A. To determine compliance with license requirements, qualification requirements and applicable federal and state laws and rules, the Department or private entity may:
- 1. Monitor for compliance by attending any licensed school’s course or other activities on a scheduled or unscheduled basis;
- 2. Audit for compliance by performing periodic reviews of the operations, facilities, equipment, and records;
- 3. Inspect for compliance by making random, on-site visits during posted business hours; or
- 4. Investigate for compliance by interviewing or submitting questions to school owners, instructors, and former or current students.
- B. Failure of a school or instructor to allow or cooperate in an audit, monitoring, inspection, or investigation may result in the Department issuing an immediate cease and desist order or requesting a hearing for suspension or revocation of a license issued under this Article.
C. During an audit, monitoring, inspection, or investigation of a licensee, the Department, the private entity, a law enforcement agency, or employee of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration may:
- 1. Review and copy paper and electronic records;
- 2. Examine the licensee’s principal and established place of business, all branches, training, or road training sites; and
- 3. Interview the school’s employees, instructors, and customers.
- D. A licensee shall make records available for audit, monitoring, inspection, or investigation at the licensee’s principal place of business.
- E. After an audit or monitoring, the Department or private entity shall send a report of the results in writing to the school.
F. If instances of non-compliance are found as a result of an audit, monitoring, inspection, or investigation, the Department or private entity may determine if either of the following actions is required:
- 1. An informal meeting to discuss findings, or
- 2. A written compliance plan addressing findings.
G. If greater instances of non-compliance are found as a result of an audit, monitoring, inspection, or investigation, the Department may determine if either of the following actions is required:
- 1. A probationary period; or
- 2. A request for a hearing to cancel, suspend, or revoke a license to operate a school or conduct instruction under this Article.
- H. The Department or private entity may issue a notice of corrective action to a licensee if the licensee fails to comply with a warning letter, with an audit, inspection or investigation request, a monitoring request, or with written findings provided by the Department or private entity. Only the Department may initiate a corrective action provided under subsection (G).
I. Each site used by a school as an office, training location, or classroom location shall:
- 1. Be inspected and approved by the Department or private entity prior to initial use or relocation,
- 2. Be licensed by the Department or private entity, and
- 3. Have office hours displayed in a conspicuous location at each site open to the public during the posted hours.
- J. There shall be a clearly defined and visible separation between a school and any other business if a professional driver training school or traffic survival school is located in an office building, store, or other physical structure shared with any other business or enterprise.
- K. Any request by a school for inspection and approval of a site on a recognized Indian reservation shall contain the written permission of the appropriate Tribal authority.
- L. Any request by a school for inspection and approval of a site on a military base shall contain the written permission of the appropriate military authority.
- M. A school shall submit to the Department or private entity a copy of the written lease or contract agreement or deed of ownership, if the site is owned by the school, for each site, as applicable.
- N. Any request by a traffic survival school for inspection and approval of a site to be used for educational sessions shall include the approved fire safety capacity of the classroom(s) at that site and shall be signed by a principal of the traffic survival school.
Historical Note
New Section made by exempt rulemaking under Laws 2013, Ch. 129, § 27 at 21 A.A.R. 1096, effective September 1, 2015 (Supp. 15-2).