11. a. The commission shall designate as many qualified and properly equipped duly licensed private inspection facilities as the commission determines shall be necessary to conduct periodic inspections. A licensee shall inspect and pass or reject a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle presented to the licensee for inspection. Passing shall indicate that the licensee or the licensed inspector has inspected the diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle as prescribed by the commission and has found that the vehicle conforms to the standards established by law and rule or regulation. The commission may establish by rule or regulation adopted pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.) an application fee for the authority to conduct diesel emission inspections, which fee shall not exceed $250 per year.

b. For the purpose of documenting compliance with periodic inspection requirements, the commission shall furnish official inspection forms to licensed private inspection facilities authorized to conduct diesel emission inspections. The commission shall require each licensee and each owner or lessee of a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle subject to periodic inspection to keep such records and file such reports regarding these inspections as the commission shall deem necessary. The commission may conduct such audits or inspections of licensee facilities as the commission deems appropriate.

c. The commission may deny, suspend or revoke the authority to conduct diesel emission inspections or refuse renewal thereof for cause, including, but not limited to, one or more of the following:

(1) Violation of any provision of this act or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto; or

(2) Fraud or misrepresentation in securing a license or in the conduct of the licensed activity; or

(3) Conviction of a crime demonstrating that the applicant or licensee is unfit; or

(4) Improper, negligent, or fraudulent inspection of a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle; or

(5) Other good cause.

d. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties that may be applicable, a person licensed by the commission to conduct diesel emission inspections who commits fraud or misrepresentation in securing a license or in the conduct of the licensed activity or who improperly or negligently or fraudulently conducts an inspection of a diesel bus, heavy-duty diesel truck, or other diesel-powered motor vehicle shall be liable for a civil penalty of $1,500. In addition to any other civil or criminal penalties that may be applicable, a person licensed by the commission to conduct diesel emission inspections, who otherwise violates any provision of this act or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, shall be liable for a civil penalty of $500.

L.1995, c.157, s.11; amended 2003, c.13, s.84; 2009, c.331, s.9.