Chapter 08. Certified School Vehicle Inspection Facilities for Vehicles 12 Years Old or Older
Regulation .01 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Administration” means the Motor Vehicle Administration.
(2)
“Certification” means a statement made under penalty of perjury, on a form provided by the Administration, which is evidence that a school bus complies with the standards established by the Administration.
(3)
“Certified facility” means a facility which has been certified by the Administration to perform inspections and issue certificates.
(4)
“Certified inspector” means an inspector who is certified by the Administration to perform school bus inspections and sign certifications.
(5)
“Immediate family” means mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, and spouse, including relationships established by adoption or marriage.
(6)
“Owner of a certified facility” means an individual who owns or controls more than 5 percent of the facility.
(7)
“School bus” means a bus over 12 years old which is:
(a)
National school bus yellow;
(b)
Registered as a school bus; and
(c)
Equipped with a warning light system.
(8)
“Type A inspection” means an inspection of a school vehicle that includes the inspection of the items set forth in COMAR 11.14.02 and 11.14.04 for Type I and Type II school vehicles.
(9)
“Type B inspection” means an inspection of school vehicles which includes all items in a Type A inspection, except those which require pulling of wheels of the school vehicles.
Regulation .02 Scope of Duties.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A certified facility may conduct a Type A or Type B inspection of a school bus.
B.
A certified facility may not conduct an inspection of its own school vehicles.
C.
A certified facility may not conduct an inspection of buses owned by members of the owner of the certified facility's immediate family.
Regulation .03 Certifying Requirements for a Facility.LinkCopy Citation
Before the Administration certifies a school bus inspection station to conduct inspections of school vehicles, the owner of the facility shall submit a written request for certification and the facility shall be inspected by the Administration before the issuance of certification.
Regulation .04 Certification of Inspectors.LinkCopy Citation
A.
An applicant seeking certification to conduct inspections in a certified facility shall submit an application to the Administration on a form required by the Administration.
B.
The application shall indicate the background of the applicant, including the education and experience of the applicant.
C.
An applicant shall:
(1)
Provide evidence of a minimum of 2 years experience in vehicle mechanics;
(2)
Pass the written test for inspector of school vehicles administered by the Administration or the Maryland State Police;
(3)
Pass a practical test administered by the Administration; and
(4)
Pass a law test in which the inspector shall demonstrate familiarity with the regulations governing the inspection of school vehicles.
Regulation .05 Facility Requirements.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A certified facility shall:
(1)
Have a garage with a concrete floor and a minimum dimension of 15 feet wide and 45 feet long; and
(2)
Be equipped with:
(a)
A wheel dolly for removing wheels from a bus,
(b)
A minimum of four heavy-duty jack stands and one 12-ton hydraulic jack or air jack, and
(c)
The proper tools for removing wheels, drums, and rotors from the bus, including drum and disc micrometers.
B.
A certified facility's inspection area shall be free of work benches, displays, machines, shelves, stairways, or other obstructions which could create a hazard.
Regulation .06 Responsibilities of Owner.LinkCopy Citation
A.
An owner of a certified facility is responsible for the activities of certified inspectors and other persons employed by the certified facility.
B.
A certified inspector may conduct inspections of school buses only at the station which employs the certified inspector.
Regulation .07 Responsibilities of Certified Facilities.LinkCopy Citation
A.
A certified facility shall:
(1)
Maintain the following records for all school buses inspected:
(a)
Owner's name, address, telephone number,
(b)
Year and make of bus, including make of body,
(c)
VIN number,
(d)
Bus number,
(e)
Tag number, and
(f)
Odometer reading;
(2)
Permit only certified inspectors to perform inspections and sign certifications;
(3)
Notify the Administration if any changes to the inspection area have been made;
(4)
Issue certificates only after a complete inspection has been performed; and
(5)
Notify the Administration if a certified inspector's employment with the certified facility ends.
B.
A certified facility shall use only those forms provided by the Administration for school vehicle inspections.
C.
When a school vehicle fails an inspection, and the vehicle is removed from the inspection station, the certified facility shall notify the Administration.
Regulation .08 Causes for Revocation of Certification.LinkCopy Citation
A certification may be suspended or revoked if:
A.
The owner of the certified facility or a certified inspector or other individual employed by the owner of a certified facility fails to comply with any requirements of this chapter or COMAR 11.19.04;
B.
An applicant for certification misrepresents any material fact in an application submitted to the Administration;
C.
The owner of the certified facility or a certified inspector misrepresents any material fact in a certificate submitted to the Administration;
D.
The owner of the certified facility or a certified inspector fails to perform an inspection for which a certificate has been submitted; or
E.
A school vehicle is certified which does not meet the standards established in COMAR 11.14.02 and 11.14.04.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Transportation Article, §§12-104(b) and 25-110, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: March 14, 1994 (21:5 Md. R. 404)