[RSA s.13 / RSA s.84ZY]

Criteria to inspect motor vehicle or trailer:

Is in a public place (whether attended or unattended) or has been impounded; and
The driver is failing to comply with the Road Safety Act or regulations; or
The motor vehicle or trailer does not comply with the Road Safety Act or regulations.

The power to inspect permits:

You to inspect under the bonnet, hood or covering of the engine
Any test that you deem appropriate
Not to inspect interior of motor vehicle if unattended

Front

Number plate
Lights and lenses

Park lights
Low beam
High beam
DRLs
Fog lights
Indicators

Bumper bar
Sharp projections

Bull bar
Aerials / racks > 30mm

Windscreen
Wiper / washers
External mirror(s)
Bonnet catch
Suspension

Ground clearance
Springs
Shock absorbers

Front tyres
Front wheels
Brake discs
Under bonnet

Oil and fluid leaks
Battery
Brake master cylinder
Tampering / modifications

Centre

Doors and handles
Foot pedals
Flooring
Seats
Seatbelts
Park brake
Horn or warning instrument
Indicators
Internal rear vision mirror
Driver's forward vision
Steering free play
Sharp projections
Structural rust

Rear

Number plate
Lights and lenses (not cracked or broken):

Tail lights
Brake lights
Reverse lights
Number plate light
Reflectors
Indicators

Suspension (same as front)
Rear tyres - treat / damage
Rear wheels and brakes (same as front)
Mudguards / mudflaps
Exhaust - noise / smoke / secure

1. Compile the quadruplicate defect notice

1

Vehicle Registration/Permit No.

Vehicle reg or UVP number - strike out if N/A

2

Expiry date

Expiry of registration or UVP - strike out if N/A

3

State

Jurisdiction of reg or permit - strike out if N/A

4

Make of Vehicle

Make of Vehicle

5

Type

Vehicle type - sedan, hatchback, utility etc.

6

VIN / Chassis / Engine No.

This should be the vehicle's VIN. Always confirm the VIN off the VIN plate physically attached to the vehicle and match it to the registration details

7

Odometer Reading

Odometer reading off of dashboard

8

Driver / Registered Operator

If intercepted, this should be the first and last name of the driver, even if they are not the registered operator. If defecting a vehicle that is unattended, write Registered Operator in this field

9

Licence No.

Licence number of driver - strike out if vehicle unattended or driver does not hold a licence

10

Expiry date

Expiry date of driver's licence - strike out if vehicle unattended or driver does not hold a licence

11

Date of Birth

Date of birth of driver - strike out if vehicle unattended

12

State

State of driver's licence - strike out if vehicle unattended or driver does not hold a licence

13

Address

Driver's residential address - strike out if vehicle unattended

14

Date of issue

Date of issuing the defect notice

15

Time

Time of issuing the defect notice

16

Location of issue

The suburb that the defect notice is issued in (i.e. location of intercept)

17

Visual / Partial Inspection - Full inspection - Audit - Other

Always tick Visual / Partial Inspection

18

Vehicle Attended

If the vehicle is attended by a driver at the time of inspection/issuing

19

Defect Notice (Light Vehicle) - Defect Notice (Heavy Vehicle)

Unless defecting a heavy truck, tick Defect Notice (Light Vehicle)

20

Repairs or adjustments required

Tick box(es) for relevant groups of faults required to be corrected. If relevant group is not listed, tick Other

21

Description of Faults: - Action Required:

Write a brief description of each individual defect, and then what is required to clear the defect. Refer above for examples

22

Defect category

Minor should be ticked if:

The faults may constitute safety risk or danger; and
There are five or less individual faults listed in the above section; and
You are satisfied that the vehicle is safe enough to be driven away after the intercept

Major should be ticked if:

The faults constitute an imminent and serious safety risk; and
There are more than five individual faults listed in the above section; or
The vehicle has non compliant modifications; or
A VASS / Engineer's certificate may be required; or
Structural rust is identified; and
You are satisfied that the vehicle is safe enough to be driven away after the intercept

Major Grounded should be ticked if:

The defects fit the category of Major but you are not satisfied that the vehicle is safe enough to be driven at all

23

Certificate of Roadworthiness required

Tick yes if you ticked Major or Major Grounded above, or if you ticked Minor but you believe a roadworthy certificate should still be obtained

24

Label Issued

Always tick Yes

25

Associated Infringement / Breach No.

Infringement reference number if PIN for drive unsafe/unroadworthy vehicle issued

26

Notice Issued by (signature)

Your signature

27

Police / AO ID

Your reg. number

28

Date

Date of issuing the defect notice

29

Station / Office

Your station

30

Conditions of use

Conditions for the use of the vehicle (if not grounding) until all faults are corrected. May include things such as:

Vehicle not to be driven at night or low visibility conditions
Vehicle not to be driven in wet weather conditions
Vehicle not to be driven with passengers

If grounding the vehicle, you should write:

Vehicle not to be driven until all faults are corrected

31

This vehicle must not be used on or after

If not grounding the vehicle, the date should be seven clear days from the date of issuing the defect notice

Defect Notice
(7 clear days):

If grounding the vehicle, you should write the date of issue

31

Time

If not grounding the vehicle, 12:01 am
If grounding, the time of issue as above

32

Notice to be cleared at

Any VicRoads customer service centre/authorised inspection centre

33

Failure to clear the defect notice by (text box at bottom)

28 days from date of issue (same as infringmement specified due date)

2. Compile and affix the defect label to the vehicle

Affix to vehicle so that the side with DEFECTIVE VEHICLE can be seen from outside the vehicle.

3. Serve defect notice

If driver present, give both the blue DUPLICATE - DRIVER COPY and white TRIPLICATE - REGISTERED OPERATOR COPY to the driver.

If the vehicle is unattended affix the TRIPLICATE - REGISTERED OPERATOR COPY to the vehicle.

Refuse or fail to allow motor vehicle or trailer to be inspected [RSA s.13]

Refuses or fails to allow police officer to inspect motor vehicle or trailer

Remove or deface vehicle defect label [RS(V)R r.277] - [INFRINGEMENT CODE 2145]

Removes or defaces vehicle defect label without authorisation

Use vehicle in breach of defect notice

Use in breach of major defect notice [RS(V)R r.272] - [INFRINGEMENT CODE 2147]
Use in breach of minor defect notice [RS(V)R r.272] - [INFRINGEMENT CODE 2148]

However if defects have been rectified, no offence if driven:

From place of repair to tester (from one mechanic to another for inspection)
While being examined/tested
To return to place of repair after testing
To a relevant place (VicRoads etc.) to have the defect notice cleared

Use motor vehicle not compliant with standards (modified vehicle) [RS(V)R r.293 / RS(V)R r.294] - [INFRINGEMENT CODE 2143]

Drives a vehicle that is not unroadworthy, but fails to comply with the standards for registration in its registration jurisdiction
If the vehicle is registered out of state, it is required to comply with its jurisdiction's vehicle registration standards, not Victorian registration standards
Generally, only issue this to Victorian registered or unregistered vehicles for breaches of Victorian standards, unless you know the standards required in the vehicle's state of registration and know they are being breached

Use motor vehicle not in a safe and roadworthy condition (unroadworthy) [RS(V)R r.295] - [INFRINGEMENT CODE 2860]

Drives vehicle not in a safe and roadworthy condition
This applies to all motor vehicles whether registered in Victoria, out of state, or unregistered