General
Inspections must be performed by and decals affixed by certified government employees. The term "certified" as used in this section means the government employee performing inspections and/or affixing CVSA decals must have first successfully completed a training program approved by the Alliance. Decals, when affixed, shall remain valid for a period not to exceed three consecutive months. Vehicles displaying a valid decal generally will not be subject to reinspection.

However, nothing shall prevent reinspection of a vehicle or combination of vehicles bearing valid inspection decals, under the conditions specified in the section titled, "Reinspection".

Reinspection
For the purposes of uniformity in the application of this section and maximum maintenance of the reciprocity standard, reinspection of a vehicle bearing a current and valid CVSA decal is contemplated under the following circumstances:

A North American Commercial Vehicle Critical Safety Item or out-of-service violation is detected.

When a Level IV (Special Inspection) exercise is involved.

When a statistically based random inspection technique is being employed to validate an individual jurisdiction or regional out-of-service percentage, or

When reinspections are conducted to maintain CVSA inspection quality assurance.

Qualification
Vehicle (Mechanical) Each vehicle (bus, truck, truck tractor, semitrailer, trailer, etc.) used singularly or in combination may qualify for a CVSA decal if it passes inspection. "Pass Inspection" means that during a Level I or Level V inspection no defects are found of the following critical vehicle inspection items: brake system; coupling devices; exhaust system; frame; fuel system; turn signals; brake lamps; tail lamps; head lamps; lamps on projecting loads; safe loading; steering mechanism; suspension; tires; van and open-top trailer bodies; wheels and rims; windshield wipers and emergency exits for buses.

For the purpose of decal issuance, if no violation is detected during a Level I or Level V inspection due to a hidden part of the listed critical vehicle inspection items, a decal shall be applied.

Cargo Tank (Additional Decal) Decals shall not be issued to U.S. DOT Specification Cargo Tank vehicles found to have violations of the following: retest requirements; internal valves; cargo tank authorization; manhole covers; discharge valves; cargo tank integrity, and/or support and anchoring requirements.

Location - The location for affixing such decal on the power unit shall be on the lower right corner of the exterior surface of the passenger's windshield. The location for affixing such decal on trailing units - except cargo tanks -shall be on the lower right corner as near the front as possible.

The decal location for passenger buses shall be on the glass portion (window) of the passenger door as close to inspector"s eye-level as possible.

The decal location for cargo tanks shall be (1) on the right side of the frame near the front of the cargo tank {for the mechanical vehicle inspection items} and (2) at eye-level on the right side near the front of the cargo tank {for the hazardous materials specification inspection items}.

Application The quarter in which an inspection is performed is indicated by the color of the decal issued.

   CVSA Decal

The year of issuance shall be indicated by using the last number of the calendar year (i.e. 1997 shall be indicated by the number "7") and shall be printed at the top portion of the sticker as shown above, with the CVSA trademark printed directly below. Decals affixed on the first month of a new calendar quarter must have both upper corners removed. Those issued during the second month of the quarter must have the upper right comer removed. No corners are removed from those decals issued during the last month of a calendar quarter.