20-183.4A. License required to perform emissions inspection; qualifications for license.

(a) License Required. - An emissions inspection must be performed by one of the following methods:

(1) At a station that has an emissions inspection station license issued by the Division and by a mechanic who is employed by the station and has an emissions inspection mechanic license issued by the Division.

(2) At a place of business of a person who has an emissions self-inspector license issued by the Division and by an individual who has an emissions inspection mechanic license.

(b) Station Qualifications. - An applicant for a license as an emissions inspection station must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have a license as a safety inspection station.

(2) Repealed by Session Law 2000-134, s. 15, effective January 1, 2006.

(2a) Have equipment to analyze data provided by the on-board diagnostic (OBD) equipment approved by the Environmental Management Commission.

(3) Have equipment and software to transfer information on emissions inspections to the Division by electronic means. During the initial implementation of the electronic inspection process, the vendor selected by the Division shall provide the software at no cost to a station that holds a license on October 1, 2008.

(4) Regularly employ at least one mechanic who has an emissions inspection mechanic license.

(c) Mechanic Qualifications. - An applicant for a license as an emissions inspection mechanic must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have a license as a safety inspection mechanic.

(2) Repealed by Session Law 2000-134, s. 15, effective January 1, 2006.

(2a) Have successfully completed an eight-hour course approved by the Division that teaches students about the causes and effects of the air pollution problem, the purpose of the emissions inspection program, the vehicle emission standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the emission control devices on vehicles, how to conduct an emissions inspection using equipment to analyze data provided by the on-board diagnostic (OBD) equipment approved by the Environmental Management Commission, and any other topic required by 40 C.F.R. 51.367 to be included in the course. Successful completion requires a passing score on a written test and on a hands-on test in which the student is required to conduct an emissions inspection of a motor vehicle.

(d) Self-Inspector Qualifications. - An applicant for a license as an emissions self-inspector must meet all of the following requirements:

(1) Have a license as a safety self-inspector.

(2) Operate a fleet of at least 10 vehicles that are subject to an emissions inspection.

(3) Repealed by Session Law 2000-134, s. 15, effective January 1, 2006.

(3a) Have, or have a contract with a person who has, equipment to analyze data provided by the on-board diagnostic (OBD) equipment approved by the Environmental Management Commission.

(4) Regularly employ or contract with an individual who has an emissions inspection mechanic license and who will perform an emissions inspection on the vehicles that are part of the self-inspector's fleet.