Chapter Trans 131

Trans 131.14(1) (1) General. The contractor shall use remote sensing to measure the in-use vehicle emissions in any county identified under s. 110.20 (5), Stats. Any nonexempt vehicle that has passed its last emission reinspection under s. Trans 131.03 (11), and fails the remote sensing test by exceeding the remote emission standards under sub. (4), shall have an emission inspection under s. 110.20 (9) (g), Stats. Penalty for failure to comply with this section consists of suspension of vehicle registration as set forth in s. 341.63 (1) (e), Stats.

Trans 131.14(2) (2) When inspection required.

Trans 131.14(2)(a) (a) The owner or lessee of a nonexempt vehicle that fails the remote sensing test shall have an emission inspection within 45 days of notification of a remote sensing test failure.

Trans 131.14(2)(b) (b) Vehicles that fail the remote sensing test, but are scheduled to receive an emission inspection required under s. 110.20 (6), Stats., within 90 days of remote sensing test failure, or for which temporary exemptions will expire within 30 days of remote sensing test failure, shall receive notification of the remote sensing test failure but are exempt from the inspection requirements of s. 110.20 (9) (g), Stats.

Trans 131.14(2)(c) (c) Vehicles that have a valid emission inspection waiver at the time of remote sensing test failure are exempt from the inspection requirements of s. 110.20 (9) (g), Stats.

Trans 131.14(3) (3) Scope and nature of remote sensing test. The test shall consist of using an open-path infrared sensor to measure the concentration of one or more of the following pollutants present in the vehicle’s exhaust:

Trans 131.14(3)(a) (a) Hydrocarbons.

Trans 131.14(3)(b) (b) Carbon monoxide.

Trans 131.14(3)(c) (c) Carbon dioxide.

Trans 131.14(3)(d) (d) Oxides of nitrogen.

Trans 131.14(4) (4) Emission standards. Vehicles that exceed the standards shown in Table 1 shall fail the remote sensing test:

Trans 131.14 Note Note: Changes to these standards may occur either if the USEPA establishes remote sensing standards or if the department’s program evaluation indicates that modifications should occur to identify more accurately gross polluting vehicles.

Trans 131.14(5) (5) Vehicle inspection notice. The contractor shall mail a vehicle inspection notice to the owner or lessee of vehicles that fail a remote sensing test conducted under this section. The vehicle inspection notice shall be mailed to the owner’s or lessee’s address indicated on the department’s registration database. The vehicle inspection notice shall include all of the following:

Trans 131.14(5)(a) (a) Remote sensing test serial number.

Trans 131.14(5)(b) (b) Date, location and time of the remote sensing test.

Trans 131.14(5)(c) (c) License plate number.

Trans 131.14(5)(d) (d) VIN.

Trans 131.14(5)(e) (e) Emission remote sensing test results and standards for the vehicle.

Trans 131.14(5)(f) (f) Instructions indicating that the report, together with the vehicle, shall be brought to any inspection station or other authorized inspection facility to receive an inspection as required under s. Trans 131.14 (2), if required.

Trans 131.14(5)(g) (g) Information describing the remote sensing test.

Trans 131.14(5)(h) (h) Explanation of both the legal requirements and registration penalties for failure to comply with an inspection notice.

Trans 131.14(5)(i) (i) Other information that the department may decide to include to improve understanding of the remote sensing test.

Trans 131.14(6) (6) Remote sensing equipment specifications and maintenance.

Trans 131.14(6)(a) (a) All equipment utilized for remote sensing emission measurement shall be calibrated and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications or as superseded by contract.

Trans 131.14(6)(b) (b) Remote sensing equipment, personnel and procedures shall be subject to periodic audits by the department under s. Trans 131.11.

Trans 131.14 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1993, No. 450, eff. 7-1-93; r. and recr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; CR 07-114: am. (1), (2) (a), (4) and (5) (f) Register June 2008 No. 630, eff. 7-1-08; CR 10-088: am. (3) (title) and (5) (a), (b) and (e) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.

Trans 131.15 Trans 131.15 Performance monitoring of repair facilities.

Trans 131.15(1) (1) General. The department, through its emission inspection contractor, shall both collect emission repair data and inform the public and automotive repair industry regarding repair efficacy.

Trans 131.15(2) (2) Data collection. Whenever a nonexempt vehicle receives a reinspection, the contractor shall collect the following emission repair information from the vehicle inspection report as required by s. Trans 131.03 (11):

Trans 131.15(2)(a) (a) The repairs performed.

Trans 131.15(2)(b) (b) Any technician recommended repairs not performed, per owner’s request.

Trans 131.15(2)(c) (c) The name and address of the facility that performed the repairs.

Trans 131.15(2)(d) (d) The name of the person who performed the repairs.

Trans 131.15(2)(e) (e) The identification number, if available, of the recognized repair facility or recognized automotive emission repair technician, or both.

Trans 131.15(3) (3) Reporting.

Trans 131.15(3)(a) (a) The contractor shall compile a report which includes the emission repair facility name, address, telephone number, number of vehicles submitted for reinspection, and percentages indicating the number of vehicles that have passed, failed, and received waivers after repair.

Trans 131.15(3)(b) (b) Beginning in the third month of the vehicle emission inspection program, the contractor shall produce a summary report of the performance of local repair facilities that have repaired vehicles for reinspection. The report shall be provided to the motorist at the time of initial vehicle emission inspection failure. The report shall be updated on a quarterly basis.

Trans 131.15(3)(c) (c) Repair facilities shall receive summary reports at least quarterly. Reports to the repair facility shall include all information made available to the public and may include reports on individual technicians if so requested by the employing repair facility.

Trans 131.15(3)(d) (d) The department may include additional statistics that convey information on the relative ability of repair facilities in providing effective emission repair.

Trans 131.15 History History: Emerg. cr., eff. 12-4-95; cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; CR 10-088: am. (1) Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11.

Trans 131.16 Trans 131.16 Automotive emission repair technician training.

Trans 131.16(1) (1) General. The department, in cooperation with community and technical colleges located in counties certified under s. 110.20 (5) (a), Stats., shall establish guidelines for assessing programs for automotive emission repair technician education and training available at both public and private facilities. The department shall designate programs that meet these guidelines as Wisconsin emission technician training, or WISETECH, programs. Any public or private facility offering automotive emission repair technician training may request WISETECH designation from the department.

Trans 131.16(2) (2) Criteria. To meet WISETECH standards, training courses shall, at a minimum, include instruction in:

Trans 131.16(2)(a) (a) Diagnosis and repair of malfunctions in computer controlled close-loop vehicles.

Trans 131.16(2)(b) (b) Application of emission control theory and diagnostic data to the diagnosis and repair of vehicles failing OBD inspection.

Trans 131.16(2)(c) (c) Utilization of diagnostic information on systematic or repeated failures observed in OBD inspection.

Trans 131.16(2)(d) (d) General training on the various subsystems related to engine emission control.

Trans 131.16(3) (3) Equipment. Both private and public facilities offering WISETECH designated automotive emission repair training courses shall have available, and maintain in good working condition, tools and equipment necessary for the proper diagnosis, adjustment and repair of all nonexempt vehicles. All equipment utilized in the training courses shall be maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications.

Trans 131.16(4) (4) Program recognition. Programs shall be designated as meeting WISETECH standards if in compliance with one of the following:

Trans 131.16(4)(a) (a) The department approves the course curricula, equipment and facility.

Trans 131.16(4)(b) (b) The training facility presents documentation that the course meets National Automotive Technician Education Foundation, Inc., standards.

Trans 131.16(5) (5) Technician recognition.

Trans 131.16(5)(a) (a) A person successfully completing all phases of a WISETECH training program shall achieve the designation of “recognized automotive emission repair technician” as defined in s. Trans 131.02 (38).

Trans 131.16(5)(b) (b) A person who satisfactorily completes a WISETECH approved automotive emission training course shall receive from the organization providing the training, an identification card which states the technician’s name, the name and location of the course, the date of completion and a WISETECH identification number.

Trans 131.16(6) (6) Reporting. Both private and public facilities offering WISETECH automotive emission repair training courses shall supply the department with the names of the persons registered in their course, the percentage successfully passing the course and the names and WISETECH identification numbers of those passing.

Trans 131.16(7) (7) Supplemental training. The department may authorize periodic supplemental training as a requirement for a person to maintain the status of WISETECH automotive emission repair technician.

Trans 131.16(8) (8) Quality assurance.

Trans 131.16(8)(a) (a) WISETECH training programs are subject to periodic monitoring by the department or its representative to assure that courses continue to meet WISETECH standards.

Trans 131.16(8)(b) (b) The department may use performance monitoring as described in s. Trans 131.15 to evaluate both the emission repair success of the technicians and the effectiveness of WISETECH designated courses.

Trans 131.16 History History: Emerg. cr., eff. 12-4-95; cr. Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96; am. (2) (b) and (c), Register, May, 2001, No. 545, eff. 6-1-01; CR 07-114: am. (2) (b), (c) and (3) Register June 2008 No. 630, eff. 7-1-08.

Trans 131.17 Trans 131.17 Notification of inspection requirements. As part of the notification process for vehicle registration renewal under s. 341.08 (4m), Stats., or for inspection required due to ownership change registration under s. 110.20 (6) (a) 2., Stats., or for inspection required due to registration as a collector or hobbyist vehicle, the department shall include notification to vehicle owners whose vehicles either are or may be subject to the inspection requirements of this chapter.

Trans 131.17 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1993, No. 450, eff. 7-1-93; emerg. renum. and am., eff. 12-4-95; renum. from Trans 131.15, Register, April, 1996, No. 484, eff. 5-1-96.