9 Va. Admin. Code § 5-91-600 - General enforcement process
A. Upon issuance of a notice of violation,
attempts shall be made to negotiate a consent order. The negotiation process
may take the form of two tiers, the first involving negotiations with the
department field staff. The second tier involves subsequent negotiations with
the department's management personnel for regional compliance, mobile sources
operations, or enforcement if the first tier negotiations are unsuccessful and
the alleged violator wishes to continue negotiations.
B. If the parties cannot agree on a consent
order, an informal fact finding shall be held after reasonable notice in
accordance with § 2.2-4019 of the Administrative Process Act. Upon consent
of all parties, the informal fact finding may be waived and a formal hearing
shall be held after reasonable notice in accordance with § 2.2-4020 of the
Administrative Process Act. During these proceedings, the department and the
alleged violator may present facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged
violation in accordance with the Administrative Process Act.
C. A formal hearing shall be held to suspend
emissions inspection station permits, unless the parties agree to hold an
informal fact finding and waive a formal hearing and agree that the decision
from the informal fact finding is the final decision for purposes of Article V
(§ 2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative Process Act.. An emissions
inspection station permit may be suspended pursuant to an informal fact
finding, provided a formal hearing is held within 10 days from the date of
suspension in accordance with § 46.2-1185 of the Virginia Motor Vehicle
Emissions Control Law and § 2.2-4020 of the Administrative Process
Act.
D. As provided in §
46.2-1185 of the Virginia Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Law, the director can
summarily suspend an emissions inspection station permit without a formal
hearing and require the permit holder to immediately cease performing emissions
inspections. Within 10 days of such action, a formal hearing shall be held to
affirm, modify, amend, or cancel the suspension unless the affected party
agrees to waive the formal hearing and allow the suspension to remain in
effect.
E. With respect to appeals
of penalties imposed pursuant to an informal fact finding, the presiding
officer shall be a designee of the director other than the regional emissions
inspection program manager or any emissions inspection program staff
member.
F. Any case decision made
pursuant to an informal fact finding must be in writing, must inform the
alleged violator of the penalty being imposed and the basis for any adverse
decision, and must inform the named party of his right to appeal.
1. Any affected party has the right to
request a formal hearing to appeal an adverse decision from an informal fact
finding unless the parties agree before the decision is rendered to waive the
formal hearing and that the decision shall be considered a final decision for
purposes of Article V (§ 2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative Process
Act.
2. A written informal fact
finding decision shall contain a statement that the affected party has the
right to request a formal hearing in order to appeal the decision within 10
days of notification of the decision or, if previously agreed by the parties,
that the decision is final and the affected party has the right to appeal the
decision to court.
3. Any request
for a formal hearing shall be made within 10 days of notification of the
decision by the affected party, in writing, to the department representative
who made the informal fact finding decision.
G. Case decisions made pursuant to a formal
hearing shall be made by the director or a designated representative. They must
be in writing and contain findings of fact and conclusions of law that set
forth the basis for any adverse decision, inform the alleged violator of the
penalty being imposed and inform the named party of his right to appeal that
decision to court.
H. All permits,
licenses and certifications shall be surrendered to the department upon notice
of revocation. Emissions inspection stations and emissions repair facilities
shall also surrender to the department all forms, data media and documents
issued by or purchased from the department.
I. If the case decision is a final decision
for purposes of Article V (§ 2.2-4025 et seq.) of the Administrative
Process Act, the department need not act further except to enforce any penalty
or order issued pursuant to the decision.
J. If the director determines that a
permittee, licensee, or holder of a certification is not complying with the
Virginia Motor Vehicle Emissions Control Law, this chapter, any case decision,
penalty or consent order issued pursuant to this chapter, the director may seek
appropriate criminal or civil judicial enforcement, or both, in accordance with
§§ 46.2-1187 and 46.2-1187.2 of the Virginia Motor Vehicle Emissions
Control Law.
Notes
Statutory Authority
§ 46.2-1180 of the Code of Virginia.
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