N.M. Code R. § 20.11.100.26

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 12, June 25, 2024

Section 20.11.100.26 - CERTIFICATION OF AIR CARE INSPECTORS

A. No person shall represent himself as a certified air care inspector without being in possession of a duly authorized and currently valid certificate issued by the program manager.

B. Certificates issued under Subsection B of 20.11.100.26 NMAC shall be valid for 12 months unless the program manager requires re-certification earlier as provided in 20.11.100.27 NMAC.

(1) Certification requirements for air care inspectors:

(a) A person seeking certification shall file an application with the program manager on forms provided by the program. The issuance of certificates shall be administered by the program. Before an applicant may be granted a certificate, the applicant shall demonstrate general knowledge, skill and competence requirements under the program and in accordance with training and testing requirements set forth by the program manager.

(b) The knowledge, skill and competence that an applicant must demonstrate shall include, but is not limited to, the following:

(i) general operation and purpose of emissions control systems for all types of motor vehicles;

(ii) how HC and CO relate to timing and air/fuel ratio control;

(iii) rules and regulations pertaining to inspection and the inspection procedures established in the 20.11.100 NMAC;

(iv) general understanding of the benefits to vehicle owners provided in the Defect Warranty Provisions of Section 207(a) and the Performance Warranty Provisions of Section 207(b) of the Federal Clean Air Act as it applies to the inspection;

(v) ability to recognize by visual inspection the emissions control equipment for 1975 and newer vehicles, distinguishing between those requiring and those not requiring inspection;

(vi) operation and proper use, care, maintenance and gas span checking of the approved exhaust gas analyzers;

(vii) proper use, filing and storage of inspection forms, VIRs and supplemental documents;

(viii) ability to perform an actual emissions inspection from start to finish; and

(ix) other information as the program manager requires.

(c) The program may issue a certificate to the applicant when the program manager determines that the applicant has successfully completed the certification requirements of 20.11.100 NMAC.

(d) Persons certified under Subsection B of 20.11.100.26 NMAC shall inform the program manager within 10 days of any change in legal name, employment status or current mailing address. Each certified inspector will be assigned a personal identification number that will be checked for correlation in data audits of the program. Failure to keep the program manager informed may result in revocation of certification.

(2) Performance of certified air care inspectors: Certified air care inspectors shall:

(a) at no time allow another person to use his certificate or personal code to enter into an approved exhaust gas analyzer, nor shall he delegate his authority to another person to perform any official inspection or any part of an inspection under his name or personal identity code;

(b) accept all vehicles for emissions inspection and perform the emissions inspections in an expedient manner in order to avoid unnecessary public inconvenience; however, an air care inspector shall not accept a vehicle for inspection if the inspection would pose a threat to any person's safety;

(c) refrain from deviation from 20.11.100 NMAC and official procedures established for this program;

(d) at no time during the emissions inspections sequence attempt or allow adjustments to be performed on the vehicle being inspected until the final VIR is complete; and

(e) sign all VIRs at the time of inspection.

N.M. Code R. § 20.11.100.26

5/20/88. . .11/13/91, 8/25/92, 9/23/94, 12/1/95, 20.11.100.26 NMAC - Rn, 20 NMAC 11.100.II.15, 10/1/02; A, 5/1/04; A, 9/1/04; 20.11.100.26 NMAC - Rn & A, 20.11.100.21 NMAC, 1/1/12