N.M. Admin. Code § 20.11.100.21 - CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR AIR CARE STATIONS

A. No person shall solicit, advertise or imply that a facility is an air care station certified by the program manager to conduct inspections pursuant to 20.11.100 NMAC without having a current program-issued certificate on display on the premises. Any air care inspection station that has its certification permanently or temporarily withdrawn or canceled by the board or the program manager shall immediately remove all inspection related signs and cease to represent the facility as a certified air care station.

B. No air care station owner or operator shall allow a person to conduct any part of an inspection pursuant to 20.11.100 NMAC unless the person is an air care inspector certified by the program manager and has a current program-issued certificate on display on the premises.

C. Any person may apply for certification to operate an air care station.

D. Before constructing, installing or renovating a facility or building intended for use as an air care station, the owner or operator shall submit an application and receive pre-approval to operate the facility as an air care station. The applicant shall also provide information on traffic flow and how it will be managed to prevent unsafe conditions. The applicant shall also indicate how and where the customer may view the vehicle inspection from start to finish.

E. The program manager may issue a station certificate to a person who applies and demonstrates to the program manager's satisfaction the following minimum conditions shall be in effect and equipment shall be present at the applicant's proposed air care station:

(1) at least one certified air care inspector whose certification is current and listed with the program manager shall be present and shall conduct all the inspections of motor vehicles; no inspection shall be performed in whole or in part by any person who is not a certified air care inspector;

(2) at least one approved emissions analyzer owned or leased by the station shall be in place and operating within the equipment specification limits;

(3) in order to qualify for certification, the facility shall also be equipped and supplied as follows:

(a) sufficient hand tools and automotive diagnostic equipment for proper performance of the inspections;

(b) program approved span gas and compatible equipment for performing gas span checks;

(c) suitable non-reactive tail pipe extenders or probe adapters for inspecting vehicles with screened or baffled exhaust systems;

(d) the approved emissions analyzer manufacturer's maintenance and calibration manual; and

(e) gas cap checking adaptors;

(4) the air care station shall provide the vehicle owner or driver with access to the test area so that observation of the entire official inspection process is possible; access may be limited, but in no way shall prevent full observation of the entire official inspection process from start to finish; and

(5) certified air care station owners or operators shall be responsible for the general management of their facility(ies) and for the supervision of their air care inspectors in accordance with 20.11.100 NMAC.

F. "Emissions-inspection-only" stations may be authorized by the program manager. Emissions-inspection-only stations shall indicate on a sign authorized by the program and placed in a readily visible location that no emissions-related adjustments or repair services are available. Repair-related requirements of Subsection B of 20.11.100.23 NMAC do not apply to "inspection-only" stations.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 20.11.100.21

5/20/88. . .11/13/91, 9/23/94, 12/1/95; 20.11.100.21 NMAC - Rn, 20 NMAC 11.100.II.10, 10/1/02; 20.11.100.21 NMAC - Rn & A, 20.11.100.18 NMAC, 1/1/12