Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 50, December 14, 2024
Section 177.421 - Obligations and responsibilities of station owners/agents(a)Personal liability. It is the responsibility of the owner of an emission inspection station to: (1) Conduct the business of the official emission inspection station honestly and in the best interests of the Commonwealth, under the Vehicle Code and this chapter and, except in the case of a fleet or Commonwealth emission inspection station, to make every reasonable effort to inspect upon request all vehicles which the station is equipped to inspect.(2) Make official emission inspection regulations and supplements available for the use of all certified emission inspectors and other employees involved.(3) Notify within 5 days the quality assurance officer and the Vehicle Inspection Division when a certified emission inspector is hired, resigns or is dismissed.(4) Provide the emission inspection report to motorists after testing and to have the possible repair requirements stated on a form provided to the vehicle owner or operator.(5) Keep, at the station, as applicable, for 2 years, duplicate copies of completed Certificate of Emission Requisition Forms, repair order forms related to waivers and the original Certificate of Waiver Forms, and other required forms.(6) Assume full responsibility, with or without actual knowledge, for:(i) Every emission inspection conducted at the emission inspection station.(ii) Every emission inspection waiver delivered by a certified repair technician at the emission inspection station.(iii) Every certificate of emission inspection issued to the emission inspection station.(iv) Every violation of the Vehicle Code or this chapter related to emission inspections committed by an employee of the emission inspection station.(v) Maintaining an adequate supply of current certificates of emission inspection and inserts for issuance.(7) Perform, as applicable, required maintenance and calibration procedures of emission analyzers according to procedures established by the Department and perform electronic zero and span checks hourly during periods of operation and weekly leak checks.(8) Place an emission analyzer out of service when calibration cannot be performed according to procedures established by the Department.(9) Ensure that instrument calibration test results are entered into the VIID by the analyzer manufacturer or other approved service representative as directed by the Department.(i) For basic emission inspection stations, the analyzer manufacturer or other approved service representative shall write maintenance and calibration information on the Emission Analyzer Maintenance and Calibration Report. This report shall be maintained at the station for 2 years.(ii) For enhanced emission inspection stations, the information required in this paragraph shall be entered into the VIID by the analyzer manufacturer or other approved service representative as directed by the Department.(10) Maintain adequate numbers of current certificates of emission inspection and inserts for issuance. (i)Data entry errors. If a data entry error occurs, the error and the error correction shall be clearly noted.(ii)Voided stickers. If it is necessary to void a sticker, the sticker number and the reason shall be clearly noted.(b)Certificate of appointment. A certificate of appointment is not assignable and is valid only for the owner in whose name it is issued. (1) If there is a change of ownership, the certificate of appointment, unissued certificates of inspection and inspection material shall be surrendered to the quality assurance officer within 5 days. If the new owner desires to continue providing emission inspections, the owner shall submit an Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application to the Bureau. An investigation of the premises will be conducted by the inspection station investigator.(2) In the following circumstances, it is not necessary to surrender unissued certificates of emission inspection; however, inspections may not be conducted until the new ownership has been approved and a new certificate of appointment has been issued: (i) Creation, modification or termination of a partnership.(ii) Incorporation of a business.(iii) Transfer of the controlling interest in a corporation.(iv) Transfer of ownership to a spouse, child or parent.(3) If there are changes of location of an emission inspection station: (i) An Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application shall be completed and submitted to the Bureau.(A) An investigation of the premises shall be conducted by the quality assurance officer.(B) Certificates of inspections shall be audited by the quality assurance officer or his supervisor and will be retained by the station owner.(ii) An emission inspection may not be made at the new location until it has been investigated, an approved emission analyzer has been installed and calibrated by an approved emission analyzer manufacturer or other approved service representative, and a new certificate of appointment has been issued by the Bureau.(iii) A quality assurance officer will pick up all current emission certificates of inspection and retain them until the new location is approved, if the new location is not approved at the time of investigation.(4) Emission inspections shall be discontinued if: (i) The owner vacates, abandons or discontinues the inspection business with or without notice to the Bureau and the quality assurance officer and supervisor. The quality assurance officer or supervisor will pick up all certificates of emission appointment, records and all other emission inspection materials and return them to the Bureau.(ii) The owner is deceased and if a member of the family or a partner wishes to continue the business, a new application for appointment shall be submitted to the Department.(iii) If station owner does not pay for required services rendered by the vendor or other approved service provider, the vendor or other approved service representative may file a written complaint with the Department, and the Department, after providing the opportunity for a hearing, may suspend the certificate of appointment until payment has been made.(5) The following events shall be reported at once to the quality assurance officer and the Bureau; however, it is not necessary to discontinue inspections:(i) Whenever certificates of emission inspection are damaged, lost or stolen. Telephone communication to the Bureau within 5 days of the event shall be required providing the serial number of each missing emission certificate.(ii) Whenever a certified emission inspector or a person authorized to purchase certificates of inspection is dismissed or resigns, as long as emission inspections are performed by another certified emission inspector.(iii) Whenever changes in a post office address of an emission inspection station, not location, occur, they shall be reported in writing within 30 days to the quality assurance officer and the Bureau on an Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application.(iv) Whenever changes of the company name, not ownership, occur, they shall be reported within 30 days on an Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application.(v) Whenever a person who signs the Official Emission Inspection corporation is no longer in charge of the emission inspection station:(A) A new Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application shall be submitted to the Bureau immediately.(B) A new letter of authority shall be required for the person signing the Official Emission Inspection Station Update/Official Emission Inspection Station Application.(6) Whenever a person, whose name is on the Authorized Agents For Receiving Stickers Form, resigns or is relieved of his emission inspection responsibilities, the owner shall complete a new Authorized Agents For Receiving Stickers Form and submit the completed form to the Bureau immediately.(7) Customer relations shall be governed by the following: (i) The garage owner or certified emission inspector shall consult the vehicle owner for permission before emission adjustments are made.(A) Permission may be established at the time the vehicle is brought to the station or after it is determined to what extent adjustments are needed.(B) The vehicle owner is allowed to perform his own adjustments, or to select anyone he chooses to do the work for him.(ii) Parts replaced as a result of inspection shall be retained until the vehicle is returned to the customer. The customer shall have the right to examine replaced parts.(iii) Inspection station owners and inspectors should be courteous and patient in explaining to the motorist that the requirements of emission inspection are designed to promote clean air. Employees should clearly understand that the function of an official emission inspection station is to perform emission inspections consistent with this chapter.(iv) The garage owner, authorized manager or certified emission inspection inspector shall provide notice to customers of the location of the nearest quality assurance officer or the Vehicle Inspection Division.The provisions of this § 177.421 amended November 21, 2003, effective 11/22/2003, 33 Pa.B. 5706.