Hours of Operation

PURPOSE: This rule lists the minimum hours of operation for inspection stations and the obligation of the station operator to inspect vehicles. This rule is necessary to ensure that stations will be open and available for inspection purposes. (1) The normal business hours of every public motor vehicle safety inspection station shall be at least eight (8) continuous hours per day, five (5) days per week, except for businesses licensed as part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations. (2) Inspection station operators, inspector/mechanics, or both, are obligated to conduct inspections and reinspections of vehicles during normal business hours. A vehicle shall be inspected within a two- (2-) hour period after being presented unless other vehicles are being inspected. A reinspection must begin within one (1) hour when a vehicle is presented during the twenty (20) consecutive-day period excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays allowed by law for reinspections. (3) The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol may, at his/her discretion, authorize the licensing of part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations for businesses that do not operate within a traditional forty- (40-) hour work week. A business that is open forty (40) or more hours per week is not eligible for licensing as a part-time motor vehicle safety inspection station. (A) Part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations must be open to the public during all business hours established at the time of application. (B) The Missouri State Highway Patrol shall consider only business hours between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. for the calculation of normal business hours of part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations. (C) Normal business hours for part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations will be, at a minimum, twenty (20) hours per calendar week, and must be posted on the Notice to Vehicle Owner poster. (D) Regardless of normal business hours posted on the Notice to Vehicle Owner poster, part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations shall be required to perform motor vehicle safety inspections at any time the business is open between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. (E) A business licensed as a part-time motor vehicle safety inspection station is prohibited from operating a station in a facility that is used by another business licensed as a motor vehicle inspection station. (4) The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol may, at his/her discretion, cease the licensing of part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations. Should the licensing of part-time motor vehicle safety inspection stations cease, all part-time stations shall be allowed to remain as part-time inspection stations until expiration of the current licensing period, and no renewal of the license shall be completed. AUTHORITY: section 307.360, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Nov. 4, 1968, effective Nov. 14, 1968. Amended: Filed March 9, 1970, effective March 19, 1970. Amended: Filed Nov. 9, 1971, effective Nov. 19, 1971. Amended: Filed May 21, 1974, effective May 31, 1974. Amended: Filed Sept. 1, 1977, effective Dec. 11, 1977. Amended: Filed Aug. 15, 1983, effective Nov. 11, 1983. Amended: Filed July 12, 2024, effective Jan. 30, 2025. *Original authority: 307.360, RSMo 1967, amended 1971, 1973, 1979, 1999.