N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:20-32.2 - General provisions; official inspection facilities

(a) This subchapter contains the inspection standards and test procedures to be used by official inspection facilities when inspecting and certifying automobiles, trucks, and buses that have been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; and passenger vehicle transportation for compliance with inspection standards.

(b) Official inspection facilities shall be authorized to engage in the inspection, reinspection and certification of automobiles, trucks, and buses that have been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; and passenger vehicle transportation. Official inspection facilities shall not inspect school buses or retired school buses that are subject to inspection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-30, buses that are subject to inspection by the Motor Vehicle Commission's Inspection Services Bus Unit, or motor vehicles with elevated chassis height that are subject to inspection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-37.

(c) An official inspection facility shall be authorized to affix an inspection certificate of approval on a motor vehicle upon initial inspection or reinspection as certification of compliance with inspection requirements.

(d) If an automobile, truck, or bus that has been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; or passenger vehicle transportation, registered in New Jersey conforms to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter and the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, the motor vehicle shall be certified by an official inspection facility by removing the previously-issued inspection certificate of approval, inspection decal, or inspection rejection sticker, if any, and replacing it with a current inspection certificate of approval. The inspection certificate of approval issued by an official inspection facility shall be affixed to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, approximately three inches from the bottom of the windshield and approximately four inches from the left side of the windshield, but in every case, the inspection certificate of approval shall be completely visible from the front of the motor vehicle. The inspection certificate of approval shall be affixed in an upright position.

(e) If an automobile, truck, or bus that has been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; or passenger vehicle transportation registered in New Jersey does not conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter or the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, an official inspection facility shall present the motor vehicle inspection report to the operator of such motor vehicle and shall affix an inspection rejection sticker to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle directly above the previously-issued certificate of approval or inspection decal, if any, affixed to the windshield. If there is no previously-issued certificate of approval or inspection decal affixed to the windshield, an official inspection facility shall affix an inspection rejection sticker and a numerical month indicator to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. If the motor vehicle that has failed inspection is a motor vehicle that has been presented for inspection in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(e)1 or (j)1, an official inspection facility shall remove the previously-issued inspection certificate of approval, inspection decal, collector motor vehicle windshield sticker, or inspection rejection sticker, if any, affixed to the windshield and shall affix an inspection rejection sticker and a numerical month indicator to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The inspection rejection sticker shall be an indication that adjustments, corrections, or repairs to the motor vehicle that has failed inspection must be made and the motor vehicle presented for reinspection within the period of time set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.5.

(f) Notwithstanding (e) above, if an automobile, truck, or bus that has been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; or passenger vehicle transportation registered in New Jersey does not conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter or the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, and the nature of the defect(s) found is such as to constitute a hazard to the public safety, so as to require immediate repairs to such motor vehicle, an official inspection facility shall present the motor vehicle inspection report or inspection card to the operator of such motor vehicle, shall remove the previously-issued inspection certificate of approval, inspection decal, and/or inspection rejection sticker, if any, and shall affix a "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. A defect that constitutes a hazard to the public safety, so as to require immediate repairs to a motor vehicle shall include, but not be limited to, the items specified at N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.6(b). The "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker shall be an indication that the defect(s) deemed to constitute a hazard to the public safety must be repaired and the motor vehicle presented for reinspection within the period of time set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.6(a).

(g) A motor vehicle inspection report, issued to an owner or lessee of a motor vehicle with elevated chassis height, a motor vehicle which has been modified at the direction of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a reconstructed vehicle, or a salvage motor vehicle that is subject to inspection at a State specialty inspection facility in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.3(d), shall be marked "MUST BE REINSPECTED AT A STATE SPECIALTY INSPECTION FACILITY." When a motor vehicle inspection report is marked in this manner, an official inspection facility shall neither reinspect nor certify the motor vehicle, as it must be returned to a State specialty inspection facility for such reinspection and certification.

(h) If a motor vehicle is presented at an official inspection facility for reinspection, the official inspection facility may reinspect the motor vehicle and certify it if the rejected item(s) has been repaired, adjusted, or corrected, so as to conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter and the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, provided there are no obvious safety, emission-related, or OBD-related defects. If there are obvious safety, emission-related, or OBD-related defects, the motor vehicle shall be subject to a complete reinspection.

(i) If a motor vehicle is presented at an official inspection facility for reinspection and the rejected item(s) has not been repaired, adjusted, or corrected, so as to conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter or the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, the official inspection facility shall not issue an inspection rejection sticker to replace the inspection rejection sticker previously affixed to the motor vehicle by an official inspection facility, nor shall the official inspection facility issue an inspection rejection sticker to replace the inspection certificate of approval or inspection decal previously defaced by a licensed private inspection facility in accordance with (l) below as an indication that the motor vehicle has failed inspection.

(j) If a motor vehicle bearing a "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker is presented at an official inspection facility for reinspection and the defect(s) previously deemed to constitute a hazard to the public safety has not been repaired, the official inspection facility shall not issue a "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker to replace the "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker previously affixed to the motor vehicle.

(k) Notwithstanding (j) above, if a motor vehicle bearing a "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker is presented at an official inspection facility for reinspection and the defect(s) previously deemed to constitute a hazard to the public safety has been repaired, so as to conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter and the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, but another rejected item(s) not deemed to constitute a hazard to the public safety has not been repaired, adjusted, or corrected, so as to conform to the inspection standards set forth in this subchapter or the inspection standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection at N.J.A.C. 7:27-15 and 7:27B-5 or 7:27-14 and 7:27B-4, whichever are applicable, the official inspection facility shall remove the "48 hour" inspection rejection sticker previously affixed to the motor vehicle and shall affix an inspection rejection sticker and a numerical month indicator to the lower left corner of the windshield inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The inspection rejection sticker shall be an indication that adjustments, corrections, or repairs to the motor vehicle must be made and the motor vehicle must be presented for reinspection within the period of time set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.5.

(l) Any motor vehicle presented for initial inspection shall undergo a complete inspection. Once the inspection has commenced it shall not be terminated until the motor vehicle is either certified or rejected. An inspection may be terminated prior to completion when the condition of the motor vehicle being inspected makes it unsafe to complete such inspection and the vehicle shall fail the inspection. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

1. Flat tire(s);

2. Excessive smoke;

3. Uncontrollable engine speed;

4. Brake system failure;

5. Inability of the vehicle to move forward and/or in reverse;

6. Major fluid leak which impairs the vehicle's ability to operate while being inspected; and

7. Inability of the vehicle to operate.

(m) Any motor vehicle for which the current inspection certificate of approval or inspection decal has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or defaced, or any motor vehicle that has had its windshield replaced, may be presented at an official inspection facility for the issuance of a replacement inspection certificate of approval or inspection decal. Such a replacement inspection certificate of approval or inspection decal shall be affixed to the motor vehicle, provided the operator thereof presents a valid driver's license for the class of motor vehicle being operated, a valid New Jersey motor vehicle registration certificate and a valid New Jersey insurance identification card for the motor vehicle, if applicable, and further provided that there are no obvious emission-related or OBD-related defects for passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses that have been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates, or emission-related, OBD-related, or safety-related defects for commercial vehicles.

(n) Any new motor vehicle purchased in a foreign jurisdiction for which a temporary authorization certificate has been issued by the Motor Vehicle Commission in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(d) shall be presented at an official inspection facility for the issuance of an appropriate inspection decal. A new motor vehicle receiving a decal pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(d) and this subsection shall be subject to inspection not later than five years from the last day of the calendar month in which the decal was issued for such motor vehicle and the decal affixed to such motor vehicle pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(d) and this subsection shall so indicate; provided, however, that a new motor vehicle receiving a decal pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(d) and this subsection that is registered as a commercial vehicle; a bus that has been issued passenger, governmental, no fee, or commercial vehicle license plates by the Motor Vehicle Commission; or passenger vehicle transportation shall be subject to inspection not later than one year from the last day of the calendar month in which the decal was issued for such motor vehicle and the decal affixed to such motor vehicle pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(d) and this subsection shall so indicate. Such a decal shall be affixed to the motor vehicle provided the operator thereof presents a valid driver's license for the class of motor vehicle being operated, a valid New Jersey motor vehicle registration certificate, and a valid New Jersey insurance identification card for the motor vehicle, if applicable, and further provided that there are no obvious emission-related or OBD-related defects.

(o) Any motor vehicle less than five model years old for which a temporary authorization certificate has been issued by the Motor Vehicle Commission in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(a), (g), or (i) that is presented at an official inspection facility and is eligible for the issuance of an inspection decal pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(a), (g)1, or (i)2 shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection. A motor vehicle receiving a decal pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(a), (g)1, or (i)2 and this subsection shall be subject to inspection during the calendar year in which the motor vehicle becomes five model years old no later than the last day of the calendar month within that year that is designated on the decal affixed to such motor vehicle pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:20-7.4(a), (g)1, or (i)2 and this subsection. Such a decal shall be affixed to the motor vehicle provided the operator thereof presents a valid driver's license for the class of motor vehicle being operated, a valid New Jersey motor vehicle registration certificate, and a valid New Jersey insurance identification card for the motor vehicle.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:20-32.2

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 810(a), effective 5/16/2016

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 2056(a), effective 12/6/2021