New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation 39 § 8-3

a. No certificate of approval shall be issued by an examiner, official inspection facility or private inspection facility until the motor vehicle inspected successfully passes inspections for emissions and emission-related items such as emission control equipment and on-board diagnostics required by the chief administrator and the mechanism, brakes and equipment of the motor vehicle inspected have been found to be in a proper and safe condition and complying with the laws of this State.

b. Notwithstanding subsection a. of this section, passenger automobiles registered in accordance with R.S.39:3-4 or R.S.39:3-27 and noncommercial trucks registered in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1968, c. 439 (C.39:3-8. 1) or R.S.39:3-27 that are only inspected for emissions and emission-related items such as emission control equipment and on-board diagnostics pursuant to R.S.39:8-1 and that successfully pass such inspections shall be issued a certificate of approval.

c. Notwithstanding the issuance or non-issuance of a certificate of approval, the obligation to ensure that a vehicle is in a proper and safe condition rests with the owner, operator or lessee, as appropriate, of the vehicle.