Approved Inspection Station compliance checks and enforcement

We regularly undertake compliance checks on new and existing Approved Inspection Stations (AIS). This is to ensure the AIS and any approved examiners are complying with their legislative responsibilities and conditions of their approval or accreditation.

If you are a new AIS, a compliance check is scheduled within 6 months after the approval is granted. This is to ensure you have the required equipment listed in the Business Rules for Approved Inspection Stations and evaluate your operations. If you have a mobile AIS, it must be present at your fixed AIS premises for the compliance check.

Further compliance checks may be scheduled at any time while your AIS approval is current.

The compliance check process

Our authorised officers are responsible for organising the compliance check with the AIS approval holder and/or their nominee.

When authorised officers arrive at your fixed AIS premises, they will explain the purpose and requirements of the compliance check.

Inspection certificates issued by your AIS may be requested to check that the inspection certificates have been completed correctly. They will also check that your AIS and any approved examiners are approved and accredited for the type of vehicle inspection that was conducted.

The equipment required to be kept at the AIS (including any mobile AIS) will be checked to ensure:

• it performs the function it was designed for; and
• approved examiners can demonstrate the correct operation of the equipment.

Records may be requested to verify the required equipment has been maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications. For example, when the brake testing decelerometer was last calibrated and if it complies with the manufacturer’s specifications (if applicable).

Reporting compliance check findings

At the end of the compliance check, the authorised officers will discuss the results with the AIS approval holder and/or their nominee. If a non-compliance is found during the compliance check, it will be recorded against your records and appropriate enforcement action will be taken.

Depending on the severity of non-compliance, this may include:

• Corrective action notice
• Penalty Infringement Notice
• Suspension, Amendment or Cancellation of an approval or accreditation

If a suspension, amendment or cancellation is required, the AIS approval holder, nominee or approved examiner will be provided with a written notice, known as a 'show cause' notice. The notice will state the proposed action, grounds for the proposed action and the facts and circumstances that form the basis of the grounds. The AIS approval holder, nominee or approved examiner will have an opportunity to respond to the show cause notice before any decision is made.