To repeal section 307.350, RSMo Supp. 1996, relating to motor vehicle inspections, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AS FOLLOWS:

     Section A. Section 307.350, RSMo Supp. 1996, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 307.350, to read as follows:

     307.350. 1. The [owner] purchaser of every motor vehicle as defined in section 301.010, RSMo, which is required to be registered in this state, except:

     (1) New motor vehicles which have not been previously titled and registered, prior to the initial motor vehicle registration or the next succeeding registration which is required by law;

     (2) Those motor vehicles which are engaged in interstate commerce and are proportionately registered in this state with the Missouri highway reciprocity commission, although the owner may request that such vehicle be inspected by an official inspection station, and a peace officer may stop and inspect such vehicles to determine whether the mechanical condition is in compliance with the safety regulations established by the United States Department of Transportation; and

     (3) Historic motor vehicles registered pursuant to section 301.131, RSMo;

shall submit such vehicles to [an annual] a one-time inspection of their mechanism and equipment in accordance with the provisions of sections 307.350 to 307.390 and obtain a certificate of inspection and approval and a sticker, seal, or other device from a duly authorized official inspection station. The inspection, except the inspection of school buses which shall be made at the time provided in section 307.375, shall be made at the time prescribed in the rules and regulations issued by the superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol; but the inspection of a vehicle shall not be made more than sixty days prior to the date of application for annual registration or within sixty days of when a vehicle's registration is transferred. The certificate of inspection and approval shall be a sticker, seal, or other device or combination thereof, as the superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol prescribes by regulation and shall be displayed upon the motor vehicle or trailer as prescribed by the regulations established by him. The replacement of certificates of inspection and approval which are lost or destroyed shall be made by the superintendent of the Missouri state highway patrol under regulations prescribed by him.

     2. For the purpose of obtaining an inspection only, it shall be lawful to operate a vehicle over the most direct route between the owner's usual place of residence and an inspection station of such owner's choice, notwithstanding the fact that the vehicle does not have a current state registration license. It shall also be lawful to operate such a vehicle from an inspection station to another place where repairs may be made and to return the vehicle to the inspection station notwithstanding the absence of a current state registration license.

     [3. No person whose motor vehicle was duly inspected and approved as provided in this section shall be required to have the same motor vehicle again inspected and approved for the sole reason that such person wishes to obtain a set of any special personalized license plates available pursuant to section 301.144, RSMo, or a set of any license plates available pursuant to section 301.142, RSMo, prior to the expiration date of such motor vehicle's current annual registration.]

     [4.] 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 307.390, violation of this section shall be deemed an infraction.