133A. [ Appointment of motor vehicles officer. [Inserted by Act 20 of 1942, Section 21 (w.e.f. 3.4.1942).]
(1)The [State Government] may, for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act, establish a Motor Vehicles Department and appoint as officers thereof such persons as it thinks fit.(2)Every such officer shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code.(3)The [State Government] [Substituted for the words 'Provincial Government' by A.L.O., 1950.] may make rules to regulate the discharge by officers of the Motor Vehicles Department of their functions and in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power to prescribe the uniform to be worn by them, the authorities to which they shall be subordinate, the duties to be performed by them, the powers (including the powers exercisable by police officers under this Act) to be exercised by them, and the conditions governing the exercise of such powers.](4)[ In addition to the powers that may be conferred on any officer of the Motor Vehicles Department under sub-section (3), such officer as may be empowered by the State Government in this behalf shall also have the power to,-(a)make such examination and inquiry as he thinks fit in order to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder are being observed;(b)with such assistance, if any, as he thinks fit, enter, inspect and search any premises which is in the occupation of a person who, he has reason to believe, has committed an offence under this Act or in which a motor vehicle in respect of which such offence has been committed is kept :Provided that-(i)any such search without a warrant shall be made only, by an officer of the rank of a gazetted officer;(ii)where the offence is punishable with fine only the search shall not be made after sunset and before sunrise;(iii)where the search is made without a warrant, the gazetted officer concerned shall record in writing, the grounds for not obtaining a warrant and report to his immediate superior that such search has been made;(c)examine any person and require the production of any register or other document maintained in pursuance of this Act, and take on the spot or otherwise statements of any person which he may consider necessary for carrying out the purposes of this Act;(d)seize or take copies of any registers or documents or portions thereof as he may consider relevant in respect of an offence under this Act which he has reason to believe has been committed;(e)launch prosecutions in respect of any offence under this Act and to take a bond for ensuring the attendance of the offender before any Court;(f)exercise such other powers as may be prescribed:Provided that no person shall be compelled under this sub-section to answer any question or make any statement tending to incriminate himself.(5)The provisions of the [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] [Inserted by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 1969 (56 of 1956), Section 74 (w.e.f. 2.3.1970).] so far as may be, apply to any search or seizure under this section as they apply to any search or seizure under the authority of any warrant issued under [section 94] [Substituted 'Section 98' by Act 47 of 1978, section 38 (w.e.f. 16.1.1979).] of that Code.]
