We are committed to doing our part to enhance information flow. While legislation is still being introduced and amended on the Hill, members of the Alliance are particularly concerned about two concepts under consideration. First, the Alliance opposes criminal penalties. They are inappropriate for the vehicle safety recall program. It provides no objective measures.
Defects are subjective, based on judgment.
Decisions about safety-related defects must be based on technical information, engineering judgment and sound interpretations. This same remedy would apply to the expanded reporting requirements contemplated under the pending legislation if enacted. Twice before, Congress has debated whether to include criminal penalties in the Safety Act itself and has rejected this approach as unnecessary and inappropriate. Previously, the Department of Transportation did not support criminal penalties. The existence of criminal sanctions will likely serve to complicate and delay resolution of disputed issues concerning whether products contain safety-related defects.