(1) The motor carrier division of the department of state police, the chief of an organized fire department or police department, a peace officer, or a firefighter in uniform acting under the orders and directions of the local fire chief may inspect a vehicle transporting a hazardous material. Subject to subsection (3), if upon inspection a vehicle is found to be in violation of the rules with respect to safety equipment, the motor carrier division or the inspecting chief, firefighter, or peace officer shall attach to the vehicle a notice identifying the vehicle and stating that it is condemned against further use in the transportation of hazardous material, and listing the violations found. If the vehicle is en route to a destination where its load is to be delivered, the motor carrier division, chief, firefighter, or peace officer, except as otherwise provided in this act, shall allow the vehicle to proceed to make deliveries after which the vehicle shall be returned to its base or customary place of maintenance and repair or taken to a suitable place for repair. If, upon inspection, a vehicle while en route to a delivery destination is found to be in a condition that makes it likely that further operation under normal road and traffic conditions will result in spillage of hazardous material, the motor carrier division, chief, firefighter, or peace officer shall have the vehicle impounded. The vehicle shall be impounded at a suitable place where the hazardous material being transported can be unloaded with reasonable safety, and until the unloading is accomplished and arrangements are made to return the vehicle with reasonable safety to its base or customary place of maintenance and repair, or to move the vehicle to a suitable place of repair. If, upon inspection, the braking, lighting, steering, coupling, sounding, or other devices on a vehicle are found to be in a condition such that the vehicle cannot be operated by a prudent operator without undue risk of accident, the motor carrier division, chief, firefighter, or peace officer shall have the vehicle impounded at a suitable place until the necessary repairs are made.

    (2) Except as provided in this act, a vehicle condemned under this act shall not be used in transporting hazardous material until released under this section. Upon being returned to its base or customary place of maintenance and repair, or to a suitable place of repair, the condemned vehicle may be impounded there upon order of the motor carrier division of the department of state police until the conditions for which the condemnation was issued have been corrected. However, the motor carrier division may authorize the temporary release of the condemned vehicle for a reasonable time needed to procure parts or appurtenances necessary to correct the conditions for which the vehicle was condemned. Upon correction of the conditions, the motor carrier division, chief of an organized fire department or police department, a peace officer, or a firefighter in uniform acting under a chief’s direction, shall be notified and shall reinspect the vehicle. The motor carrier division, chief, peace officer, or firefighter shall release the vehicle if upon reinspection the vehicle is found to be in compliance with this act and the rules promulgated under this act, and if reasonable impounding expenses have been paid by the owner of the vehicle. A person inspecting a vehicle under this act shall notify the motor carrier division under rules promulgated under this act, of the circumstances and conditions of each violation, condemnation, impounding, and release.

    (3) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), an official named in subsection (1) inspecting a commercial motor vehicle under the authority of this section shall attach notices, and place vehicles and drivers out of service, only as provided under the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.25, and as provided under the out of service criteria issued under the authority of the commercial vehicle safety alliance. As used in this subsection, “commercial motor vehicle” means that term as defined in the motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.25.