(a) The term “air conditioning equipment” or “equipment”, as used or referred to in this section, means mechanical vapor compression refrigeration equipment which is used to cool the driver’s or passenger compartment of any motor vehicle.

      (b) Such equipment shall be manufactured, installed and maintained with due regard for the safety of the occupants of the vehicle and the public and shall not contain any refrigerant which is toxic to persons or which is flammable, unless such refrigerant is included in the list published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a safe alternative motor vehicle air conditioning substitute for chlorofluorocarbon-12 pursuant to 42 USC 7671k(c).

      (c) The commissioner may adopt and enforce safety requirements, regulations and specifications, consistent with the requirements of this section, applicable to such equipment, which shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform to the current recommended practice or standard applicable to such equipment approved by the Society of Automotive Engineers.

      (d) No person shall have for sale, offer for sale, sell, equip or maintain any motor vehicle with any such equipment unless he is licensed under section 14-52 and such equipment complies with the requirements of this section.

      (e) No person shall operate on any highway any motor vehicle equipped with any air conditioning equipment unless such equipment complies with the requirements of this section.

      (f) Violation of any provision of subsections (d) and (e) of this section shall be an infraction.