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Volume 52 · 78

Public Law 75–31

To provide for the annual inspection of all motor vehicles in the District of Columbia.

Approved February 18, 1938

Statutory text

AN ACT

To provide for the annual inspection of all motor vehicles in the District of Columbia.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That at the time of the registration of each motor vehicle there shall be levied and collected a fee known as the “inspection fee” of $1 for the calendar year 1939 for each motor vehicle registered in the District of Columbia, including electrics, and that during 1940 and each year thereafter inspection fee thus levied shall be 50 cents on each vehicle.

Sec. 2.

The inspection fee shall be paid to the collector of taxes and shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the special fund created by the Act entitled “An Act to provide for a tax on motor-vehicle fuels sold within the District of

43 Stat. 106.

Columbia, and for other purposes”, approved April 23, 1924, and the Act entitled “An Act to provide additional revenue for the District

50 Stat. 676.

of Columbia, and for other purposes”, approved August 17, 1937.

Sec. 3.

The annual estimates of appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year 1939 and succeeding fiscal years shall include estimates of appropriations for the construction and/or rental and/or leasing of ground and buildings, the purchase of equipment and supplies, and the payment of salaries of mechanics, laborers, clerks, and other employees to carry out the annual inspection of all motor vehicles in the District of Columbia.

Sec. 4.

All motor vehicles owned and officially used by the Government of the United States or by the government of the District of Columbia or by the representatives of foreign governments, shall be subject to annual inspection, such inspections to be furnished without charge.

Sec. 5.

The Commissioners of the District of Columbia or their designated agent may refuse to register any motor vehicle or trailer which has not been inspected as required, or which is unsafe or improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit to be operated, and for like reason they may revoke or suspend any registration already made: Provided, That the provisions of section 13 (a) of the Traffic Acts,

Proviso.

Application of designated provisions.

44 Stat. 814.

District of Columbia, shall be applicable in all cases where registration is refused, revoked, or suspended under the terms of this Act.

Sec. 6.

Any individual, partnership, firm, or corporation found guilty of using or permitting the use of any unregistered motor vehicle or trailer, or who is found guilty of using or permitting the use of the same during the period for which any such vehicle’s registration is revoked or suspended under the terms of this Act shall, for each such offense, be fined not more than $300.

Sec. 7.

The Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall make such regulations as in their judgment are necessary for the administration of this Act, and may affix thereto such reasonable fines and penalties as in their judgment are necessary to enforce such regulations.

Approved, February 18, 1938.

Parsed from the official Statutes at Large USLM XML in 52.xml