Safety and mechanical inspections

(a) It shall be the duty of the commissioner to regulate limousine carriers with respect to the safety of equipment. (b) The department shall require safety and mechanical inspections at least on an annual basis for each vehicle owned and operated by a limousine carrier. The commissioner shall provide, by rule or regulation, for the scope of such inspections, the qualifications of persons who may conduct such inspections, and the manner by which the results of such inspections shall be reported to the department. (Code 1981, § 46-7-85.5, enacted by Ga. L. 1994, p. 1238, § 2; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 9-4; Ga. L. 2003, p. 426, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 361, § 46.) The 2003 amendment, effective October 1, 2003, in subsection (b), substituted ‘‘require’’ for ‘‘perform’’ in the first sentence and added the second sentence. The 2004 amendment, effective May 13, 2004, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted ‘‘rule or’’ for ‘‘rule and’’ near the beginning of the second sentence of subsection (b). Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 13-1, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that the 2000 Act which amended this Code section becomes fully effective July 1, 2001, but authorizes administrative action commencing April 28, 2000, for purposes of appointing certain officials, adopting rules and regulations, employing personnel, and preparing for and phasing in full implementation; provided, however, that the Governor may by executive order extend the date for full implementation of the Act to no later than July 1, 2003. In accordance with an executive order issued June 29, 2001, by the Governor, the amendment of this Code section by Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, became fully effective July 1, 2001. 46-7-85.6. Tranferability of certificates; authorization needed to encumber.