13Power to inspect motor vehicles and trailers

13 Power to inspect motor vehicles and trailers S. 13(1) amended by No. 58/1995 s. 5(1), substituted by No. 81/2006 s. 40(1), amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 147.2(a)). (1) An authorised officer for the purposes of this section or a police officer may at any reasonable time inspect a motor vehicle or trailer which is being used on a highway if the authorised officer or police officer believes on reasonable grounds that— (a) the driver of the motor vehicle is not complying with this Act or the regulations in driving a motor vehicle of that kind; or (b) the motor vehicle or trailer does not comply with this Act or the regulations. S. 13(1A) inserted by No. 68/2017 s. 72(1). (1A) A police officer may conduct a random safety inspection of any motor vehicle or trailer that is located in a public place whether the vehicle is attended or unattended. S. 13(1B) inserted by No. 68/2017 s. 72(1). (1B) Except as provided in subsection (1C), the power to conduct an inspection of a motor vehicle under subsection (1A) does not include a power to inspect the interior of the motor vehicle. S. 13(1C) inserted by No. 68/2017 s. 72(1). (1C) An authorised officer for the purposes of this section or a police officer may inspect under the bonnet, hood or other covering of the engine of the motor vehicle if— (a) the authorised officer or police officer believes on reasonable grounds that— (i) the driver of the motor vehicle is not complying with this Act or the regulations in driving a motor vehicle of that kind; or (ii) the motor vehicle does not comply with this Act or the regulations; or (b) the driver or the registered operator of the motor vehicle consents to the inspection. S. 13(2) amended by No. 58/1995 s. 5(1), substituted by No. 81/2006 s. 40(2), amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 147.2(b)). (2) An authorised officer for the purposes of this section or a police officer may, by notice in accordance with subsection (3), require to be produced for inspection at a place specified in the notice, a motor vehicle or trailer which the authorised officer or police officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting has within the preceding 30 days been used or will be used on a highway if the authorised officer or police officer believes on reasonable grounds that— (a) the driver of the motor vehicle has not complied with this Act or the regulations in driving a motor vehicle of that kind; or (b) the motor vehicle or trailer does not comply with this Act or the regulations. S. 13(3) amended by No. 57/1998 s. 5(5)(d). (3) A notice must be in writing and must be served on the registered operator or, if the motor vehicle or trailer is not registered, on the owner. S. 13(4) amended by Nos 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 147.2(c)), 68/2017 s. 72(2). (4) An inspection may include any tests which the authorised officer or police officer decides to be appropriate. (5) A person who refuses or fails— (a) to allow a motor vehicle or trailer to be inspected when required under this section; or (b) to produce a motor vehicle or trailer for inspection at the place specified in a notice within 7 days after service of the notice on that person— is guilty of an offence. S. 13(6) inserted by No. 58/1995 s. 5(2). (6) In this section ***authorised officer for the purposes of this section*** means— S. 13(6)(a) repealed by No. 49/2019 s. 116(Sch. 1 item 22). S. 13(6)(ab) inserted by No. 37/1996 s. 3(1), amended by Nos 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 176), substituted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 147.2(d)), amended by No. 25/2025 s. 4. (ab) a Victoria Police employee who is authorised in writing by the Chief Commissioner of Police for the purposes of this section; or S. 13(6)(b) amended by Nos 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), 50/2012 s. 29(2), 70/2013 s. 4(Sch. 2 item 44.2), 70/2016 s. 41(2)[[2]](#endnote-3), 35/2017 s. 74(1), 68/2017 s. 79(1). (b) an employee in the Department authorised in writing by the Secretary or the Head, Transport for Victoria for the purposes of this section; or S. 13(6)(ba) inserted by No. 49/2019 s. 188, amended by No. 41/2020 s. 25. (ba) a member of staff of the Regulator authorised by the Secretary or the Regulator for the purposes of this section; or S. 13(6)(c) inserted by No. 35/2017 s. 74(2), substituted by No. 63/2017 s. 21(Sch. 1 item 8.2). (c) if the motor vehicle is, or the trailer is attached to a motor vehicle that is, a commercial passenger vehicle, an authorised officer within the meaning of the **Commercial Passenger Vehicle Industry Act 2017**. S. 14 amended by Nos 44/1989 s. 41(Sch. 2 item 34.4), 58/1995 s. 6, 37/1996 s. 3(2), 46/1998 s. 7(Sch. 1), substituted by No. 57/1998 s. 14.