(a) A vehicle owner may make a request to the Executive Officer for a vehicle compliance time extension through the referee if parts to bring a vehicle back into compliance are not available to complete the needed repairs.

(b) Upon making a compliance time extension request, the vehicle owner shall provide the documentation specified in section 2197.2(i) to demonstrate that a good-faith effort has been made to bring the vehicle into compliance.

(c) The referee shall verify the following owner and vehicle requirements and make a recommendation to the Executive Officer on the issuance of the compliance time extension:

(d) Following a recommendation made by the referee, the Executive Officer may grant a compliance time extension to an owner of an eligible vehicle. The Executive Officer shall base their decision on whether the documentation provided by the vehicle owner in subsection (b) and the referee recommendation in subsection (c) demonstrate that the owner has made a good-faith effort to bring the vehicle into compliance and the vehicle parts remain unavailable to do so. Upon approval of a compliance time extension request, the Executive Officer shall allow operation of the vehicle up to the vehicle's next compliance deadline and issue the vehicle owner a provisional HD I/M compliance certificate for the eligible vehicle.