(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, no peace officer shall be an inspector of vehicle identification numbers unless the peace officer has been certified by the peace officers standards and training board pursuant to section 24-31-303 (1)(e), C.R.S. In order to be certified, the peace officer must satisfactorily complete a vehicle identification number inspection training course approved by said board and pay a certification fee to the board not to exceed twenty-five dollars. The cost of the training course shall include all necessary and actual expenses but shall not exceed fifty dollars per peace officer.

(2) In lieu of the requirement for certification in subsection (1) of this section, any peace officer shall be certified as an inspector of vehicle identification numbers if the peace officer is able to demonstrate to the peace officers standards and training board that the peace officer has had sixteen hours or more of vehicle identification number inspection training which is acceptable to the board and which was received between January 1, 1986, and January 1, 1988.

(3) The sheriff of any county and the police chief of any municipality may certify individuals in addition to peace officers to serve as inspectors in accordance with the provisions of this part 2. Such individuals shall be employees or bona fide representatives of a county or municipality and shall satisfactorily complete fingerprint and background checks. Such individuals must satisfactorily complete a vehicle identification number inspection training course approved by the peace officers standards and training board and pay a fee to the board for the cost of the certification not to exceed twenty-five dollars. The cost of the training course shall include all necessary and actual expenses but shall not exceed fifty dollars per individual.