Violation code

385.103(c)

MX Carrier - Mexican domiciled carrier operating a CMV in the U.S. with provisional operating authority without a current CVSA decal.

Vehicle Maintenance4Non-OOS· SMS Appendix A v3.20

385.103(c) is a Inspection Reports violation under 49 CFR §385.103(c). It falls in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC with a severity weight of 4/10. Nationally it was cited 184 times in the last five years, with an OOS rate of 93.5%.

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National roadside inspection stats

as of 9/20/2026

Inspections

183

that found this code

Violations

184

total written

OOS rate

93.5%

172 OOS

Source: FMCSA roadside inspection data (last 5 years). The OOS rate is the share of these violations that led the officer to mark the driver or vehicle out of service.

Violation group: Inspection Reports
Regulation §: 385.103(c)
Severity weight: 4
Used in SMS: Yes
Status: Active
Updated: 9/20/2026

Last updated September 2026

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Notes

DSMS: N

What 385.103(c) means — and how to avoid it

In plain English

In plain terms, 385.103(c) is cited for mX Carrier - Mexican domiciled carrier operating a CMV in the U.S. with provisional operating authority without a current CVSA decal.

What the inspector checks

•The cited defect during the vehicle inspection

How to prevent it

✓Catch it on the pre-trip and keep the truck on a maintenance schedule

How it affects your CSA

up to 12 pts (fresh)

Severity 4/10. A fresh citation counts at the 3× time weight — up to 12 points toward the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC — then tapers to 2× after 6 months and 1× after a year, dropping off the score at 24 months.

General guidance from the violation’s FMCSA classification — not legal advice, and not a substitute for the inspector’s findings or 49 CFR.

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Challenging 385.103(c) through FMCSA DataQs

If this violation was written incorrectly, here are the angles trucking-safety managers use to contest it. Playbook: Vehicle Maintenance (general).

Common ways to challenge this code

Pre-trip inspection showed compliant brakes
The driver's pre-trip DVIR documented compliant brake adjustment and operation. The cited defect arose en route or was misclassified at roadside.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) from that date
- ✓Repair invoice or shop record
- ✓Post-citation re-inspection certificate (clean)
Momentary failure exception (§393.9)
The required lamp was inoperative only momentarily due to vibration, temperature, or similar transient cause — explicitly exempted under §393.9.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Photograph showing the lamp operable before / after the stop
- ✓Repair invoice if a fuse or bulb was replaced
Tread measurement disputed
The tread depth measurement was taken at a worn point that is not representative, contrary to NHTSA/FMCSA measurement standards.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Independent tread gauge reading from same tire (multiple positions)
- ✓Photograph of the tire with a reference scale
Documented maintenance schedule disproves the defect
Carrier's periodic-inspection records show the cited defect could not reasonably have existed at the time of inspection.
Evidence that wins
- ✓Periodic inspection certificate (§396.17)
- ✓Maintenance work order proximate to inspection date

Common pitfalls — avoid these

⚠DataQs cannot remove a violation simply because the defect was repaired after the stop

⚡ Draft a challenge for 385.103(c) →Read the DataQs guide first

More codes in Vehicle Maintenance

Same BASIC category — ranked by national citation volume

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Other Inspection Reports codes

Codes under the same FMCSA violation group

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Frequently asked questions about 385.103(c)

What does violation 385.103(c) mean?

385.103(c) is the FMCSA roadside-inspection violation code for "MX Carrier - Mexican domiciled carrier operating a CMV in the U.S. with provisional operating authority without a current CVSA decal.", part of the Inspection Reports group, cited under 49 CFR §385.103(c).

What BASIC does 385.103(c) affect?

385.103(c) falls under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS).

What is the CSA severity weight of 385.103(c)?

385.103(c) carries a severity weight of 4 out of 10. Higher weights indicate violations more closely tied to crash risk, and they count more toward a carrier's Vehicle Maintenance score.

Is 385.103(c) an out-of-service (OOS) violation?

No. 385.103(c) is not an out-of-service violation, so on its own it does not trigger an out-of-service order at the roadside.

How many CSA points does 385.103(c) add to a carrier's score?

The point contribution of 385.103(c) depends on its severity weight (4/10) multiplied by a time weight of 3, 2, or 1 based on how recent the inspection is. You can calculate the exact contribution with the CSA points calculator.

How can a driver prevent 385.103(c)?

Catch it on the pre-trip and keep the truck on a maintenance schedule.

Can 385.103(c) be challenged through DataQs?

Yes. If you believe 385.103(c) was recorded in error, you can file a Request for Data Review (RDR) through the FMCSA DataQs system with supporting evidence. A successful challenge can remove or correct the violation on your record.

Keep going

CSA points calculator How to challenge a violation Draft a DataQs letter for 385.103(c)Vehicle Maintenance BASIC Carrier CSA lookup CSA glossary

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