The summary inspection of the vehicle provided for in article L. 812-3 may only be carried out with the agreement of the driver or, failing this, on the instructions of the public prosecutor. Pending instructions from the public prosecutor, the vehicle may be immobilised for a period not exceeding four hours.
The inspection, the duration of which is limited to the time strictly necessary, takes place in the presence of the driver and gives rise to the drafting of a report mentioning the dates and times of the start and end of the operations. A copy of this report is given to the driver and another is immediately forwarded to the public prosecutor.