When a motor vehicle is in a condition in which it is likely to cease to conform to the safety standards or does not conform to them (excluding the case prescribed in paragraph (1) of the following Article), the Director of a District Transport Bureau may order the user of that motor vehicle to carry out the maintenance necessary in order to eliminate the likelihood of its ceasing to conform to the safety standards or in order to make it conform to the safety standards. In this case, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may give the user of that motor vehicle, which is in a condition of not conforming to the safety standards, instructions necessary for safety, or for pollution prevention and other conservation of the environment, such as restrictions on the method of use or route of that motor vehicle, concerning its operation until it comes to conform to the safety standards.
When the user of a motor vehicle fails to comply with an order or instruction under the preceding paragraph and the motor vehicle is in a condition of not conforming to the safety standards, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may suspend the use of that motor vehicle.
When the motor vehicle subject to the disposition under the preceding paragraph has come to conform to the safety standards, the Director of a District Transport Bureau must immediately revoke the disposition under that paragraph.
In the case of ordering maintenance pursuant to paragraph (1), when the condition in which the motor vehicle is likely to cease to conform to the safety standards or does not conform to them is a condition arising from deterioration or wear that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and it has been found, as a result of confirming the presence or absence and contents of the inspection and maintenance record book and other matters concerning that motor vehicle, that an inspection under Article 48, paragraph (1) that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has not been carried out, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may recommend that the user of that motor vehicle carry out that inspection (excluding the part for which maintenance is ordered pursuant to paragraph (1)) and carry out maintenance as necessary.