# NHTSA Interpretation File Search

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NHTSA Interpretation File SearchOverviewSearch ToolRequest an Interpretation

													NHTSA Interpretation File Search													

                - Overview
                - Search Tool
                - Request an Interpretation

# Overview

NHTSA's Chief Counsel interprets the statutes that the agency administers and the standards and regulations that it issues. Members of the public may submit requests for interpretation, and the Chief Counsel will respond with a letter of interpretation. These interpretation letters look at the particular facts presented in the question and explain the agency’s opinion on how the law applies given those facts. These letters of interpretation are guidance documents. They do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. They are intended only to provide information to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. 

# 
Understanding NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files

NHTSA makes its letters of interpretation available to the public on this webpage. 

An interpretation letter represents the opinion of the Chief Counsel based on the facts of individual cases at the time the letter was written. While these letters may be helpful in determining how the agency might answer a question that another person has if that question is similar to a previously considered question, do not assume that a prior interpretation will necessarily apply to your situation.

####                     Reasons interpretation letters in this database may not be applicable to your situation                    **

                        - Your facts may be sufficiently different from those presented in prior interpretations, such that the agency's answer to you might be different from the answer in the prior interpretation letter;
                        - Your situation may be completely new to the agency and not addressed in an existing interpretation letter;
                        - The agency's safety standards or regulations may have changed since the prior interpretation letter was written so that the agency's prior interpretation no longer applies; or
                        - Some combination of the above, or other, factors.

# 
Searching NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files

Before beginning a search, it’s important to understand how this online search works. Below we provide some examples of searches you can run. In some cases, the search results may include words similar to what you searched because it utilizes a fuzzy search algorithm.

**Single word search**

* Example*: car *Result*: Any document containing that word.

**Multiple word search**

* Example*: car seat requirements *Result*: Any document containing any of these words.

**Connector word search**

* Example*: car AND seat AND requirements *Result*: Any document containing all of these words.

 *Note*: Search operators such as AND or OR must be in all capital letters.

**Phrase in double quotes**

* Example*: "headlamp function"* Result*: Any document with that phrase.

####                     More search options                    **

**Conjunctive search**

*Example: *functionally AND minima*Result: *Any document with both of those words.

**Wildcard**

*Example: *headl**Result: *Any document with a word beginning with those letters (e.g., headlamp, headlight, headlamps).

*Example:* no*compl**Result:* Any document beginning with the letters “no” followed by the letters “compl” (e.g., noncompliance, non-complying).

**Not**

*Example: *headlamp NOT crash*Result: *Any document containing the word “headlamp” and not the word “crash.”

**Complex searches**

You can combine search operators to write more targeted searches.

*Note: *The database does not currently support phrase searches with wildcards (e.g., “make* inoperative”). 

*Example: *Headl* AND (supplement* OR auxiliary OR impair*)*Result: *Any document containing words that are variants of “headlamp” (headlamp, headlights, etc.) and also containing a variant of “supplement” (supplement, supplemental, etc.) or “impair” (impair, impairment, etc.) or the word “auxiliary.”

# Search Tool

# NHTSA's Interpretation Files Search

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