26Powers of authorised officers – inspection

26 Powers of authorised officers – inspection

(1)  An authorised officer may, for compliance purposes, inspect a vehicle to which this Division applies.

(2)  The power to inspect a vehicle includes the power –

(a) to enter the vehicle; and

(b) to weigh, test, measure or take photographs of the vehicle or any part of it or its equipment or load; and

(ba) to take, in accordance with section 52A , a sample of any part of the vehicle's load; and

(c) to check the existence or details of, or take photographs of, placards or other information required by the regulations to be displayed in or on the vehicle or any load on it; and

(d) to inspect and take copies of or extracts from any records that are located in or on the vehicle and that are required to be carried in or on the vehicle by the regulations; and

(e) to access or download information that is required to be kept by the regulations and that is –

(i) stored electronically in equipment located in or on the vehicle; or

(ii) accessible electronically from equipment located in or on the vehicle.

(3)  Nothing in this section authorises the use of force, but an authorised officer may under this section do any or all of the following:

(a) open unlocked doors and other unlocked panels and objects;

(b) inspect anything that has been opened or otherwise accessed;

(c) move but not take away anything that is locked up or sealed.

(4)  The officer may exercise powers under this section at any time, and without the consent of the driver or other person apparently in charge of the vehicle or any other person.