive, split axle, and any motor vehicles that necessitate
             145      disassembly of front hub or removal of rear axle for inspection.
             146          (5) A safety inspection station may return unused safety inspection certificates in a
             147      quantity of ten or more and shall be reimbursed by the division for the cost of the safety inspection
             148      certificates.
             149          (6) (a) Upon receiving notice of the suspension or revocation of a safety inspection station
             150      permit, the safety inspection station permit holder shall immediately terminate all safety inspection
             151      activities and return all safety inspection certificates and the safety inspection station permit to the


             152      division.
             153          (b) The division shall issue a receipt for all unused safety inspection certificates.
             154          Section 4. Effective date.
             155          This act takes effect on July 1, 2001.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-28-01 3:11 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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