SECTION 9.203. School Bus, Public Transportation, Mass Transit, and Special Transit Vehicle Installations and Inspections

(a) After the manufacture of or the conversion to an LP-gas system on any vehicle to be used in Texas as a school bus, mass transit, public transportation, or special transit vehicle, the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall notify AFS, in writing on LPG Form 503 that the applicable LP-gas powered vehicles are ready for a complete inspection to determine compliance with the rules in this chapter.

(b) AFS shall conduct the inspection within a reasonable time to ensure the vehicles are operating in compliance with the rules in this chapter.

(1) If AFS' initial complete inspection finds the vehicle in compliance with the rules in this chapter and the statutes, the vehicle may be placed into LP-gas service. For fleet installations of identical design, an initial inspection shall be conducted prior to the operation of the first vehicle, and subsequent vehicles of the same design may be placed into service without prior inspections.

(2) If violations exist at the time of the initial complete inspection, the vehicle shall not be placed into LP-gas service and the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall correct the violations. The manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer shall file with AFS documentation demonstrating compliance with the rules in this chapter, or AFS shall conduct another complete inspection before the vehicle may be placed into LP-gas service.

(3) For public transportation vehicles only, if AFS does not conduct the initial inspection of such vehicle within 30 business days of receipt of LPG Form 503, the vehicle may be operated in LP-gas service if it complies with the rules in this chapter.

(c) The manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall be responsible for compliance with the rules in this chapter, statutes, and any other local, state, or federal requirements.

(d) If the requested AFS inspection identifies violations requiring modifications by the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer, AFS shall consider the assessment of an inspection fee to cover the costs associated with any additional inspection, including mileage and per diem rates set by the legislature.

Source Note: The provisions of this §9.203 adopted to be effective February 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 947; amended to be effective September 1, 2005, 30 TexReg 4810; amended to be effective December 24, 2012, 37 TexReg 9913; amended to be effective January 6, 2020, 45 TexReg 127