10. In addition to any other penalties that may be applicable, the operator of a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle who fails to comply with any direction given pursuant to section 9 of this act, or who refuses to submit or resists submitting a vehicle under the operator’s control for roadside inspection, or who fails to comply with any other obligation imposed upon that person as part of the roadside enforcement program shall be jointly and severally liable with the owner and the lessee, if any, of the vehicle for a civil penalty of $500. The owner and the lessee, if any, of a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle subject to periodic inspections who violates any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to section 6 of this act pertaining to periodic inspections shall be liable for a civil penalty determined by a penalty schedule that the commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Transportation, shall adopt by rule or regulation pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), but in no event shall a penalty established thereby exceed $500.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the contrary, the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall not be liable for any civil penalty assessed for a violation of this section if the diesel bus that is the subject of the violation is operated by a lessee or contractor, or an employee or agent of a lessee or contractor, of the New Jersey Transit Corporation. However, if a diesel bus that is the subject of a violation of this section is leased by the New Jersey Transit Corporation from another person, and the diesel bus is operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation or an employee thereof, the New Jersey Transit Corporation as lessee, and not the owner of the diesel bus, shall be liable for any civil penalty assessed for the violation.

L.1995,c.157,s.10; amended 2003, c.13, s.83.