Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 40: Commercial motor vehicles required to stop for inspections

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

Commercial motor vehicle drivers must stop for federal safety inspections when directed. Knowingly failing to stop or leaving without authorization is punishable by fine or up to one year imprisonment.

Read the full statutory text

A driver of a commercial motor vehicle (as defined in section 31132 of title 49 ) shall stop and submit to inspection of the vehicle, driver, cargo, and required records when directed to do so by an authorized employee of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of the Department of Transportation, at or in the vicinity of an inspection site. The driver shall not leave the inspection site until authorized to do so by an authorized employee. A driver of a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in subsection (a), who knowingly fails to stop for inspection when directed to do so by an authorized employee of the Administration at or in the vicinity of an inspection site, or leaves the inspection site without authorization, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.