Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§40 Commercial motor vehicles required to stop for inspections
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR VEHICLES › § 40
Summary
Drivers of commercial motor vehicles must stop for inspections when an authorized FMCSA employee orders them. They must let the employee check the vehicle, driver, cargo, and records and may not leave until told. If a driver knowingly refuses to stop or leaves without permission, they face a fine, imprisonment up to 1 year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §40
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)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.
(b)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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2008—Pub. L. 110–244 renumbered section 39 of this title, relating to inspection of commercial vehicles, as this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 40
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73