Section 12-9-51. Emission inspection required for motor vehicle registration; operation without registration; improper reuse

   (a) Beginning July 1, 1992, it shall be unlawful for any county to and no county shall register any responsible motor vehicle subject to any requirement under Code Section 12-9-45 pursuant to or subject to the requirements of Chapter 2 of Title 40 without proof of a valid certificate of emission inspection issued pursuant to Code Section 12-9-48 indicating that such responsible motor vehicle satisfied all applicable requirements of Code Section 12-9-45 and Code Section 12-9-48. In applying for a motor vehicle registration for a responsible motor vehicle subject to any requirement under Code Section 12-9-45, the application shall be accompanied by proof of the issuance of a certificate of emission inspection issued pursuant to Code Section 12-9-48. Any county which registers any responsible motor vehicle without proof of a certificate of emission inspection shall be in violation of this article.

(b) It shall be unlawful to and no person shall operate a responsible motor vehicle subject to any requirement under Code Section 12-9-45 on the roadways of this state without a valid registration issued in compliance with this article. Any person who operates a responsible motor vehicle subject to any requirement under Code Section 12-9-45 on the roadways of this state without a valid registration issued in compliance with this article shall be considered to be operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

(c) The board may provide for a procedure to be implemented by each county to ensure that certificates of emission inspection are not improperly reused.

Code 1981, § 12-9-51, enacted by Ga. L. 1992, p. 918, § 2; Ga. L. 1996, p. 336, § 10.