### **CHAPTER 301—MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY**

#### SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL

Sec.
30101.
Purpose and policy.
30102.
Definitions.
30103.
Relationship to other laws.
30104.
Authorization of appropriations.
30105.
Restriction on lobbying activities.
30106.
Rented or leased motor vehicle safety and responsibility.

#### SUBCHAPTER II—STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE

30111.
Standards.
30112.
Prohibitions on manufacturing, selling, and importing noncomplying motor vehicles and equipment.
30113.
General exemptions.
30114.
Special exemptions.
30115.
Certification of compliance.
30116.
Defects and noncompliance found before sale to purchaser.
30117.
Providing information to, and maintaining records on, purchasers.
30118.
Notification of defects and noncompliance.
30119.
Notification procedures.
30120.
Remedies for defects and noncompliance.
30120A.
Recall obligations and bankruptcy of a manufacturer.
30121.
Provisional notification and civil actions to enforce.
30122.
Making safety devices and elements inoperative.
30123.
Tires.
30124.
Nonuse of safety belts.
30125.
Schoolbuses and schoolbus equipment.
30126.
Used motor vehicles.
30127.
Automatic occupant crash protection and seat belt use.
30128.
Vehicle accident ejection protection. 1

30129.
Crash avoidance technology.

#### SUBCHAPTER III—IMPORTING NONCOMPLYING MOTOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT

30141.
Importing motor vehicles capable of complying with standards.
30142.
Importing motor vehicles for personal use.
30143.
Motor vehicles imported by individuals employed outside the United States.
30144.
Importing motor vehicles on a temporary basis.
30145.
Importing motor vehicles or equipment requiring further manufacturing.
30146.
Release of motor vehicles and bonds.
30147.
Responsibility for defects and noncompliance.

#### SUBCHAPTER IV—ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE

30161.
Judicial review of standards.
30162.
Petitions by interested persons for standards and enforcement.
30163.
Actions by the Attorney General.
30164.
Service of process; conditions on importation of vehicles and equipment.
30165.
Civil penalty.
30166.
Inspections, investigations, and records.
30167.
Disclosure of information by the Secretary of Transportation.
[30168.
Repealed.]
30169.
Annual reports.
30170.
Criminal penalties.
30171.
Protection of employees providing motor vehicle safety information.
30172.
Whistleblower incentives and protections.

#### SUBCHAPTER V—MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

30181.
Policy.
30182.
Powers and duties.
30183.
Prohibition on certain disclosures.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

**2021**—Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title IV, §24208(b), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 823, which directed amendment of the analysis for subchapter II of this chapter by adding item 30129 at the end, was executed by adding item 30129 to the analysis for this chapter to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

**2015**—Pub. L. 114–94, div. B, title XXIV, §24352(c), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1720, which directed amendment of the analysis for subchapter IV of this chapter by adding item 30172 at the end, was executed by adding item 30172 to the analysis for this chapter to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

**2012**—Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title I, §§31202(b), 31204(b)(1), (2)(A), 31208(1), 31307(c), 31312(b), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 758, 760, 761, 769, 772, added items 30120A and 30171, item for subchapter V, and items 30181 to 30183, substituted "Nonuse of safety belts" for "Buzzers indicating nonuse of safety belts" in item 30124 and "Service of process; conditions on importation of vehicles and equipment" for "Service of process" in item 30164, and struck out item 30168 "Research, testing, development, and training".

**2005**—Pub. L. 109–59, title X, §10303(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1940, which directed amendment of the table of sections for chapter 301 by adding item 30128, without specifying the title to be amended, was executed to the table of sections for this chapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 109–59, title X, §10208(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1936, added item 30106.

**2000**—Pub. L. 106–414, §5(b)(2), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1804, added item 30170.

**1998**—Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, §7104(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 467, added item 30105.

1  So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.