49 U.S.C. § 30124 — Nonuse of safety belts

Page 781 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 30124 HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 30123(a) ...... 15:1421 (1st sen- tence). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, §§ 201–203, 204(c), 205, 80 Stat. 728, 729. 30123(b) ...... 15:1421 (2d sen- tence). 30123(c) ...... 15:1421 (last sen- tence). 30123(d) ...... 15:1424(a). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 204(a), 80 Stat. 729; re- stated Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 110(c), 88 Stat. 1484. 15:1424(c). 30123(e) ...... 15:1423. 15:1425. 30123(f) ....... 15:1422. In subsections (a) and (d)(2), the words ‘‘section 30101 of this title’’ are substituted for ‘‘the purposes of this chapter’’ as being more precise. In subsection (a), the words ‘‘to a motor vehicle safe- ty standard prescribed under this chapter’’ are sub- stituted for ‘‘In all standards for . . . established under subchapter I of this chapter . . . thereto’’ for consist- ency and because of the restatement. In subsection (b)(1)(A) and (B), the word ‘‘suitable’’ is omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(1)(C), the words ‘‘for a tire con- taining’’ are substituted for ‘‘unless the tire contains . . . in which case it shall also contain’’ to eliminate unnecessary words. The word ‘‘allowing’’ is substituted for ‘‘which would permit’’ for consistency. In subsection (b)(3), the word ‘‘actual’’ is omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(5)(A), the word ‘‘statement’’ is sub- stituted for ‘‘recital’’ for clarity. The words ‘‘complies with’’ are substituted for ‘‘conforms to’’, the words ‘‘prescribed under this chapter’’ are substituted for ‘‘Federal’’, and the word ‘‘or’’ is substituted for ‘‘except that in lieu of such recital’’, for consistency. In subsection (b)(5)(B), the word ‘‘appropriate’’ is omitted as surplus. In subsection (d)(2), the words ‘‘by order’’ are omitted as surplus. The words ‘‘a regrooved tire or a motor ve- hicle equipped with regrooved tires’’ are substituted for ‘‘any tire or motor vehicle equipped with any tire which has been regrooved’’ for consistency. The words ‘‘A person may not . . . unless authorized by the Sec- retary’’ are substituted for ‘‘No person shall’’ for clar- ity and consistency in the revised title. The word ‘‘in- troduce’’ is substituted for ‘‘introduction’’ after ‘‘or’’ to correct a mistake. In subsection (e), the words ‘‘The Secretary shall pre- scribe through standards’’ are substituted for ‘‘within two years after September 9, 1966, the Secretary shall, through standards established under subchapter I of this chapter, prescribe by order, and publish in the Fed- eral Register’’ in 15:1423 to eliminate unnecessary and executed words. The text of 15:1423 (2d sentence) is omitted as executed. The last sentence is substituted for 15:1425 to eliminate unnecessary words. In subsection (f), the words ‘‘In standards established under subchapter I of this chapter’’ and ‘‘fully’’ are omitted as surplus. The words ‘‘The vehicle shall be equipped’’ are added for clarity. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1998—Pub. L. 105–178 redesignated subsecs. (d) to (f) as (a) to (c), respectively, and struck out former subsecs. (a) to (c), which related to labeling requirements, con- tents of label, and additional information that may be required, respectively. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24115, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1710, provided that: ‘‘(a) PROPOSED RULE.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015], the Sec- retary shall publish a proposed rule that— ‘‘(1) updates the standards pertaining to tire pres- sure monitoring systems to ensure that a tire pres- sure monitoring system that is installed in a new motor vehicle after the effective date of such updated standards cannot be overridden, reset, or recalibrated in such a way that the system will no longer detect when the inflation pressure in one or more of the ve- hicle’s tires has fallen to or below a significantly underinflated pressure level; and ‘‘(2) does not contain any provision that has the ef- fect of prohibiting the availability of direct or indi- rect tire pressure monitoring systems that meet the requirements of the standards updated pursuant to paragraph (1). ‘‘(b) FINAL RULE.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, after providing the pub- lic with sufficient opportunity for notice and comment on the proposed rule published pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue a final rule based on the proposed rule described in subsection (a) that— ‘‘(1) allows a manufacturer to install a tire pressure monitoring system that can be reset or recalibrated to accommodate— ‘‘(A) the repositioning of tire sensor locations on vehicles with split inflation pressure recommenda- tions; ‘‘(B) tire rotation; or ‘‘(C) replacement tires or wheels of a different size than the original equipment tires or wheels; and ‘‘(2) to address the accommodations described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), en- sures that a tire pressure monitoring system that is reset or recalibrated according to the manufacturer’s instructions would illuminate the low tire pressure warning telltale when a tire is significantly under- inflated until the tire is no longer significantly underinflated. ‘‘(c) SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERINFLATED PRESSURE LEVEL DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘significantly underinflated pressure level’ means a pressure level that is— ‘‘(1) below the level at which the low tire pressure warning telltale must illuminate, consistent with the TPMS detection requirements contained in S4.2(a) of section 571.138 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula- tions, or any corresponding similar or successor regu- lation or ruling (as determined by the Secretary); and ‘‘(2) in the case of a replacement wheel or tire, below the recommended cold inflation pressure of the wheel or tire manufacturer.’’ IMPROVED TIRE INFORMATION Pub. L. 106–414, § 11, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1806, pro- vided that, by 30 days after Nov. 1, 2000, the Secretary of Transportation would initiate a rulemaking pro- ceeding to improve the labeling of tires required by this section to assist consumers in identifying tires that may be the subject of a decision or notice under section 30118 of this title and also provided the Sec- retary could authorize any additional action needed to inform the public of the importance of observing motor vehicle tire load limits and maintaining proper tire in- flation levels, with the rulemaking completed by not later than June 1, 2002. TIRE PRESSURE WARNING Pub. L. 106–414, § 13, Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1806, pro- vided that, not later than 1 year after Nov. 1, 2000, the Secretary of Transportation would complete a rule- making for a regulation, effective not later than 2 years after the date of the completion of such rule- making, to require a warning system in new motor ve- hicles to indicate significantly underinflated tires. § 30124. Nonuse of safety belts A motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter may not require a manufac- Page 782 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 30125 turer to comply with the standard by using a safety belt interlock designed to prevent start- ing or operating a motor vehicle if an occupant is not using a safety belt. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 957; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title I, § 31202(a)(2), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 757.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 30124 .......... 15:1410b. Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 125; added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 109, 88 Stat. 1482. The text of 15:1410b(a) and (c)–(e) is omitted as obso- lete. The text of 15:1410b(b)(2) and (3) and (f)(2) and (3) is omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. The words ‘‘After the effective date of the amendment prescribed under subsection (a) of this section’’ are omitted as executed. The words ‘‘prescribed under this chapter’’ are substituted for ‘‘Federal’’ for consistency in this chapter. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2012—Pub. L. 112–141 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘A motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter may not require or allow a manufacturer to comply with the standard by using a safety belt interlock designed to prevent starting or operating a motor vehicle if an oc- cupant is not using a safety belt or a buzzer designed to indicate a safety belt is not in use, except a buzzer that operates only during the 8-second period after the ignition is turned to the ‘start’ or ‘on’ position.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2012 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 112–141 effective Oct. 1, 2012, see section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as an Effec- tive and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under section 101 of Title 23, Highways. § 30125. Schoolbuses and schoolbus equipment (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— (1) ‘‘schoolbus’’ means a passenger motor ve- hicle designed to carry a driver and more than 10 passengers, that the Secretary of Transpor- tation decides is likely to be used significantly to transport preprimary, primary, and sec- ondary school students to or from school or an event related to school. (2) ‘‘schoolbus equipment’’ means equipment designed primarily for a schoolbus or manu- factured or sold to replace or improve a sys- tem, part, or component of a schoolbus or as an accessory or addition to a schoolbus. (b) STANDARDS.—The Secretary shall prescribe motor vehicle safety standards for schoolbuses and schoolbus equipment manufactured in, or imported into, the United States. Standards shall include minimum performance require- ments for— (1) emergency exits; (2) interior protection for occupants; (3) floor strength; (4) seating systems; (5) crashworthiness of body and frame (in- cluding protection against rollover hazards); (6) vehicle operating systems; (7) windows and windshields; and (8) fuel systems. (c) TEST DRIVING BY MANUFACTURERS.—The Secretary may require by regulation a schoolbus to be test-driven by a manufacturer before in- troduction in commerce. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 957.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 30125(a) ...... 15:1391(14), (15). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 102(14), (15); added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 201, 88 Stat. 1484. 30125(b) ...... 15:1392(i)(1). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 103(i)(1), (2); added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 202, 88 Stat. 1484; July 8, 1976, Pub. L. 94–346, § 2, 90 Stat. 815. 30125(c) ...... 15:1392(i)(2). 15:1397(a)(1)(F). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 108(a)(1)(F); added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 203, 88 Stat. 1485. In subsection (a)(1), the words ‘‘the purpose of’’ are omitted as surplus. In subsection (a)(2), the words ‘‘any similar part or component’’ are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b), before clause (1), the text of 15:1392(i)(1)(A) (1st sentence) and (B) (words before 2d comma) is omitted as executed. The word ‘‘prescribe’’ is substituted for ‘‘promulgate’’, and the word ‘‘Fed- eral’’ is omitted, for consistency. The words ‘‘Such pro- posed standards’’ and ‘‘those aspects of performance set out in clauses (i) through (viii) of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph’’ are omitted because of the restate- ment. The word ‘‘requirements’’ is substituted for ‘‘standards’’ to avoid using ‘‘standards’’ in 2 different ways. The text of 15:1392(i)(1)(B) (last 6 words) is omit- ted as executed. In subsection (c), the text of 15:1397(a)(1)(F) is omit- ted as unnecessary because of the restatement. § 30126. Used motor vehicles To ensure a continuing and effective national safety program, it is the policy of the United States Government to encourage and strengthen State inspection of used motor vehicles. There- fore, the Secretary of Transportation shall pre- scribe uniform motor vehicle safety standards applicable to all used motor vehicles. The stand- ards shall be stated in terms of motor vehicle safety performance. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 958.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 30126 .......... 15:1397(b)(1) (2d–last sentences). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, § 108(b)(1) (2d–last sen- tences), 80 Stat. 722. The words ‘‘In order’’ are omitted as surplus. The words ‘‘United States Government’’ are substituted for ‘‘Congress’’ for clarity and consistency in the revised title. The words ‘‘Therefore, the Secretary of Transpor- tation shall prescribe uniform motor vehicle safety standards applicable to all used motor vehicles’’ are substituted for 15:1397(b)(1) (4th sentence) to eliminate unnecessary and executed words. The text of 15:1397(b)(1) (last sentence) is omitted as unnecessary because of 5:ch. 5, subch. II. The text of 15:1397(b)(1) (3d sentence) is omitted as executed.