Section 448.30  Application Procedure for a Station Permit

a)         Upon written request to the Section by an applicant for a permit, the Section will furnish to the applicant the required forms and instructions pertaining to the requirements for an Official Testing Station Permit.

b)         The completed forms, accompanied by a $10.00 check or money order made payable to:  Treasurer, State of Illinois, shall be sent to the Section. Such fee shall not be refundable.

c)         Following review of the application and background investigation of the applicant and interim approval granted, authorized safety test equipment shall be permanently installed in the location and position approved by the Section.

d)         1)         The applicant shall forward to the Section the following photographs:

A)        For a Class "A," "C," or "D" lane, three 8" x 10" photographs showing the lane entrance, lane exit and the entire testing lane, including the installed testing equipment.

B)        For a Class "B" lane, two 8" x 10" photographs showing the lane entrance and the entire testing lane, including the installed testing equipment.

2)         The dimensions represented by each photograph shall be noted on the reverse side of the respective photograph.

e)         The applicant shall file with the Section a bond in the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) with security approved by the Section.  This bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful compliance by the applicant and his employees of the Rules and Regulations, as amended.  The bond form shall be secured from the Section.

f)          Any State garage, city, village, incorporated town, or county shall be exempt from the payment of any original or renewal fee and also exempt from the filing of any bond.

g)         Each permit shall state on its face the individual numerical designation assigned to the Official Testing Station and shall state the location of the Station.  Safety tests are to be made only within the test lane.

h)         Each permit approved and issued by the Department shall expire twelve (12) months following issuance.  The permit may be renewed annually by complying with the Rules and upon payment of a renewal fee of $10.00.

i)          The Section may issue an amended permit following a change in location and installation of testing equipment.  The new location must satisfy the requirements of these Rules and Regulations.  Only the amended permit will be the authority for the applicant to begin testing at the new location. Testing may begin upon receipt and after proper displaying of the amended permit.

j)          Any Official Testing Station Permit issued by the Department shall be subject to cancellation, suspension, or revocation by the Department for violations of these Rules or of the Statutes. (See also Sec. 13-108, (IVC) regarding Administrative Hearings).

k)         The Section may permanently deny, on application, an original or renewal lane permit to applicants whose permits have been suspended or revoked or whose backgrounds or records are such that granting a permit would appear detrimental to the Safety Test Program.  Applicants whose original or renewal Testing Station Permit applications have been denied by the Department may request a Hearing to present such evidence as the applicant feels warrants the granting of an original or renewal Testing Station Permit.

l)          If one or more of the Official Testing Station owners or applicants have been convicted of a felony, the Department may consider that fact, along with others, as grounds for either revocation or denial of a Testing Station Permit.  However, the fact of a conviction of a felony by one or more of the Official Testing Station owners or applicants, standing alone, is not grounds for either denial or revocation of a Testing Station Permit.

m)        Official Testing Station Permits will be issued in one of two categories:  Public or Private.

n)         Public Stations must test any vehicle presented within the limits defined in Section 448.70.  (See also, Section 448.140(a)).

o)         Public Stations must agree in writing to be open for testing between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on legal holidays.  All public stations shall notify the Section in writing if the test lane operates during any additional hours.  The notification shall be sent to the Section and shall include the complete test lane number, the city in which the lane is located, and the additional hours of operation.

p)         Private Stations are not open to the public.  They are established soley for the purpose of testing ten or more vehicles owned or leased by the firm in whose name the Official Testing Station Permit is issued.

q)         All Private Stations are required to notify the Section in writing of each second division vehicle leased or owned by the firm as of January 1st of each year.  The Section must also be notified of any additions or deletions to the fleet made during the year.

r)          Private Stations will be exempt from maintaining normal business hours.

s)         Private Stations are subject to the same requirements as Public Stations except where specifically noted.

t)          The Station must have at least one person rated by the Section as a Certified Safety Tester.

u)         No safety test shall be conducted unless the Station possesses and has properly displayed a valid Permit issued by the Section.

v)         By accepting a Permit, the applicant agrees to comply with all Statutes and all Rules and Regulations, as amended, that apply and govern the operation of an Official Testing Station and Vehicle Safety Tests.

w)        If a lane is inoperative for a period of six (6) months or more, the Permit may be cancelled.  If at a later date the owner wishes to reopen his Station, a new application must be submitted to the Section.