Hire vehicles more than five years old may need to be tested for roadworthiness under new Queensland laws.
A parliamentary committee has recommended the change, while reviewing a bill designed to force companies to remove offensive slogans or images from vehicles or risk having them de-registered.
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Currently, advertising, including advertising on vehicles, is self-regulated with no enforcement option available to the Advertising Standards Board, although most businesses comply with determinations.
The law would allow the chief executive of the Transport and Main Roads Department to cancel a vehicle's registration to enforce the ASB's determinations, and was sparked following protests about Wicked Campers.
But more widespread changes to restrict rude ads, slogans and pictures on other products are unlikely to go much further.
But Transportation and Utilities Committee chair Shane King said those elements were outside the scope of the committee's portfolio.
However, while the committee unanimously recommended the bill be passed, it also recommended a requirement for all Queensland hire vehicles that were more than five years old to have a current roadworthy safety certificate.
The committee did not explain why it decided to make the recommendation in its report.
Mr King said the intent of the recommendation was to ask Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey to consider making roadworthy testing mandatory to improve safety in camper vehicles.
One submitter, Christine King, had asked for the introduction of annual roadworthy inspection checks for rental vehicles more than five years old.
"This would provide further safety to tourists who are already driving vehicles with fewer safety features due to the age of the vehicles, prevent stranding in isolated regions, and better protect our tourism reputation," Ms King said.
In Queensland, regular vehicle inspections are currently required for public passenger vehicles, for example every six months for buses and every 12 months for taxi.
But other light vehicles, such as hire vehicles, do not need to be inspected annually. They are inspected only when the registration is transferred from one owner to another.
A committee hearing was told many commercial car hire companies replaced their vehicles more frequently than five years.
The Transport Operations (Road Use Management) (Offensive Advertising) Amendment bill will now be considered by the Queensland Parliament, which resumes sitting on February 14.
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