Inspection Bulletin 2021-05 - Electronic Documents

Inspection Bulletin 2021-05 references guidance to law enforcement personnel surrounding the acceptance of electronic documents. IRP cab card is listed in the latter portion of the document but stipulates that accepting electronic formats is at the discretion of each jurisdiction (province, state, or territory). Using the province of Manitoba as an example, their latest revised version of their IRP cab cards states at the bottom in fine print that "this apportioned cab card is non-transferable and must be carried in the vehicle at all times". However, the province of Ontario's guidelines states that this specific document will be accepted roadside.

Clarification of which format requirements overrule the other. The issuing jurisdiction or the location of the roadside agency. Moreover, intra-provincial or intra-state carriers would benefit greatly with a job aid chart with input from the lead agency contacts defining which of the optional documents described in Inspection Bulletin 2021-05 are actually accept electronic format. This writer has spoken to a number of subject matter experts and received different answers an reasoning from different provinces. Standardize guidance will offer concrete confirmation to both the law enforcement and industry stakeholders.

Overall, this requests pertains to further clarification over which rule or policy supersedes the other. Example: Will a CMV plated in Manitoba operating intra-provincially with an electronic formatted IRP Cab card be accepted in Ontario which permits this document type to be in an electronic format? Conversely, will an Ontario plated CMV operating intra-provincially with an electronic IRP cab card be accepted roadside in Manitoba? An inspection bulletin be created and continuously updated based on feedback from lead agency contacts that depict which of the optional documents outlined in Inspection Bulletin 2021-05 will be accepted roadside in an electronic format. Collaboration with International Registration Plan (IRP) to offer official IRP Cab Cards in electronic or hard copy formats to be accepted roadside in all jurisdictions. This further attributes to environmentally friendly practices like the reduction of printed paper and transportation costs associated with shipped carriers their new or renewed documentation.