Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department may license any registered owner of a fleet of 10 or more motor vehicles subject to this chapter, who so elects, to implement and conduct the tests and to perform necessary service and adjustment on the fleet’s vehicles under this chapter, subject to all of the following conditions:

(a)  The registered owner’s facilities or personnel, or both, or a designated contractor of the registered owner, shall be licensed by the department as a fleet smog check station, and the test and repair system shall conform, in the department’s determination, with all provisions of this chapter and all rules and regulations adopted by the department. The regulations shall provide for adequate onsite inspection by the department. Mobile testing equipment certified by the department may be used in accordance with procedures established by the department. The department may prohibit the use of mobile testing equipment if violations occur.

(b)  A license issued under this section is subject to Sections 44035, 44050, and 44072.10, and may be suspended or revoked by the department whenever the department determines, on the basis of random periodic spot checks of the owner’s inspection system and fleet vehicles, that the system fails to conform or that certificates of compliance have been issued by the owner in violation of regulations adopted by the department. Any person licensed to conduct tests and service and adjustments under this section is deemed to have consented to provide the department with whatever access, information, and other cooperation the department reasonably determines are necessary to facilitate the random periodic spot checks.

(c)  The department or its contractor, on a random periodic basis, shall inspect or observe the inspections performed by licensed fleet smog check stations on not less than 2 percent of the total business fleet vehicles subject to this chapter.

(d)  A fleet owner licensed to conduct tests or make repairs pursuant to this chapter shall issue certificates of compliance for motor vehicles. The cost limits in Section 44017 and the economic hardship extension provisions in this chapter shall not apply to any motor vehicle owned by a fleet owner licensed pursuant to this section.

(e)  Notwithstanding subdivision (d), certificates of compliance or noncompliance prepared solely for the disposal or sale of motor vehicles owned by a fleet owner licensed pursuant to this section shall be subject to the cost limits in Section 44017.

(f)  The department shall establish initial and renewal license fees, which shall not exceed the reasonable costs of administering this section.

(g)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, fleets consisting of vehicles for hire or vehicles which accumulate high mileage, as defined by the department, shall go to a test-only station when a smog check certificate of compliance is required. Initially, high mileage vehicles shall be defined as vehicles which accumulate 50,000 miles or more each year. In addition, fleets which do not operate high mileage vehicles may be required to obtain certificates of compliance from the test-only station if they fail to comply with this chapter.

(h)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department shall have the authority, by regulation, to require testing of vehicle fleets consistent with regulations adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency, if necessary to meet the emission reduction performance standard established by the agency, as determined by the department.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 982, Sec. 8. Effective October 16, 1995.)