TITLE 19. PUBLIC SAFETY
        
 
 
 
 REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The
 Department of State Police is claiming an exemption from the Administrative
 Process Act pursuant to § 2.2-4002 B 6 of the Code of Virginia, which
 exempts agency action relating to customary military, naval, or police
 functions.
 
  
 
 Title of Regulation: 19VAC30-70. Motor Vehicle Safety
 Inspection Regulations (amending 19VAC30-70-1, 19VAC30-70-6,
 19VAC30-70-9.1, 19VAC30-70-10, 19VAC30-70-20, 19VAC30-70-30, 19VAC30-70-50,
 19VAC30-70-160). 
 
 Statutory Authority: § 46.2-1165 of the Code of
 Virginia.
 
 Effective Date: September 8, 2017. 
 
 Agency Contact: Kirk Marlowe, Regulatory Coordinator,
 Department of State Police, 7700 Midlothian Turnpike, Chesterfield, VA 23235,
 telephone (804) 674-2000, FAX (804) 674-8531, or email
 kirk.marlowe@vsp.virginia.gov.
 
 Summary:
 
 The amendments update the Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection
 Rules and Regulations by making technical corrections and other revisions to
 comply with changes in Virginia law.
 
 Part I 
 Administration of Virginia's Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Program 
 
 19VAC30-70-1. Purpose and authority. 
 
 The Virginia Virginia's Official Motor Vehicle
 Inspection Program was developed and adopted to promote highway safety. The
 program model is based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Vehicles submitted for inspection must
 be compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards applicable on the date
 of manufacture. Its aim The goal of the Official Motor Vehicle
 Inspection Program is to assure that all Virginia registered
 vehicles are mechanically safe to operate over the highways of the
 Commonwealth. 
 
 The rules and regulations governing the Official Motor
 Vehicle Inspection Program are contained in the Official Motor Vehicle Safety
 Inspection Manual. These rules and regulations are promulgated under the
 authority of Chapter 10 (§ 46.2-1000 et seq.) of Title 46.2 of the Code of
 Virginia. All official inspection stations shall comply with these rules and
 regulations, issuing approval certificates only to those vehicles which the
 inspections shall determine to be in compliance with those rules and
 regulations. 
 
 These rules and regulations are intended to ensure a uniform
 system of corrective action for those who violate the rules and regulations of
 the Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Program. 
 
 The Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual covers
 administrative procedure as well as numerous vehicular safety items of varying
 importance. It is, therefore, necessary that the various sections of the manual
 be divided into categories of seriousness. This will provide a uniform system
 of corrective action for the certified inspector mechanics and the inspection
 stations. 
 
 19VAC30-70-6. Class IV offenses.
 
 Class IV offenses are those violations considered so
 critically important to the integrity and credibility of the Official Annual
 Motor Vehicle Inspection Program as to require immediate and severe
 disciplinary action. The following violations and actions shall be considered a
 Class IV offense:
 
 1. Loss of driver's license, with the exception of an
 administrative court-ordered suspension that does not exceed seven days.
 
 2. Obvious usage of either alcohol and/or or
 drugs by an employee associated with the Annual Motor Vehicle Inspection
 Program.
 
 3. Loss of inspection stickers through neglect or subsequent
 violations of subsection K of 19VAC30-70-10. 
 
 4. Improper use of inspection supplies such as placement on a
 vehicle that has not been inspected or failure to affix the inspection sticker
 to the vehicle in its proper location, after inspection.
 
 5. Falsifying inspection receipts or inspection records.
 
 6. Giving false information during an inspection complaint
 investigation.
 
 7. Performing either an inspection or inspections at a station
 without authority from the safety officer.
 
 8. The arrest of any person associated with the inspection
 program for a criminal offense or the institution of civil action of a nature
 that would tend to immediately reflect upon the integrity and reputation of the
 Department of State Police may be grounds for an immediate suspension until
 final court disposition. The conviction for such a of any
 criminal offense or a civil judgment or bankruptcy may result in a suspension
 or revocation of the inspector or station appointment, or both.
 
 9. The use of profanity or verbal abuse directed at customers
 presenting their vehicles for inspection by inspectors, managers or business
 owners.
 
 10. Illegal use of inspection supplies such as stealing,
 selling, mailing or giving away, shall be grounds for revocation.
 
 11. Nonpayment of inspection fees.
 
 12. Conduct displayed by station owners and/or,
 managers, or safety inspectors that may be rude or discourteous, or the use
 of profanity and/or or verbal abuse directed at or towards Safety
 Division Personnel, may be grounds for revocation.
 
 13. Failure of any person connected with the inspection
 program to immediately notify their supervising trooper or Safety
 Division Area Office within 72 hours of an arrest for a criminal offense
 or the institution of civil action.
 
 14. Any misuse or falsification of the automated Motor Vehicle
 Inspection Program (MVIP) system through neglect or intentionally allowing an
 assigned password or personal identification number (PIN) to be used by other
 persons.
 
 15. Willfully obtaining computer services without proper
 authority from the safety officer. 
 
 16. Failure to adequately explain and differentiate, both
 orally and in writing, to customers what repairs are necessary to pass the
 safety inspection and those repairs that are only recommended. Each station
 shall explicitly (not fine print) convey to each customer when his vehicle will
 be examined beyond the parameters of the state inspection and empower the
 customer with the ability to decline this service.
 
 Disciplinary action for a Class IV offense shall be immediate
 suspension or revocation. A suspension shall not be less than 90 days or more
 than six months. A revocation shall not be less than one year or more than three
 years. Offenses are cumulative in nature and will remain active for a period of
 24 months from the date of the offense. For a subsequent violation within 24
 months, the suspension shall not be less than six months or more than one year.
 
 In the case of the loss of the driver's license, the
 suspension shall remain in effect until the driver's license is reinstated and
 consideration for reinstatement of inspection privileges will be made at that
 time.
 
 In cases concerning nonpayment of fees when the inspection
 station has been given 15 days to reply to their a final notice,
 the suspension of the affected inspection station shall remain in effect until
 all inspection fees are paid. Consideration for reinstatement of inspection
 privileges will be made when all fees are paid. Furthermore, stations that have
 not paid their processing fee after the 15-day period will not be issued any
 additional inspection supplies. Supply orders may resume when the inspection
 fee is paid and the station has been reinstated to an active status.
 
 A Class IV offense in combination with three Class I
 offenses, two Class II offenses, or one Class III offense shall be grounds for
 no less than a 90-day or more than a six-month suspension.
 
 19VAC30-70-9.1. Official inspection station appointment.
 
 A. These procedures are applicable to the application process
 for initial appointment, reclassification of appointment, change in ownership,
 change in name, and reinstatement of the appointment for an official inspection
 station following a period of suspension or revocation.
 
 For investigations involving changes to the original report,
 only those areas of inquiry which have changed need to be reported. 
 
 For changes in station name, location, and classification
 only, a narrative report is not required. These requests may be reported on the
 Form SP-164. This report should include information pertinent to the change. A
 statement should be included to report verification of information contained in
 the station's new application for appointment.
 
 1. Any garage or other facility that routinely performs motor
 vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer repairs may apply to the Department of State
 Police in writing for appointment as an Official Safety Inspection Station.
 
 a. The Department of State Police will forward an application
 package to the applicant.
 
 b. The application form or forms are to be completed and
 returned to the Department of State Police for supervising trooper
 processing the application within 45 days.
 
 c. The application shall include the names, addresses, email
 addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and social security numbers for
 the applicant and each person who will supervise or otherwise participate in
 the program. Each person will also be required to execute an Authorization for
 Release of Information Form and a Criminal History Record Request (Form
 SP-167). When a corporation with other established inspection stations is
 applying for an additional location, it shall not be necessary for the
 corporate officers to complete the Form SP-167 or undergo the usual background
 investigation. In these situations, the Department of State Police is only
 concerned with the personnel who will be responsible for handling and securing
 the safety inspection supplies. 
 
 2. Each inspection station application will be reviewed and
 the applicant must meet the following criteria:
 
 a. The facility must have been in business at its present
 location for a minimum of six months.
 
 (1) This requirement will not apply to a change in location
 for a previously appointed station or a change in ownership which does not
 affect the station's ability to perform safety inspections.
 
 (2) This requirement will not apply to a repair garage that is
 an established business and is expanding its mechanical convenience to the
 general public by the addition of other repair locations.
 
 (3) This requirement will not apply to a business license as a
 franchised dealer of new vehicles.
 
 b. The facility must perform motor vehicle, motorcycle, or
 trailer repairs routinely.
 
 c. The station must have on hand or be willing to purchase the
 necessary equipment as identified by the Department of State Police for
 performing safety inspections. 
 
 d. The station must employ or be willing to employ at least
 one full time safety inspector with the appropriate license for the desired
 station's classification.
 
 e. The facility's physical plant must meet the specific
 standards for the station classification for which the appointment is required.
 
 3. Each applicant station must undergo a background
 investigation to determine if the business and associated personnel meet the
 following minimum criteria:
 
 a. A review of the history of management and all persons
 employed who will participate in the inspection program must reflect general
 compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
 
 b. The character, attitude, knowledge of safety inspection
 requirements, mechanical ability, and experience of each individual who will
 perform or supervise safety inspections must be satisfactory.
 
 c. The applicant and all participants must be familiar with
 and agree to comply with the Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual. Each
 vehicle presented for safety inspection must be inspected in strict compliance
 with the Code of Virginia and the Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual. 
 
 d. The business establishment must be financially stable. Its
 future existence should not be dependent upon appointment as an inspection
 station. The applicant and all persons to be associated with the inspection
 program must be in compliance with any judgment order or meeting all financial
 obligations, or both. The applicant and all persons to be associated with the
 inspection program must be in good financial standing for a period of at least
 one year.
 
 4. Each business must agree to provide the necessary space,
 equipment, and personnel to conduct inspections as required by the Department
 of State Police. Facilities and equipment will be maintained in a manner
 satisfactory to the superintendent. All safety inspectors will read and be thoroughly
 familiar with the instructions furnished for Official Inspection Stations and
 agree to abide by these instructions and to carefully inspect every motor
 vehicle, trailer, and semi-trailer presented for inspection as required by the
 Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual. Businesses must operate
 inspection stations in strict accordance with the Code of Virginia and the
 Official Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual. The appointment of an inspection
 station may be canceled at any time by the superintendent and will be
 automatically canceled if any change in address, name, or ownership is made
 without proper notification.
 
 5. Any applicant whose application is rejected or withdrawn
 may not reapply sooner than six months from the date he is notified of the
 rejection of their his application or from the date the
 application is withdrawn.
 
 6. Each business to be appointed will be assigned one of 11
 classifications based upon the physical plant specifications or other criteria
 as follows:
 
 a. Unlimited: The inspection lane shall be level or on the
 same plane and in good condition for 60 feet. The front portion of the lane
 shall be level or on the same plane for a minimum of 40 feet. The entrance
 shall be at least 13-1/2 feet in height and no less than nine feet in width.
 (Space should be adequate to allow a tractor truck towing a 53-foot trailer
 access to the inspection lane.)
 
 b. Small exemption: The inspection lane shall be level or on
 the same plane for 40 feet. The entrance opening shall be at least 10 feet in
 height, eight feet in width, and adequate to accommodate vehicles 40 feet in
 length. Any vehicle exceeding 10 feet in height may be inspected if the
 building entrance will allow such vehicle to completely enter the designated
 inspection lane.
 
 c. Large exemption: The inspection lane shall be level or on
 the same plane and in good condition for 60 feet. The front portion of the lane
 shall be level or on the same plane for a minimum of 40 feet. The entrance
 shall be at least 13-1/2 feet in height and no less than nine feet in width.
 (Space should be adequate to allow a tractor truck towing a 53-foot trailer
 access to the inspection lane.) This classification is required to inspect only
 vehicles with a GVWR exceeding 10,000 pounds.
 
 d. Motorcycle: The inspection lane shall be level or on the
 same plane. The entrance shall be adequate to accommodate the motorcycle and
 the operator.
 
 e. Unlimited trailer: The inspection lane shall be reasonably
 level and in good condition for 60 feet. The entrance shall be at least 13-1/2
 feet in height and no less than nine feet in width. This classification is
 required to inspect all trailers.
 
 f. Small trailer exemption: The inspection lane shall be
 reasonably level and in good condition for 40 feet. The entrance shall be at
 least 10 feet in height and adequate to accommodate trailers 40 feet in length.
 This classification is required to inspect only those trailers not exceeding 40
 feet in length or 10 feet in height measured to the highest part of the trailer
 but not including racks, air conditioners, antennas, etc.
 
 g. Large trailer exemption: The inspection lane shall be
 reasonably level and in good condition for 60 feet. The entrance shall be at
 least 13-1/2 feet in height and adequate to accommodate all legal size
 trailers. This classification is required to inspect only property-carrying
 trailers exceeding 10 feet in height or 40 feet in length.
 
 h. Safety and emissions: The inspection lane shall be level or
 on the same plane. The lane must accommodate most passenger cars and light
 trucks. The emissions equipment must be placed in the lane at a location to
 allow the inspected vehicle to be positioned with all four wheels on the floor
 or on an above-ground ramp on a plane to the floor to accommodate headlight
 aiming and other required inspection procedures. Any above-ground structure
 must be constructed so as to permit proper steering, suspension, brake, and
 undercarriage inspection as outlined in the Official Motor Vehicle Safety
 Inspection Manual. A list of local inspection stations that can accommodate
 vehicles that cannot be safety inspected due to the pretenses of emissions
 equipment must be maintained and available for customers. A "bottle"
 jack or other appropriate lifting equipment may be used for safety inspection
 on above-ground structures. 
 
 i. Private station: The inspection lane shall be level or on
 the same plane. The entrance and size must be adequate to accommodate any
 vehicle in the fleet. An applicant who owns and operates less than 20 vehicles
 will not be considered.
 
 j. Private station (fleet service contractor): The inspection
 lane shall be level or on the same plane. The entrance and size must be
 adequate to accommodate any vehicle in the fleet to be inspected. This
 classification will permit the inspection of all vehicles that the applicant
 has a written agreement to service and repair. An applicant who does not have
 at least six written agreements to service private fleets with at least five
 vehicles in each fleet or at least one written agreement to service a private
 fleet with at least 30 vehicles in the fleet will not be considered for this
 type of appointment. Vehicles not covered by a written agreement for service,
 and repair other than the vehicles owned by the applicant's company or
 corporation, shall not be inspected by a garage having this type of
 classification.
 
 k. Private station (government): The inspection lane shall be
 level or on the same plane. The entrance and size must be adequate to
 accommodate any vehicle in the fleet to be inspected. This classification will
 permit the inspection of all vehicles in the government entity's fleet, the
 fleet of any volunteer or paid fire department, or any other unit or agency of
 the government structure having a written agreement with such governmental
 entity for repair and/or, inspection service, or both. An
 applicant for this classification must own or have a written agreement to
 inspect 30 or more vehicles. Vehicles not owned by or covered by a written
 agreement shall not be inspected by a garage having this type of
 classification. 
 
 7. Classifications listed in subdivisions 6 a through 6
 h of this subsection must be open to the public and have at least one safety
 inspector available to perform inspections during normal business hours as set
 forth in 19VAC30-70-10.
 
 8. Private inspection station classifications may be assigned
 to businesses or governmental entities with fixed garage or repair facilities
 operating or contracting with vehicle fleets. 
 
 B. A representative of any official inspection station may
 apply to the Department of State Police in writing to request a change of the
 station's status. 
 
 1. An application form or forms will be forwarded to the
 applicant.
 
 2. The applicant will complete the application form or forms
 and contact the Department of State Police in keeping with the application
 instructions. Applications will include all data as set forth in this section.
 
 3. A Safety Division trooper will be assigned to complete the
 appropriate investigation to affect the change. A change in status
 investigation will include:
 
 (1) A review of the existing station file.
 
 (2) An update of the file to include personnel, facility, or
 other significant changes. Criteria for appointment and background
 investigation procedures for a change in status will be in keeping with this
 section.
 
 (3) Official inspection stations will be permitted to continue
 to perform safety inspections during a change of ownership investigation
 provided at least one safety inspector is retained from the prior owner.
 
 (4) If disqualifying criteria is revealed, the station's
 appointment shall be canceled until final disposition of the application is
 made or until issues of disqualifying criteria are resolved. 
 
 C. Once an official inspection station has been suspended,
 regardless of the cause for the suspension, management may request
 reinstatement up to 60 days prior to the expiration of the suspension period.
 Stations whose appointments are revoked may complete the application process as
 set forth for original appointments after the expiration of the period of
 revocation.
 
 1. The applicant station must submit a letter to Safety
 Division Headquarters (Attention: Station Files) requesting reinstatement.
 
 2. An application package will be forwarded to the applicant.
 
 3. The completed application forms are to be returned to
 Safety Division Headquarters (Attention: Station Files).
 
 4. After review, the application package is forwarded to the
 appropriate Safety Division Area Office for investigation.
 
 a. The trooper assigned to the investigation will compare the
 information in the new application package to the information in the existing
 files.
 
 b. The investigation will focus on any changes or
 inconsistencies.
 
 c. The applicant station must meet all criteria for
 appointment as set forth in this section.
 
 d. Any applicant whose application for reinstatement is
 rejected or withdrawn may not reapply sooner than six months from the date he
 is notified of the rejection or withdrawal of the application.
 
 D. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section
 shall be grounds for termination of the application process or cancellation of
 the official inspection station's appointment. An applicant having an
 application terminated or an official inspection station having an appointment
 canceled for noncompliance may not reapply for a period of one year. 
 
 Part II 
 Inspection Requirements 
 
 19VAC30-70-10. Official inspection station requirements.
 
 A. Official inspection stations, except private appointments,
 shall be open at least eight hours of each normal business day and shall be
 able to perform inspections 12 months throughout the year, except during
 illness of limited duration or normal vacation.
 
 1. Normal business hours, Monday through Friday, are defined
 as an eight-hour period of time between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
 
 2. Stations are not prohibited from performing inspections at
 times other than during normal business hours.
 
 3. A station that advertises inspections beyond normal
 business hours shall be able to perform such inspections.
 
 4. If a station desires to maintain business hours that are
 different from those defined in this section, written permission must be
 obtained from the safety officer and a sign setting forth the inspection hours
 must be posted conspicuously at the station where it can be observed by a
 person desiring to have a vehicle inspected.
 
 B. At least one full-time safety inspector to perform
 inspections and one inspection lane meeting the minimum requirements shall be
 available for inspection at all times during the normal business day. All
 inspections must be made only at the locations and in the inspection lane
 approved by the Department of State Police. All stations shall have other
 lanes, bays, or areas in which repairs can be made so the inspection lane can
 remain available.
 
 The designated inspection areas, including any location where
 customers are permitted to enter when submitting vehicles for inspection, must
 be kept clean and free from excessive dirt, grease, and loose materials. If
 requested, customers presenting vehicles for inspection shall be allowed to
 observe the inspection process from a safe location designated by the station.
 
 C. Inspection station facilities must be properly maintained
 and must present a businesslike appearance to the general public. Property
 adjacent to the inspection station that is owned or controlled by the station
 must be free of debris, litter, used parts and junk vehicles. Vehicles properly
 contained within fenced storage areas shall be deemed to comply with this
 requirement.
 
 D. Inspections shall be performed on a first-come, first-served
 basis. "First-come, first-served" means a procedure whereby customers
 seeking an inspection shall be attended to in the order that they arrive to the
 station. Motorists shall not be required to make an appointment to obtain an
 inspection, except those appointments required by subdivision A 12 of
 § 46.2-1158.01 of the Code of Virginia. Stations that take in vehicles for
 inspection at the beginning of the work day shall not be required to stop
 inspecting those vehicles to provide an inspection for a drive-in request,
 provided inspections are currently being performed at the time and will
 continue throughout the day. Stations must maintain a procedure to validate
 when vehicles were brought to the station for inspection. Inspections shall
 begin concurrently with repair lanes during the station's normal business
 hours, without delay. Stations may suggest to motorists a timeframe of no
 greater than three hours during which it may be anticipated that an inspection
 may be provided. Stations shall cooperate fully with Department of State Police
 personnel regarding any issues detailed in this section, as with all other
 investigations. 
 
 In addition to accepting vehicles on a first-come,
 first-served basis, any official inspection station consisting of two or more
 inspection lanes may accept prescheduled appointments for the safety inspection
 of a motor vehicle pursuant to § 46.2-1157 of the Code of Virginia, so
 long as at least one lane is reserved for the sole purpose of first-come,
 first-served safety inspections. An additional certified safety inspector shall
 be available to perform those inspections that are made by an appointment.
 
 Stations shall make every effort to keep the designated
 inspection lanes available. Stations with more than one repair bay shall not
 perform work in the designated inspection lanes when customers are waiting for
 an inspection. This will not apply to minor adjustments that require minimal
 time to perform. Stations shall not let vehicles occupy the designated
 inspection lanes while awaiting parts or customer authorization to complete the
 inspection pursuant to 19VAC30-70-60.
 
 A station may inquire about accepting safety inspections
 by appointment. If the requirements are met, then the official inspection
 station may, in addition to having one lane for the first-come, first-served
 customers, also have a second inspection lane designated for customers who have
 made appointments for a designated time slot. An additional certified safety
 inspector shall be available to perform those inspections that are made by an
 appointment. If interested, stations should first contact their supervising
 trooper for specific requirements and guidelines.
 
 E. Safety inspectors, managers who supervise inspection
 activities, and business owners, through participation in the Official Motor
 Vehicle Inspection Program, are representatives of the Department of State
 Police and should conduct themselves in a manner to avoid controversy in
 dealing with customers presenting vehicles for inspection. The use of profanity
 or verbal abuse directed at customers presenting their vehicles for inspection
 will be grounds for suspension from participation in the inspection program and
 will be considered a Class IV offense as set forth in 19VAC30-70-6.
 
 Controversy that cannot be calmly resolved by the safety
 inspector, managers, and owners should be referred to the supervising trooper
 for handling.
 
 F. The "Certificate of Appointment" must be framed
 under glass or clear plastic and posted in the customer waiting area where it
 can be observed and read by a person submitting a vehicle for inspection.
 
 Inspection stations must have garage liability insurance in
 the amount of at least $500,000 with an approved surplus lines carrier or
 insurance company licensed to write such insurance in this Commonwealth. This
 requirement shall not apply to inspection stations that only inspect their
 company-owned, government-owned, or leased vehicles.
 
 G. The required "Official Inspection Procedure"
 sheet and the "Direct Inquiries" sheet furnished to each station must
 both be framed under glass or clear plastic and posted conspicuously in the
 customer waiting area where they can be observed and read by a person
 submitting a vehicle for inspection.
 
 H. The poster designating the station as an official inspection
 station shall be posted in a prominent location, outside or visible outside the
 station, to alert passersby that inspection services are available. Private
 inspection stations shall not display an outside poster.
 
 I. Each official inspection station shall display a list with
 the names and license expiration dates of all employees licensed to inspect at
 that station, adjacent to the certificate of appointment. The Official Motor
 Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual will be kept at or near the point of inspection
 for ready reference. The manual may be kept in written or electronic form.
 
 J. Important -- Any change in name, ownership or location of
 any official inspection station cancels the appointment of that station, and
 the Department of State Police must be notified immediately. The department
 shall be notified when an official inspection station discontinues operation.
 
 K. All inspection supplies, inspection binders and manual,
 unused stickers, duplicates of certificates issued, bulletins and other forms
 are the property of the Department of State Police and must be safeguarded
 against loss.
 
 L. Inspection supplies issued to an inspection station can be
 used only by that station and are not to be loaned or reissued to any other
 station with the exception of inserts.
 
 1. Stations must maintain a sufficient supply of approval
 stickers, trailer and motorcycle approval stickers, rejection stickers and
 inserts. When reordering supplies, station owners or managers shall request
 sufficient supplies to sustain their business for at least six months. However,
 it is realized that a few stations will not be able to comply with the
 six-month requirement since there is a maximum of 100 books per order limit.
 Also, when ordering supplies, the following information should be considered so
 that the station does not order an excessive amount of supplies: each book of
 approval stickers contains 25 stickers, the rejection book contains 50
 stickers, the month inserts are packaged in strips of 50 each, and trailer and
 motorcycle decals are five per strip. In December of each year, a supply of
 year inserts will be shipped to each station based on the station's previous
 year's usage. In November, each station shall check its stock of month inserts
 and order what is needed for the months of January through June. In May, the
 same should be done for the months of July through December.
 
 2. Inspection stations that exhaust their supply of approval
 stickers, trailer and motorcycle approval stickers, rejection stickers, and
 inserts shall immediately stop performing new inspections and contact their
 supervising trooper or the nearest Safety Division Area Office.
 
 M. All losses of stickers must be reported immediately to the
 supervising inspection trooper or the nearest Safety Division Area Office.
 
 N. Every precaution against the loss of stickers must be
 taken. If the loss occurs through carelessness or neglect, a suspension of the
 station may result.
 
 O. Manuals, bulletins, other regulations and lists of
 approved equipment must be available at all times for reference and may be kept
 in written or electronic form. Revisions to the Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection
 Manual will be sent to each station electronically through the MVIP system.
 Station management shall be responsible to see that each safety inspector is
 familiar with all bulletins and manual revisions and shall be required to
 furnish evidence to the department that all bulletins and manual revisions have
 been reviewed by each licensed inspector.
 
 A copy of the diagram drawn by the investigating trooper,
 showing the approved inspection lane or lanes, will be maintained for review
 and kept available with the station's inspection supplies. 
 
 P. Private appointment may be made of company stations or
 government stations that own and operate a minimum of 20 vehicles and they may
 inspect only company-owned or government-owned vehicles respectively. When
 authorized by the department, they may inspect vehicles of a wholly-owned
 subsidiary or leased vehicles.
 
 1. A private station may perform inspections during each month
 of the year or may elect to inspect only during certain designated months.
 
 2. A private station not electing to inspect vehicles every
 month of the year that finds it necessary to inspect a vehicle during a month
 other than those selected for inspection may issue a sticker to the vehicle
 from the nearest past inspection month.
 
 Q. All official inspection station owners, managers, and
 certified safety inspectors shall comply with the Virginia inspection laws and
 the inspection rules and regulations and will adhere to all instructions given
 by the supervising trooper or the Safety Division. Reports of violations will
 be investigated and, if found to be valid, may result in the suspension of the
 station, suspension of the inspector, possible court action, or other
 appropriate action, or any combination of these actions. Repeated violations or
 serious violations may result in a revocation of the station appointment by the
 superintendent.
 
 R. The arrest of any person associated with the inspection
 program for a criminal offense of a nature that would tend to immediately
 reflect upon the integrity and reputation of the Department of State Police may
 be grounds for an immediate suspension and the conviction for such an offense
 may result in a revocation of the station's appointment.
 
 S. When a station has been suspended or revoked, it must
 release to an employee of the Department of State Police all inspection
 supplies, posters, and papers including the certificate of appointment. Failure
 to do so is a violation of § 46.2-1172 of the Code of Virginia.
 
 T. The authority of the superintendent to suspend the
 designation or appointment of an official inspection station as provided in § 46.2-1163
 of the Code of Virginia, or to suspend the certification of an inspector
 designated to perform inspections at an official inspection station, and, in
 keeping with the provisions of § 46.2-1166 of the Code of Virginia, is hereby
 delegated to any of the following supervisory ranks of the Department of State
 Police: Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, First Sergeant and
 Sergeant.
 
 U. Each station must purchase and keep in proper operating
 condition the following equipment: computer, printer, internet connection,
 paper hole punch, black ball point pen or pens or black marker or markers,
 sticker scraper with replacement razor blades, tire tread depth gauge, amp
 meter, headlight and auxiliary lamp adjustment tools, 12-inch ruler, 25-foot
 measuring tape, torque wrench or torque sticks, brake pads/shoes/disc/drum
 measuring device, dial indicator, micrometer, pry bars, roller jack (at least
 4-ton), and an approved type optical headlight aiming device. Each station that
 requests an additional inspection lane that is not in close proximity to the
 originally approved inspection lane must purchase an additional approved
 headlight machine for each lane that meets the minimum requirements. Stations
 are required to have one of the following headlight aiming devices effective
 January 1, 2013: the Hopkins Vision1, Hopkins Vision 100, American Aimers
 Vision 100, American Aimers Vision 2 Pro, or the Symtech (former L.E.T.) HBA-5,
 PLA-11, and PLA-12. This shall not apply to "trailer-only" inspection
 stations.
 
 19VAC30-70-20. General inspection requirements. 
 
 A. Each official inspection station must inspect every
 vehicle presented for inspection as prescribed by this chapter, either
 approving or rejecting it. Inspections will not be performed unless requested. 
 
 1. Dealers' vehicles shall be inspected according to these
 standards. The dealer's name rather than the license number shall be shown on
 the rear of the approval/rejection approval or rejection sticker.
 
 2. Out-of-state vehicles may be inspected, but shall not be
 approved unless they meet the requirements of the Official Motor Vehicle Safety
 Inspection Manual. 
 
 3. When a vehicle is presented for inspection, the entire
 previous approval sticker, if any, on the vehicle must shall
 be removed and destroyed before any inspection is begun conducted
 (except a rejection sticker). For purposes of the safety inspection program,
 "destroyed" shall mean that the previous inspection sticker will be
 disposed of in a manner so it cannot be reused or placed on another vehicle's
 windshield. After removing the inspection sticker, the safety inspector who
 is to perform the inspection must drive the vehicle into an approved inspection
 lane unless the safety inspector is not qualified to operate the vehicle.
 During the operation of the vehicle, the safety inspector must make application
 of the service and parking brakes and check for conditions as set forth in the
 Service Brake Section of the Official Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual
 applicable to the vehicle being inspected. 
 
 WARNING: No razor blades or similar devices should be used to
 remove stickers from "Securiflex,",
 "Anti-Lacerative" or "Inner Shield" type windshield. These
 windshields are identified as AS-14. Any questions concerning removal should be
 directed to the nearest Safety Division Area Office. 
 
 B. Each inspection shall be a complete, uninterrupted
 inspection and shall include a check of all applicable items in the Official
 Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual. All repair tools and testing equipment
 required prior to a station's appointment shall be properly maintained and
 available for use during each inspection. 
 
 C. The term "inspection" as used in this chapter
 shall not include repairs or adjustments. Repairs or adjustments necessary to
 bring the vehicle in conformity with these regulations this chapter
 may be made by agreement between the owner and such station or whatever repair
 shop the owner may select. When requested to do so by the person submitting a
 vehicle for inspection, any repairs or adjustments necessary to bring the
 vehicle into compliance with the inspection program rules and regulations shall
 be made by the inspection station performing the inspection. The inspection
 station management may utilize the option of subcontracting the repairs or
 adjustments provided the application filed for the station appointment
 reflected that such repairs or adjustments will be subcontracted. 
 
 D. Each vehicle that meets the requirements as set forth in these
 regulations this chapter shall be issued an approval sticker. Those
 vehicles that do not meet the inspection requirements shall be issued a
 rejection sticker. Any trailer required to be inspected under the provisions of
 the Code of Virginia may, only if the size or configuration of the trailer and
 the size and configuration of the facilities of the inspection station prevent
 the trailer from being inspected inside the inspection station, be inspected
 outside the inspection station. The location on the outside of an inspection
 station where trailers may be inspected shall be approved by the Department of
 State Police and shown on the station diagram. 
 
 E. Inspections may be made when it is raining or snowing.
 Care must be exercised when making inspections in inclement weather. Vehicles
 covered with ice, snow, mud or other debris to the extent that required parts
 cannot be inspected, may be refused inspection until the operator removes such
 debris. 
 
 19VAC30-70-30. Inspector requirements.
 
 A. The inspection of motor vehicles required by these rules
 and regulations shall be made only by those individuals who are certified and
 licensed as safety inspectors by the Department of State Police. The procedures
 outlined in this section are applicable to the processing of applications for
 initial certification, reclassification of safety inspector's licenses, and
 reinstatement of suspended or revoked safety inspector's licenses.
 
 B. All certified inspectors shall: 1. Be be at
 least 18 years of age; and 2. Have a. In addition, all certified
 inspectors shall have: 
 
 1. A minimum of one year's year of
 practical experience as an automotive mechanic, or have
 satisfactorily six months of practical experience as an automotive
 mechanic combined with an additional and separate six months of mirroring a
 certified state inspector, or
 
 satisfactorily 2. Satisfactorily completed a
 training program in the field of automotive mechanics approved by the
 Superintendent of State Police. 
 
 A person who has a minimum of one year's practical
 experience met either of the practical experience requirements in
 repairing motorcycles may be certified to inspect motorcycles only and a person
 who has one year's practical experience meets them in repairing
 trailers may be certified to inspect trailers only. 
 
 C. All mechanics Each mechanic entering the
 inspection program will be required to satisfactorily pass a written and
 practical examination exhibiting his knowledge of the inspection procedures. 
 
 D. Each certified inspector shall possess a valid Virginia
 driver's license with the following exceptions: 
 
 1. An inspector who is a resident of an adjoining state
 holding a valid driver's license in that state and who commutes regularly to
 work in Virginia; or 
 
 2. A member of the armed forces of the United States on active
 duty who holds a driver's license from his home state. 
 
 E. An inspector whose driver's license is suspended or
 revoked, including the seven-day administrative suspension for a DUI arrest,
 must immediately notify the station's supervising trooper or the local Safety
 Division Area Office of the suspension or revocation. The suspension or revocation
 of an inspector's driver's license shall automatically act as a suspension of
 his privilege to inspect motor vehicles until such suspension or revocation is
 terminated and the reinstatement has been made by the Superintendent of State
 Police. 
 
 F. Each licensed safety inspector must have a valid safety
 inspector's license in his possession at all times while conducting
 inspections. 
 
 G. Each safety inspector with a valid safety inspector's
 license need only present such valid license to his new employer to commence
 participation in the program at his new place of employment. Management of the
 inspection station is required to notify the Safety Division when a safety
 inspector begins or ends employment. This may be handled by contacting the
 Safety Division Headquarters in Richmond by telephone. 
 
 H. An inspector must promptly notify the Safety Division in
 writing of any change in his home address as shown on the safety inspector's
 license. In the event the license becomes mutilated, lost or stolen, the inspector
 must notify the Department of State Police immediately in writing, requesting a
 duplicate. The Safety Inspector Notification Form shall be used and all
 requested information should be printed plainly and completely. For those
 inspectors who are not employed, write "Inactive" in the station name
 block. In those cases where notification is being made due to an address
 change, it will be necessary to: (i) fill out the form completely and (ii)
 retain a copy of the form and license until a permanent (new) license is
 received. In those cases where the license has been lost, stolen or mutilated,
 complete steps in clauses (i) and (ii) as set forth in this section
 subsection. The notification form may be duplicated as necessary. 
 
 I. An inspector must immediately notify the station's
 supervising trooper or local Safety Division Area Office of an arrest for a
 criminal offense or the institution of a civil action. 
 
 J. Requirements for safety inspector applicants with a
 specific learning disability:
 
 1. Applicants will be required to furnish documentation from
 the particular school division where the applicant was classified as having a
 learning disability. The specific learning disability will be clearly
 identified.
 
 2. Once the learning disability has been documented, and if
 applicable, the applicant will be allowed to test with the written exam being
 orally presented. 
 
 3. The station management where the applicant is employed or
 to be employed must agree to have someone present during the hours the employee
 is conducting inspections to assist with the reading of the Official Motor
 Vehicle Safety Inspection Manual when necessary during the initial three-year
 certification period. If the inspector changes stations within the first
 three-year period, it is the inspector's responsibility to notify station
 management of his disability and this requirement. 
 
 19VAC30-70-50. Approval stickers and decals.
 
 A. If the vehicle meets all inspection requirements, the
 certified safety inspector performing the inspection shall immediately enter
 the receipt information via the MVIP system. 
 
 The inspection sticker is not valid unless the rear portion
 is completed with the vehicle make, year built, license plate number (dealer
 name if a dealer tag is displayed), body type, and the complete vehicle
 identification number (VIN). The inspection sticker shall be completed using
 black indelible ink.
 
 B. Approval stickers and decals shall be issued according to
 the following schedule: 
 
 
  
   | 
    ANNUAL PROGRAM 
    | 
  
  
   | 
    Vehicles inspected in January are issued stickers bearing
   the Number "1" 
   Vehicles inspected in February are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "2" 
   Vehicles inspected in March are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "3" 
   Vehicles inspected in April are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "4" 
   Vehicles inspected in May are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "5" 
   Vehicles inspected in June are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "6" 
   Vehicles inspected in July are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "7" 
   Vehicles inspected in August are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "8" 
   Vehicles inspected in September are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "9" 
   Vehicles inspected in October are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "10" 
   Vehicles inspected in November are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "11" 
   Vehicles inspected in December are issued stickers bearing the Number
   "12" 
    | 
  
 
 
 All February annual inspection stickers for trailer and
 motorcycle decals (#2) due to expire at midnight, February 28 automatically
 will be valid through midnight February 29 each leap year.
 
 C. The numeral decal indicating the month of expiration shall
 be inserted in the box identified as month and the numeral decal indicating the
 year of expiration shall be inserted in the box identified as year of the
 approval sticker and the trailer or motorcycle sticker. Extreme care should be
 used by inspectors in applying these inserts. On all windshields, except school
 buses, the sticker is to be placed at the bottom of the windshield so that the
 inside or left edge of the sticker is one inch to the right of the vertical
 center of the windshield when looking through the windshield from inside the
 vehicle. (If the vehicle is normally operated from the right side, the sticker
 must be placed one inch to the left of the vertical center of the windshield.)
 
 On passenger vehicles not equipped with a windshield, the
 sticker shall be placed on or under the dash and protected in some manner from
 the weather.
 
 The approval sticker on official yellow school buses is to be
 placed at the bottom and in the right corner of the windshield when looking
 through the windshield from inside the vehicle.
 
 EXCEPTIONS: The approval sticker shall be placed one inch to
 the right of the vertical center of the windshield when looking through the
 windshield from the inside on all new flat-face cowl yellow school buses. On
 vehicles equipped with heating and grid elements on the inside of the windshield,
 the sticker shall be placed one inch above the top of the grid element and the
 inside left edge of the sticker shall be one inch to the right of the vertical
 center when looking through the windshield from the inside.
 
 Stickers or decals used by counties, cities and towns in lieu
 of license plates affixed adjacent to the old approval sticker and which are
 affixed in the location where the new approval sticker is required to be placed
 will not be removed. In these cases, the approval sticker will be placed as
 close to one inch to the right of the vertical center of the windshield as it
 can be placed without removing or overlapping the county, city or town decal.
 
 D. The Code of Virginia requires that the inspection sticker
 be displayed on the windshield or at other designated places at all times. The
 inspection sticker cannot be transferred from one vehicle to another.
 
 EXCEPTION: If the windshield in a vehicle is replaced, a
 valid sticker may be removed from the old windshield and placed on the new
 windshield.
 
 E. The sticker issued to a motorcycle shall be affixed to the
 left side of the cycle where it will be most visible after mounting. The
 sticker may be placed on a plate on the left side where it will be most visible
 and securely fastened to the motorcycle for the purpose of displaying the
 sticker. The sticker may be placed horizontally or vertically.
 
 F. Trailer stickers will be issued to all trailers and
 semitrailers required to be inspected. (No boat, utility, or travel trailer
 that is not equipped with brakes shall be required to be inspected.)
 
 G. All inspected trailers must display a trailer sticker on
 that particular vehicle. These stickers are to be placed on the left side of
 the trailer near the front corner. The sticker must be affixed to the trailer body
 or frame. In those instances where a metal back container with a removable
 transparent cover has been permanently affixed to the trailer body, the sticker
 may be glued to it. The container must be permanently mounted in such a manner
 that the sticker must be destroyed to remove it.
 
 H. In all other cases involving unusually designed trailers
 such as pole trailers, the safety inspector is to exercise his own good
 judgment in placing the sticker at a point where it will be as prominent as
 possible and visible for examination from the left side.
 
 I. Motorcycles have a separate sticker that is orange and
 issued with the prefix M. Trailers have a separate sticker that is blue and
 issued with the prefix T. The trailer and motorcycle receipts are completed in
 the same manner as other inspection receipts.
 
 J. Appointed stations will keep sufficient inspection
 supplies on hand to meet their needs. Requests for additional supplies shall be
 ordered via the MVIP system. Requests for supplies that are to be picked up at
 the Safety Division Headquarters must be made at least 24 hours prior to pick
 up. 
 
 Packing slips mailed with inspection supplies will be kept on
 file at the station for at least 24 months.
 
 K. All unused center inserts used to indicate the month that
 a sticker expires, in possession of the inspection station at the end of each
 month, shall be retained by the inspection station, properly safeguarded, and
 used in the inspection of vehicles for that particular month in the following
 year or be disposed of as directed by the Department of State Police.
 
 All inspection supplies that are voided, damaged, disfigured
 or become unserviceable in any manner, will be returned to the Safety Division.
 New replacement supplies will be issued to the station. Expired stickers will
 be picked up by the station's supervising trooper.
 
 L. All voided approval/rejection approval or
 rejection stickers will be picked up by the station's supervising trooper.
 
 M. The MVIP system approval or rejection printed receipt
 shall be given to the owner or operator of the vehicle.
 
 N. All yellow receipt copies of approval stickers and decals
 will be retained in the books and shall be kept on file at the station for at
 least 24 six months. They may be inspected by any law-enforcement
 officer during normal business hours.
 
 O. Safety Division troopers may replace inspection stickers
 that have separated from the windshield of motor vehicles and become lost or
 damaged without conducting an inspection of the safety components of the
 vehicle. Such replacement of inspection stickers shall be made only in
 accordance with the following provisions:
 
 1. A vehicle owner or operator complaining of the loss or
 damage to the inspection sticker on the windshield of their vehicle due to
 separation of the sticker from the windshield shall be directed to the nearest
 Safety Division Area Office or Safety Division trooper.
 
 2. Safety Division troopers, upon receipt of a complaint from
 a vehicle owner or operator that their inspection sticker has been stolen, lost
 or become damaged due to separation from the windshield, will make arrangements
 to meet the person to effect the replacement of the sticker. A vehicle owner or
 operator alleging theft of the inspection sticker will furnish proof to the
 Safety Division trooper that such theft has been reported to the proper
 law-enforcement authority.
 
 3. The vehicle owner or operator must produce the original
 safety inspection approval sticker receipt indicating a valid approval
 inspection sticker was issued to the vehicle within the past 11 months. (The
 vehicle must be reinspected if the expiration of the original inspection
 sticker is in the month the request is being made.)
 
 4. The Safety Division trooper will verify by the inspection
 receipt that the vehicle was issued an approval inspection sticker within the
 past 11 months and will then issue a replacement inspection sticker to the
 vehicle. If any obvious equipment defects are detected during the replacement
 process, the vehicle will not be issued a replacement approval sticker. 
 
 5. The Safety Division trooper will complete the inspection
 sticker receipt for the approval sticker from information contained on the
 original receipt. The date the replacement sticker is issued will be used in
 the date space. In the space for Inspection Related Charges, the trooper will
 insert the word "REPLACEMENT" and the sticker number from the
 original inspection receipt.
 
 6. The Safety Division trooper will sign the receipt
 vertically in the O.K. column in the "Equipment Inspected" blocks.
 These blocks will not otherwise be completed.
 
 7. The Safety Division trooper shall place month and year
 inserts on the inspection sticker to reflect the expiration as shown on the
 original approval inspection sticker and place the inspection sticker on the
 windshield in accordance with the requirements of subsection C of this section.
 
 8. The Safety Division trooper will enter the replacement
 information into the MVIP system.
 
 P. New vehicle safety inspections.
 
 1. Section 46.2-1158.01 of the Code of Virginia allows an
 employee who customarily performs the inspection requirement of a manufacturer
 or distributor of new motor vehicles to place an inspection sticker furnished
 by the Department of State Police on the vehicle once it has met the
 requirements of that manufacturer or distributor. This employee does not have
 to be a certified safety inspector.
 
 2. With the addition of other personnel using Department of
 State Police inspection supplies, a system shall be developed at each
 inspection station to afford accountability of all supplies. The system shall
 include proper safeguards to prevent the loss of supplies through carelessness,
 neglect, theft, or unauthorized use.
 
 3. Inspection stations shall not mix annual state inspections
 with predelivery inspections (PDI) in the same book of inspection stickers.
 
 4. All employees shall be reminded that anyone who performs
 inspections, whether it be for the annual inspection or the PDI inspection, is
 subject to criminal prosecution if inspection supplies are used illegally or
 used in some other unauthorized way.
 
 5. Station management and licensed safety inspectors are
 subject to administrative sanctions for any misuse of inspection supplies.
 
 6. The inspection receipts shall be completed as usual with
 the following exceptions: On the "inspector" line, the initials
 "PDI" (for predelivery inspection) and the printed employee's name
 performing the inspection shall be entered. On the "inspector's license
 number" line, the letters "N/A" shall be entered. In the
 equipment inspected section, the words "New Vehicle" shall be entered
 in the "adjust" column. The PDI employee performing the inspection
 shall sign his name in the "O.K." column.
 
 19VAC30-70-160. Auxiliary lamps: backup; cornering; driving;
 fog; spot and warning.
 
 A. Auxiliary lamps on a vehicle consist of seven general
 types: backup lamps (SAE-R), cornering lamps (SAE-K), driving lamps (SAE-Y),
 front fog lamps with an amber or clear lens (SAE-F and rear fog lamps with red
 lens (SAE-F2), spot lamps (SAE-O), warning lamps (SAE-W, W2, W3), and daytime
 running lamps (DRLs) (SAE-Y2).
 
 B. School buses may be equipped with an eight-lamp warning
 system of two red and two amber warning lamps of an approved type (SAE-W2) on
 the front and rear of such vehicle.
 
 1. School buses may also be equipped with roof-mounted
 flashing white or amber warning lamps of an approved type (SAE-W2).
 
 2. In addition to required warning lamps, school buses may be
 equipped with a stop signal arm consisting of an octagonal sign which meets
 FMVSS specifications (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 49 CFR Part 571).
 The stop signal arm shall be reflectorized or be equipped with two red warning
 lamps of an approved type.
 
 C. There is no limit on the number of backup lamps that a
 vehicle may have so long as they are of an approved type (SAE-R).
 
 D. No more than four lamps, including two headlamps, may be
 lighted at any time to provide general illumination ahead of the vehicle.
 
 E. Approved type (DOT or SAE-W) blue or blue and red lights
 are permitted on Department of Corrections vehicles designated by the Director
 of the Department of Corrections and any law-enforcement vehicle.
 
 1. Approved type secondary warning lights installed only on
 the four corners, on law-enforcement vehicles, Department of Corrections, fire
 apparatus, government-owned vehicle operated on official business by a local
 fire chief or other local fire official, rescue squad vehicle, ambulance, or
 any other emergency medical vehicles. These lights shall also have primary
 warning lights installed.
 
 2. The hide-away or undercover strobe lights shall be
 installed in the side marker lights, tail lights or parking lights. The strobe
 itself must be clear and the lens color must continue to be the same type and
 color as originally approved. It will not be permissible to install the
 hide-away lights in the headlights or in the backup lights.
 
 3. Approved type (SAE-W) red warning lights or red and white
 lights showing to the front are permitted on fire department vehicles,
 including publicly-owned state forest warden vehicles, ambulances, any rescue
 vehicle used for emergency calls, local department of emergency management,
 animal warden vehicles, school buses and vehicles used by security personnel at
 the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Bassett-Walker, Incorporated,
 the Tultex Corporation, the Winchester Medical Center, or the National
 Aeronautics and Space Administration's Wallops Flight Facility.
 
 4. No more than two flashing or steady-burning red lights or
 red and white combination lights of an approved type (SAE-W) may be installed
 on one vehicle owned by any member of a fire department, volunteer fire company
 or volunteer rescue squad, any ambulance driver employed by a privately-owned
 ambulance service, and any police chaplain.
 
 F. Vehicles mentioned in subsection E of this section
 permitted to be equipped with flashing, blinking or alternating red, red and
 white, blue, or blue and red emergency lights (except vehicles owned by any
 member of a fire department, volunteer fire company, volunteer rescue squad or any
 ambulance driver employed by a privately-owned ambulance service) may be
 equipped with the means to flash their headlamps when their emergency warning
 lamps are activated provided:
 
 1. The headlamps are wired to allow either the upper beam or
 lower beam to flash but not both.
 
 2. The headlamp system includes a switch or device which
 prevents flashing of headlamps when headlamps are required to be lighted
 pursuant to current statute.
 
 3. Emergency vehicles in Chesapeake, Poquoson, and York County
 may be equipped with flashing headlights that will function whenever their
 warning lights are activated.
 
 G. Any firefighting vehicle, ambulance, rescue or life-saving
 vehicle, Virginia Department of Transportation vehicle, or tow truck may be
 equipped with clear auxiliary lamps which shall be used exclusively for
 lighting emergency scenes. Such lamps shall be of a type permitted by the
 superintendent. Any government-owned police vehicle may be equipped with clear
 auxiliary lamps of a type approved by the superintendent.
 
 H. Approved type (SAE-W) amber flashing, blinking or
 alternating lights are permitted on vehicles used for the principal purpose of
 towing or servicing disabled vehicles or in constructing, maintaining and
 repairing highways or utilities on or along public highways and vehicles used
 for the principal purpose of removing hazardous or polluting substances from
 the state waters or drainage areas on or along public highways. Such lamps are
 permitted on vehicles used for servicing automatic teller machines, refuse
 collection vehicles, hi-rail vehicles and on vehicles used for towing or
 escorting over-dimensional materials, equipment, boats, or manufactured housing
 units by authority of highway hauling permit.
 
 1. Approved type (SAE-W) amber flashing, blinking or
 alternating lights are permitted on fire apparatus, government-owned vehicles
 operated on official business by a local fire chief or other local fire
 official, rescue squad vehicles, ambulances, and any other emergency medical
 vehicles to be equipped with alternating blinking or flashing red, or red and
 white secondary lights mounted inside the vehicle's tail lights or marker
 lights.
 
 2. Approved type (SAE-W) amber flashing, blinking or
 alternating lights are permitted on vehicles owned and used by municipal safety
 officers in the performance of their official duties, businesses providing
 security services and vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States
 mail, vehicles used by law-enforcement personnel in the enforcement of laws
 governing motor vehicle parking, government-owned law-enforcement vehicles
 provided the lights are used for giving directional warning and vehicles used
 to provide escort for funeral processions.
 
 3. Approved type (SAE-W) amber flashing, blinking or
 alternating lights are permitted on vehicles used as pace cars, security
 vehicles, or firefighting vehicles by any speedway or motor vehicle race track.
 
 4. An approved type (SAE-W) amber flashing, blinking or
 alternating light may be mounted on the rear of any vehicle used to transport
 petroleum products. The light must be wired through the reverse gear circuit
 and activate in conjunction with the back-up lights and audible alarm.
 
 5. An approved type (SAE-W) green warning light is permitted
 on vehicles used by police, firefighting, or rescue personnel as command
 centers at the scene of incidents. Such lights shall not be activated while the
 vehicle is operating upon the highway.
 
 I. Inspect for and reject if: 
 
 1. Vehicle has an auxiliary lamp being used for a purpose
 other than for which it was approved.
 
 EXCEPTION: Any lighting device that is both covered and not
 illuminated, other than lamps required, shall not be considered for inspection.
 Fog and driving lamps mounted below the level of the regular headlamps must be
 checked for aim as outlined in subdivisions I 10 i and I 11 g of this
 section if not covered.
 
 NOTE: The covers shall be a type that would be installed as
 original equipment and not tape, paper bags, aluminum foil or similar materials
 per subdivision I 11 g (2) of this section.
 
 2. A vehicle has installed on it a warning lamp (DOT or SAE-W)
 that is not of an approved type or has been altered.
 
 Reject if the vehicle has wire, unapproved lens or plastic
 covers, any other materials that are not original equipment or any colored material
 placed on or in front of any auxiliary lamps: backup, cornering, driving, fog,
 spot, or warning lamps.
 
 3. Motor vehicles may be equipped with more than two fog or
 auxiliary lights; however, only two of these types of lights can be illuminated
 at any time. Reject a vehicle equipped with a headlamp mounted or used as an
 auxiliary lamp.
 
 4. Vehicle is equipped with an auxiliary lamp that does not
 function properly. (If an auxiliary lamp has been modified by removing the
 wiring, bulb and socket, the unit will be considered an ornament and not a lamp
 and will not be considered in inspection.)
 
 5. Vehicle is equipped with a lighted advertising sign, except
 commercial motor vehicles, buses operated as public carriers, taxicabs, and
 privately-owned passenger cars used for home delivery of commercially prepared
 food. Commercial motor vehicles, buses operated as public carriers, and
 taxicabs may be equipped with vacant and destination signs and one steady
 burning white light for the nighttime illumination of external advertising.
 Privately-owned passenger cars used for home delivery of commercially prepared
 food may be equipped with one steady burning white light for the nighttime
 illumination of a sign identifying the business delivering the food. Do not reject
 approved identification lights.
 
 6. Any lamp is not of an approved type or if lamps to be
 burned together as a pair do not emit the same color light.
 
 7. The lens has a piece broken from it. The lens may have one
 or more cracks provided an off-color light does not project through the crack
 or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or pieces is not permitted.
 
 8. Backup lamps are not required. However, if installed they
 must operate and be inspected.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-R) or a lamp
 has been altered;
 
 b. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments
 do not burn;
 
 c. The lens has a piece broken from it. The lens may have one
 or more cracks provided an off-color light does not project through the crack
 or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or pieces is not permitted;
 
 d. Lens is other than clear. LED (light-emitting diode) lights
 with a clear lens are acceptable if of an approved type. For those vehicles
 that are equipped with a multiple LED light (not filament-burning bulbs), they
 will pass inspection if more than 50% of the diode lights are burning;
 
 e. Lamps are not wired into the reverse gear. Vehicles
 manufactured without backup lamps may be wired into an independent circuit. 
 
 9. Cornering lamps are not required. However, if installed
 they must operate and be inspected.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-K) or a lamp
 has been altered;
 
 b. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments
 do not burn;
 
 c. The lens has a piece broken from it. The lens may have one
 or more cracks provided an off-color light does not project through the crack
 or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or pieces is not permitted;
 
 d. The color of the light is other than clear or amber;
 
 e. The lamps do not burn in conjunction with the turn signals.
 
 10. Driving lamps are not required. However, if installed they
 must operate and be inspected.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. Driving lamps are installed on vehicles equipped with the
 four-headlamp system, except the "F" type headlamp system;
 
 b. A vehicle is equipped with more than two driving lamps;
 
 c. Driving lamps are not of an approved type or have been
 altered;
 
 d. The color of the lamp is other than white;
 
 e. The lens has a piece broken from it or is rotated away from
 its proper position. The lens may have one or more cracks provided an off-color
 light does not project through the crack or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or
 pieces is not permitted;
 
 f. Wiring or electrical connections are defective;
 
 g. Any driving lamp is mounted above the level of the regular
 headlamps, or is not mounted firmly to prevent excessive vibration;
 
 h. Driving lamps are not wired so that they will burn only
 when the high beams of the regular headlamps are activated;
 
 i. Driving lamps are not aimed so that the center of the hot
 spot drops three inches in 25 feet so that the hot spot is directly ahead of
 the lamp;
 
 NOTE: Driving lamps must be aimed using the optical headlight
 aimer. A tolerance of four inches in 25 feet is allowed in both the horizontal
 and the vertical adjustment.
 
 11. Fog lamps are not required. However, if installed they
 must operate and be inspected.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. A vehicle may be equipped with more than two fog lamps;
 however, not more than two fog lamps can be illuminated at any time;
 
 b. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-F on front or
 F2 on rear plus two-digit year and manufacturer) or a lamp has been altered; 
 
 c. The lens is other than clear or amber. Fog lamps may have
 black-end bulbs or small metal caps over the end of the bulb;
 
 d. The lens has a piece broken from it or is rotated away from
 its proper position. The lens may have one or more cracks provided an off-color
 light does not project through the crack or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or
 pieces is not permitted;
 
 e. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments
 do not burn;
 
 f. Any fog lamp is mounted above the level of the regular
 headlamps, or is not mounted firmly;
 
 g. Lamps are not wired and aimed according to the following
 instructions:
 
 (1) Fog lamps are general illumination lamps as covered in
 subsection A of this section. They must burn through the tail light circuit
 even if on a separate switch. If installed on a vehicle with a four-headlamp
 system, or a vehicle equipped with driving lamps, they must be wired into the
 low beam circuit.
 
 (2) Fog lamps must be aimed so that the top edge of the high
 intensity zone is set at the horizontal centerline and the left edge of the
 high intensity zone is set at the vertical centerline. (Same as low beam
 headlights.)
 
 NOTE: Fog lamps must be aimed using the optical headlight
 aimer. A tolerance of four inches in 25 feet is allowed in both the horizontal
 and the vertical adjustment.
 
 12. Spot lamps are not required; however, if installed they
 must operate and be inspected.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. Vehicle is equipped with more than two spot lamps;
 
 b. Lamps are not of an approved type (DOT or SAE-O) or a lamp
 has been altered;
 
 c. The lens in any spot lamp is other than clear;
 
 d. The lens has a piece broken from it or is rotated away from
 its proper position. The lens may have one or more cracks provided an off-color
 light does not project through the crack or cracks. Taping or gluing cracks or
 pieces is not permitted;
 
 e. Wiring or electrical connections are defective or filaments
 do not burn.
 
 13. Daytime running lamps (DRLs) are not required. However, if
 installed they must operate and be inspected. DRLs must be installed in pairs.
 
 NOTE: DRLs may or may not be wired into the tail light
 circuit.
 
 Inspect for and reject if:
 
 a. Any lamp, except headlamps, used as DRLs if not an approved
 type (SAE-Y2) and is not marked "DRL";
 
 b. Fog lamps or parking lamps are used as DRLs;
 
 c. More than one pair of lamps is used and/or and
 designated as DRLs;
 
 d. A DRL is mounted higher than 34 inches measured to the
 center of the lamp;
 
 e. The color is other than white to amber;
 
 f. DRLs do not deactivate when the headlamps are in any
 "on" position.
 
 Any DRL optically combined with a turn signal or hazard lamp
 must deactivate when the turn signal or hazard lamp is activated and then
 reactivate when the turn signal or hazard lamp deactivates.
 
 
        VA.R. Doc. No. R17-5173; Filed July 6, 2017, 10:33 a.m.