No amusement ride or amusement attraction shall be operated at a carnival, amusement enterprise, or fair in this State without a permit having been issued by the Director to an operator of such equipment. At least 30 days prior to the first day of operation or the expiration of the permit, any person required to obtain a permit by this Act shall apply to the Director for a permit on a form furnished by the Director which form shall contain such information as the Director may require. The Director may waive the requirement that an application for a permit must be filed at least 30 days prior to the first day of operation or the expiration of the permit if the applicant gives satisfactory proof to the Director that the applicant could not reasonably comply with the date requirement and if the applicant immediately applies for a permit after the need for a permit is first determined. The Director may accept applications for a permit not filed at least 30 days prior to the first day of operation or the expiration of the permit only if the applicant applies for the permit prior to the inspection of the ride or attraction. For the purpose of determining if an amusement ride or amusement attraction is in safe operating condition and will provide protection to the public using such amusement ride or amusement attraction, each amusement ride or amusement attraction shall be inspected by a ride inspector before it is initially placed in operation in this State, and shall thereafter be inspected by a ride inspector at least once each year. The Department may conduct inspections to ensure continued compliance with the provisions of this Act or any rules adopted hereunder.
     If, after inspection, an amusement ride or amusement attraction is found to comply with the rules adopted under this Act, the Director shall issue a permit for the operation of the amusement ride or amusement attraction. The permit shall be issued conditioned upon the payment of the permit fee and any applicable inspection fee at the time the application for permit to operate is filed with the Department and may be suspended as provided in the Department’s rules. The Director may, in the Director’s discretion, deny a permit from an applicant with a documented history of misrepresentation or conveying false information to the Department.
     If, after inspection, additions or alterations are contemplated which change a structure, mechanism, classification or capacity, the operator shall notify the Director of the operator’s intentions in writing and provide any plans or diagrams requested by the Director.