Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996
PL 104-152 (H.R.2803), enacted 07/02/1996

110 STAT. 1384 
PUBLIC LAW 104-152^JULY 2, 1996 
Public Law 104-152 
104th Congress 
July 2, 1996 
[H.R. 2803] 
Anti-Car Theft 
Improvements 
Act of 1996. 
49 u s e 30101 
note. 
An Act 
To amend the anti-car theft provisions of title 49, United States Code, to increase 
the utility of motor vehicle title information to State and Federal law enforcement 
officials, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Anti-Car Theft Improvements 
Act of 1996". 
SEC. 2. SYSTEM NAME AND IMPLEMENTATION DATE. 
(a) SYSTEM DATE.—Section 30502(a)(1) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking "January 31, 1996" and inserting 
"December 31, 1997". 
(b) SECTION 30503.—Section 30503(d) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended by striking "January 1, 1997" and inserting 
"October 1,1998". 
(c) SYSTEM NAME.—Chapter 305 of title 49, United States Code, 
is amended by striking "National Automobile Title Information 
System" each place it occurs in the chapter heading, the table 
of sections for chapter 305, the section heading for section 30502, 
and in the texts of sections 30502 and 30503 and inserting "National 
Motor Vehicle Title Information System". 
SEC. 3. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. 
(a) SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.—Sections 30501, 30502, 
30503, 30504, and 30505 of title 49, United States Code, are each 
amended by striking each reference to "Secretary of Transportation" 
or "Secretary" and inserting "Attorney Genered". 
(b) ATTORNEY GENERAL.—Section 30502 of title 49, United 
States Code, is amended by striking each reference to "Attorney 
General" £ind inserting "Secretary of Transportation". 
SEC 4. TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM. 
Section 30502 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
"(f) IMMUNITY.—^Any person performing any activity under this 
section or sections 30503 or 30504 in good faith and with the 
reasonable belief that such activity was in accordance with this 
section or section 30503 or 30504, as the case may be, shall be 
immune from any civil action respecting such activity which is 
seeking money damages or equitable relief in any court of the 
United States or a State.". 
PUBLIC LAW 104-152-^ULY 2, 1996 
110 STAT. 1385 
SEC. 5. STOLEN VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM. 
Section 33109 of title 49, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
"(d) IMMUNITY.—^Any person performing any activity under this 
section or section 33110 or 33111 in good faith and with the reason-
able belief that such activity was in accordance with such section 
shall be immune from any civil action respecting such activity 
which is seeking money damages or equitable relief in any court 
of the United States or a State.". 
SEC. 6. GRANTS TO STATES. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 30503(c)(2) of title 49, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
"(2) The Attorney General may make reasonable and necessary 
grants to participating States to be used in making titling informa-
tion maintained by those States available to the operator.". 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out sections 30503 and 
33109 of title 49, United States Code. 
(c) INFORMATION SYSTEM.—The information system established 
49 use 30502 
imder section 30502 of title 49, United States Code, shall be effective note. 
as provided in the rules promulgated by the Attorney General. 
Approved July 2, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2803: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-618 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
June 18, considered and passed House. 
June 20, considered and passed Senate.