49Inspection of vehicles

### 49 Inspection of vehicles > > (1)  [*\[Section 49 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpa@EN) A police officer or an authorised officer may inspect a vehicle or combination for the purpose of – > > > > > > (a) identifying the vehicle; or > > > > > > > (b) ascertaining – > > > > > > > > > > (i) in the case of a motor vehicle– the kind of engine that the vehicle has, and where the engine is a piston engine, the number of cylinders; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) in the case of a motor vehicle or a trailer– the GVM or the GCM of the vehicle or the number of passenger seating positions in the vehicle; or > > > > > > > (c) ascertaining the condition of the vehicle; or > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpb@EN) ascertaining whether the use of the vehicle or combination on public streets is properly authorised or permitted under this Act; or > > > > > > > (e) ascertaining whether the correct amount of motor tax has been paid in respect of the vehicle; or > > > > > > > (ea) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (1) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpc@EN) weighing or measuring, or both weighing and measuring, the vehicle or combination, or any part of the vehicle or combination, and its load; or > > > > > > > (f) ascertaining whether this Act or a related Act is being complied with. > > > (2)  The police officer or authorised officer may also – > > > > > > (a) inspect and test any equipment that forms part of the vehicle, or is attached to or used in connection with the vehicle; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (2) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpd@EN) inspect any load carried by the vehicle or combination. > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (2) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpd@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > (3)  The power of inspection is exercisable – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (3) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpe@EN) on a public street or in a public place if the vehicle or combination – > > > > > > > > > > (i) has been stopped for inspection under this Part on the public street or in the public place; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) is parked or standing on the public street or in the public place; or > > > > > > > (b) at a garage, depot or other premises (which may be a residence) if – > > > > > > > > > > (i) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (3) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpf@EN) it reasonably appears to the officer that the garage, depot or other premises are used in connection with the vehicle or combination; and > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) the inspection is carried out at a reasonable time. > > > (4)  [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpg@EN) For the purposes of an inspection, the officer may direct a person in charge or apparently in charge of the vehicle or combination to do one or more of the following: > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hph@EN) to move the vehicle or combination to an appropriate place for carrying out the inspection; > > > > > > > (ab) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpi@EN) to place the vehicle or combination, or part of the vehicle or combination, on a weighing device; > > > > > > > (ac) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpi@EN) to assist the officer to weigh or measure the vehicle or combination and its load; > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpj@EN) to drive and manoeuvre the vehicle or combination, in a manner directed by the officer, over a short distance; > > > > > > > (c) to open any compartment of the vehicle; > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpk@EN) to demonstrate the operation of the vehicle or combination or any associated equipment; > > > > > > > (e) if the officer considers it appropriate– to dismantle any equipment used in connection with the vehicle; > > > > > > > (ea) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpl@EN) if the officer considers it appropriate, to unload or partially unload the vehicle or combination, or alter its load, so that it complies with this Act; > > > > > > > (f) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpn@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (4) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpm@EN) to answer any reasonable question about the vehicle and its registration and use, or about the load carried on the vehicle or combination. > > > (5)  [*\[Section 49 Subsection (5) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpq@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (5) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpp@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (5) amended by No. 71 of 2001, s. 15, Applied:01 Jan 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-01-01/act-2001-071#GS15@Hpo@EN) If the officer considers the vehicle or combination unsafe, the officer may direct a person in charge or apparently in charge of the vehicle or combination to secure it and leave it at the place of inspection until further action specified by the officer is completed. > > > (6)  A person must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a direction of a police officer or an authorised officer under [subsection (4)](#GS49@Gs4@EN) or [(5)](#GS49@Gs5@EN) . > > > > Penalty:  In the case of – > > > > > > (a) a first offence – a fine not exceeding 25 penalty units; and > > > > > > > (b) a second or subsequent offence – a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units. > > > (7)  A > > > > > ***related Act*** is – > > > > > > > > (a) the [Traffic Act 1925](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1925-038) ; or > > > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 41 of 2000, s. 9, Applied:14 Aug 2000\]*](/view/html/inforce/2000-08-14/act-2000-041#GS9@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 31 of 2008, Sched. 1, Applied:24 Sep 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-09-24/act-2008-031#JS1@Ja8@GC1@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 60 of 2011, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-07-01/act-2011-060#JS1@Ja15@GC4@EN) the [Taxi and Hire Vehicle Industries Act 2008](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2008-030) ; or > > > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 60 of 2011, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-07-01/act-2011-060#JS1@Ja15@GC4@EN) the [Passenger Transport Services Act 2011](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2011-059) ; or > > > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 52 of 2005, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jul 2009\]*](/view/html/inforce/2009-07-01/act-2005-052#JS1@Ja14@GC1@EN) [*\[Section 49 Subsection (7) amended by No. 16 of 2010, Sched. 1, Applied:01 Jan 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-01-01/act-2010-016#JS1@Ja11@GC1@EN) the [Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2010](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2010-016) .