New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 16 - TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 53 - AUTOBUSES
Subchapter 3 - AUTOBUS SPECIFICATIONS
Section 16:53-3.24 - Maintenance and inspection

(a) The body, chassis, engine and all equipment shall be maintained in proper adjustment and safe operating condition.

(b) All equipment shall receive a specification inspection by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission personnel in order to insure compliance with all of the Commission's specifications. All autobuses that meet New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission specifications shall be issued a certificate of compliance.

(c) All autobuses for which certificates of compliance have been issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission shall receive a certification inspection at least twice annually. Nothing herein shall limit the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission's authority to require more frequent certification inspections of such vehicles by Commission personnel when the safety of the public so requires.

(d) A systematic maintenance record shall be kept for each autobus showing the vehicle identification number, driver, dates of breakdowns, defects reported and corrective measures taken. The records shall be retained by the operator for at least 12 months and shall be available for review by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

(e) Each autobus shall receive a complete inspection at regular time and/or mileage intervals for mechanical or structural defects. All necessary repairs shall be completed and a certificate of inspection affixed in accordance with 16:53-3.2 3 before the autobus is returned to service. An itemized record of each inspection showing the date, vehicle identification number, lubrication record, repairs and adjustments, and signed by the person making such inspection, shall be available at the inspection site at the time of inspection and for at least 12 months thereafter, and shall be available for review by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

(f) The maintenance facilities shall be adequate to assure compliance with specifications herein and shall include either a suitable pit or lift or an arrangement for the use of such facilities.

(g) The entire autobus shall be kept clean and sanitary.

(h) The self-inspection certification does not apply to autobuses certified for school use. Such vehicles shall be inspected biannually by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission personnel.

(i) All autobuses directly operated by the New Jersey Transit Corporation shall be on a six-month full New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission inspection program in accordance with the August 2000 Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the New Jersey Transit Corporation and the New Jersey Department of Transportation. The Memorandum of Understanding is available for inspection at the Office of the Chief Administrator, Motor Vehicle Commission, 225 East State Street, 9th Floor, Trenton, New Jersey. All autobuses operated by private operators shall receive an in-terminal inspection at six-month intervals; once by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission personnel during the first six months, and then a self-inspection by the private operator once during the second six-month period. A record of each six-month certification inspection shall be submitted to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission on the maintenance inspection report (MC-26) as set forth in chapter Appendix A, incorporated herein by reference.

(j) New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission personnel shall perform unannounced audit inspections of self-inspected autobuses to insure compliance with the self-inspection program.