What's Inspected For A Brake Tag?

Brakes & Internal Components

• Brakes - The vehicle must not pull to the right or the left causing the vehicle to excessively alter its direction of travel.
• Emergency Braking System - Must operate as originally equipped, or intended by the manufacturer, being able to set, hold the vehicle in place, and release.
• Horn - Must be of an original type (as intended by the manufacturer), securely fastened, and audible at a distance of 200 feet. An auxiliary horn cannot be wired to the main horn.
• Seat Belts - Seat belts must operate and adjust as originally intended by the manufacturer. Seat belt buckles must operate properly. Webbing must not be split, frayed or torn.
• Seat Adjustment Mechanism – Seats must be securely anchored to the floor and must maintain set adjustment
• Steering Mechanism - Must be original type steering wheel with no excessive play, binding, or tightness
• Speedometer/Odometer - must be operational, indicating mph.
• Floor Pan - No holes or rusted areas are permitted in the occupant compartment or trunk. Inspectors may check the floor and trunk of a vehicle possessing serious body rust throughout.

Windshields, Glass & Tint

All vehicles with tinted windows will be checked with an approved tint meter to measure the percentage of light transmission. In addition, all glass will be checked to ensure proper safe operation. Cracks in excess of 8" anywhere on the windshield will not be allowed.  

Windows

• All windows must be present and in working order as originally equipped.
• Driver's-side windows must properly function as designed and must be able to roll up and down. Driver and passenger side windows cannot have cracks that obscure the drivers view.
• A windshield can be rejected at any time the condition creates a safety hazard.

Windshield wipers

• Windshield Wipers - Metal parts and blades shall not be missing or damaged. Blades shall not show signs of physical breakdown of rubber wiping element. Rubber blades shall not be damaged, torn or hardened to the point that they do not clear the windshield.
• Windshield Washers - The windshield washing system upon a vehicle that is not more than six years old from the date of manufacture or assembly shall be maintained in good working order.

Windshields

• Windshields – No cracks longer than 8” will be allowed on any part of the windshield. If a windshield is cracked in such a way as to jeopardize the integrity of the windshield, the vehicle will not pass inspection.
  • Acute Area (directly in the driver’s line of vision) - cannot have any cracks and no more than 2 stars, nicks, chips, bull's-eyes, or half-moons in excess of 1/2".
  • Critical Area (area other than the acute area which is cleaned by the normal sweep of the windshield wiper blades on the driver’s side only) - cannot have any star larger than 2" in diameter, 2 or more stars larger than 1 1/2" in diameter, or 1 or more cracks which extend more than 8".
  • Non-Critical Area This area consists of all other windshield area other than the acute or critical area. This area cannot have 1 or more cracks which extend more than 8 inches, 1 or more cracks which extend from top to bottom, 1 or more cracks which extend from right to left or one or more cracks which extend all the way across the windshield.

Tint/Sunscreen

Tinted windows will be inspected with a tint meter. Only smoke tint shall be allowed. Tint cannot be mirror (reflective), red or amber. Sunscreen may only have a maximum light reflectance of 20%.

• Windshield – Windshields are allowed to have sunscreen extend down from the topmost portion of the glass, measured from the outside, no more than 5 inches. The sunscreen shall be smoke-colored and not red or amber in color.
• Front side windows - must have at least 40% light transmission
• Side windows behind driver - must have at least 25% light transmission
• Rear windows - must have at least 12% light transmission

Sunscreen regulations do not apply to windows behind the driver of trucks, SUV’s, buses, trailers, motor homes, multi-purpose passenger vehicles and all windows of vehicles used for law enforcement purposes.

Window Tint Exemptions

Tint exemptions are approved and issued by the Louisiana State Police. All requirements and documents needed to apply for an exemption can be found at the Louisiana State Police website at https://www.lsp.org/about/leadershipsections/patrol/transportation-safety-services/#Tint . For more information, call (225) 925-6113.

Medical Exemption: Valid medical needs for added protection from the sun, allergies, and/or other sun-related medical reasons verifiable by the World Health Organization International Classification of Disease ICD-9-CM under Louisiana R.S. 32:361.2 may obtain a window tint medical exemption affidavit from the Louisiana State Police.

Security Exemption: Private investigators, bail enforcement agents, railroad police officers, Louisiana peace officers P.O.S.T. certified and sworn, and elected or appointed public officials may be eligible for a security exemption affidavit from the Louisiana State Police.

Individuals eligible to apply for a security exemption from the provisions of RS 32:361.3 and LAC 55:813 must provide a copy of their current credentials and Louisiana Law Enforcement personnel must provide a copy of their peace officer P.O.S.T. certification and current police commission identification.

Lights

All required lamps must illuminate. Rear lamps must not be taped or have a cracked lens exposing white light. Lense assemblies must be securely fastened.

• Headlamps - Must emit white light only. Max height: 54". Min height: 24", measured from the center of the lamp. All vehicles must be equipped with an operable dimmer switch and beam indicator (high or low beam designation).
• Parking Lamps - Must emit white or amber colored light only.
• Turn Indicator Lamps - Front - Must emit white or amber colored light only.
• Turn Indicator Lamps - Rear - Must emit red or amber colored light only.  Lens cannot be broken and no white light may be allowed to show to the rear of the vehicle. Must have original type lens. No tape allowed.
• Tail Lamps - Must emit red colored light only.  Lens cannot be broken and no white light may be allowed to show to the rear of the vehicle.  Must have original type lens. No tape allowed. Max height: 72" Min height: 15"
• Brake/Stop Lamps - Must emit red light only visible at least 300 feet to the rear of the vehicle. Lens cannot be broken and no white light may be allowed to show to the rear of the vehicle.  Must have original type lens. No tape allowed.
• High Mount (Third) Brake Lamp - For passenger vehicles manufactuered after September 1, 1985 and trucks manufactured 1995 and after: Must have at least 4 1/2" of exposed red light.  Cannot be obscured by any aftermarket item such as tint. Trucks with a camper top must have a similar high mount light installed.
• Back-up Lamp(s) - Must emit white colored light only when the vehicle is placed in reverse gear.
• License Plate Lamp(s) - The license plate lamp must illuminate the license plate making it visible for 50 feet to the rear. The lamp is to be lighted with white light only when headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. The use of neon lights or the use of any other lights or devices which obscure the license plate is prohibited. 
• Aftermarket Lights - Any after market auxiliary lamp installed on a vehicle that is designed to emit white light or any auxiliary lamp mounted facing forward must be covered when used on public streets and highways. If auxiliary lamps are not properly covered, the vehicle will fail inspection.

Auxiliary lighting equipment must not be placed on, in or in front of any lamp nor shall auxiliary lighting interfere with the necessary visibility width of any lamp.

Wheels and tires

• Tires - Must have at least 2/32" of tread measured in any 2 adjacent major grooves. No knots, bulges, sidewall cracks in excess of 1" or tread exposure allowed. Tires on the same axle shall be of the same type construction. All tires must be for highway use. Tires marked "Not for Highway Use", "Farm Use Only" or "For Racing Purposes Only" are not allowed. Tires cannot extend more than 1" beyond fenders or attachments.
• Wheels - Must not be bent, loose, cracked, or damaged as to affect safe operation. Only one missing or defective bolt, nut or lug is allowed except on a four-hole pattern wheel. On a four hole pattern wheel, no missing or defective lugs are allowed.

Other items to be inspected

• Suspension and Shock Absorbers - The vehicle must have operational shock absorbers and springs and at least 3 inches of suspension travel.
• Ground Clearance - The vehicle must have at least 4 inches of ground clearance measured from the frame or the lowest part of the vehicle. 
• Fenders - Tires cannot extend more than 1" beyond fenders or attachments.
• Bumpers - Bumpers must be securely attached and not broken or protruding.
• License plate - License plate must be clean, clearly visible and readable for a distance of 50 feet to the rear of the vehicle. Plates shall not be obscured or damaged so that the numbers cannot be identified. The use of a license plate cover or an electronic device or electrochromatic film that obscures the license plate from any angle is prohibited.
• Doors - All doors must be present and operational with installed handles and must function as originally equipped by the factory. Doors must be secured in the closed position.
• Hood Latch - The hood must be securely held in a closed position by an original type latch.
• Mirrors - Mirrors should not be cracked, pitted or clouded to the extent that the driver's vision would be obscured. Mirrors must maintain set adjustment and must be secure. If vehicle is equipped with two outside mirrors, no inside mirror is required.
• Body and Sheet Metal - Exterior components of the body and sheet metal parts must not be damaged and/or dislocated so that they project from the vehicle and present a safety hazard to occupants, pedestrians or other vehicles.
• Exhaust System - Exhaust system cannot emit excessive smoke, fumes, or noise and must not have any loose or leaking joints. The exhaust system includes the piping leading from the flange of the exhaust manifold to, and including, the mufflers, resonators, tail piping and emission control device. Also, no holes, leaking seams, loose interior baffles or patches on the muffler are allowed. Elements of the system must be fastened securely, including missing connections or missing or broken hangers.

Motorcycles & Scooters

In addition to the items checked on automobiles, motorcycles and scooters must meet the standards below. The brake tag will be affixed to the registration certificate.

• Must have at least one stop lamp
• Must have at least one side rearview mirror
• Handlebars:
  • Must be constructed of tubing comparable to or exceeding the thickness of the original equipment
  • No cracks, deformation or excessive flexure is allowed
  • Must not extend 15 inches above the vehicle's seat
  • Should be properly aligned
• Driver must have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver's license