49 U.S.C. § 30122 — Making safety devices and elements in-

Page 780 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 30122 or purchaser’’, ‘‘the purpose of’’, and ‘‘to which the order relates’’ are omitted as surplus. In subsection (d), the words ‘‘Notwithstanding sec- tion 30163(c) of this title’’ are added for clarity. The words ‘‘An action under section 1399(a) of this title to restrain a violation of an order . . . or under section 1398 of this title to collect a civil penalty with respect to a violation of such an order’’ and ‘‘to which the order applies’’ are omitted as surplus. The words ‘‘may transfer the action’’ are substituted for ‘‘orders a change of venue’’ for consistency with 28:1404. The words ‘‘(including enforcement actions)’’ are omitted as surplus. The words ‘‘that court shall issue the con- solidation order’’ are substituted for ‘‘by order of such other court’’ for clarity. § 30122. Making safety devices and elements in- operative (a) DEFINITION.—In this section, ‘‘motor vehi- cle repair business’’ means a person holding itself out to the public to repair for compensa- tion a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equip- ment. (b) PROHIBITION.—A manufacturer, distributor, dealer, rental company, or motor vehicle repair business may not knowingly make inoperative any part of a device or element of design in- stalled on or in a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in compliance with an applicable motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter unless the manufacturer, dis- tributor, dealer, rental company, or repair busi- ness reasonably believes the vehicle or equip- ment will not be used (except for testing or a similar purpose during maintenance or repair) when the device or element is inoperative. (c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Transpor- tation may prescribe regulations— (1) to exempt a person from this section if the Secretary decides the exemption is con- sistent with motor vehicle safety and section 30101 of this title; and (2) to define ‘‘make inoperative’’. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 956; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title I, § 31202(a)(1), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 757; Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, § 24109(d), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1707.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 30122(a) ...... 15:1397(a)(2)(A) (last sentence). Sept. 9, 1966, Pub. L. 89–563, 80 Stat. 718, § 108(a)(2)(A)– (C); added Oct. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93–492, § 103(a)(1)(A), 88 Stat. 1477. 30122(b) ...... 15:1397(a)(2)(A) (1st sentence). 30122(c) ...... 15:1397(a)(2)(B). 30122(d) ...... 15:1397(a)(2)(C). In subsections (a) and (c), the words ‘‘the term’’ are omitted as surplus. In subsection (a), the words ‘‘in the business of’’ are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘an applicable motor ve- hicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter’’ are substituted for ‘‘an applicable Federal motor vehi- cle safety standard’’ for consistency. The words ‘‘of de- sign’’ the 2d time they appear and ‘‘rendered’’ are omit- ted as surplus. In subsection (c)(1), the words ‘‘section 30101 of this title’’ are substituted for ‘‘the purposes of this chap- ter’’ as being more precise. In subsection (d), the words ‘‘with respect . . . the rendering inoperative of’’ are omitted as surplus. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2015—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–94 inserted ‘‘rental com- pany,’’ after ‘‘dealer,’’ in two places. 2012—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–141 struck out subsec. (d). Text read as follows: ‘‘This section does not apply to a safety belt interlock or buzzer designed to indicate a safety belt is not in use as described in section 30124 of this title.’’ Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2015 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 114–94 effective on the date that is 180 days after Dec. 4, 2015, see section 24109(k) of Pub. L. 114–94, set out as a note under section 30102 of this title. 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. § 30123. Tires (a) REGROOVED TIRE LIMITATIONS.—(1) In this subsection, ‘‘regrooved tire’’ means a tire with a new tread produced by cutting into the tread of a worn tire. (2) The Secretary may authorize the sale, offer for sale, introduction for sale, or delivery for in- troduction in interstate commerce, of a re- grooved tire or a motor vehicle equipped with regrooved tires if the Secretary decides the tires are designed and made in a way consistent with section 30101 of this title. A person may not sell, offer for sale, introduce for sale, or deliver for introduction in interstate commerce, a re- grooved tire or a vehicle equipped with re- grooved tires unless authorized by the Sec- retary. (b) UNIFORM QUALITY GRADING SYSTEM, NOMEN- CLATURE, AND MARKETING PRACTICES.—The Sec- retary shall prescribe through standards a uni- form quality grading system for motor vehicle tires to help consumers make an informed choice when purchasing tires. The Secretary also shall cooperate with industry and the Fed- eral Trade Commission to the greatest extent practicable to eliminate deceptive and confusing tire nomenclature and marketing practices. A tire standard or regulation prescribed under this chapter supersedes an order or administrative interpretation of the Commission. (c) MAXIMUM LOAD STANDARDS.—The Secretary shall require a motor vehicle to be equipped with tires that meet maximum load standards when the vehicle is loaded with a reasonable amount of luggage and the total number of pas- sengers the vehicle is designed to carry. The ve- hicle shall be equipped with those tires by the manufacturer or by the first purchaser when the vehicle is first bought in good faith other than for resale. (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 956; Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, § 7106(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 467.)