Operational Policy 13 - Pre-Inspection Screening Policy

This Issue/Request for Action (IR) is being submitted to clarify the differences between an inspection and an inspections screen. This issue is being submitted to avoid a potential conflict on the roadside by providing uniform guidance to all stakeholders. The IR defines an inspection screen and refers to Operational Policy 5 for a definition on an inspection. The goal is to provide uniform guidance for all stakholders as to when a documented inspection report should be completed.

It is our hope that this policy will address some of the confusion on the roadside about when an inspection has or has not been completed. The IR is being submitted to provide uniformity ands clarity in an area that currently has little. This IR clarifies when a written inspection report should be completed. Documenting an inspection report is particularly important given CSA and how carriers will be rated under the proposed SFD.

Additional change to Operational Policy 13 and to be added at the conclusion of the current Operational Policy. CVSA \"Pre-Inspection Screening Policy\" depending on a jurisdiction?s authority or operational policies, screens for an inspection may include operational practices described in the above policy.For the purpose of determining when an inspection report shall be generated, member jurisdictions, inspectors, drivers and stakeholders must understand the importance of distinguishing between the ?screening process? related to observed conditions that trigger inspections and the performance of the inspection itself. Inspections are defined in CVSA?s Operational Policy 5. A screen for a CVSA inspection is a brief stop by a law enforcement official to collect basic or identifying information from a driver or vehicle in order to determine if an inspection is warranted. This may include a cursory review of the vehicle or driver?s required documents or regulatory paperwork. Depending on a jurisdiction?s authority or operational policies, a pre-inspection screen may include the observation of violations that would prompt a CVSA inspection by the officer. As a general rule, a pre-inspection screen for a CVSA inspection shall not take more than 2-3 minutes after which time the driver should be released and no documentation recorded in the form of a level inspection. Once the screen has been completed an inspector should either release the vehicle or complete and document a CVSA inspection including generating a copy to be given to the driver.