Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992
PL 102-519 (H.R.4542), enacted 10/25/1992

106 STAT. 3384 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
Oct. 25, 1992 
[H.R. 4542] 
Anti Car Theft 
Act of 1992. 
Inter-
governmental 
relations. 
Public Law 102-519 
102d Congress 
An Act 
To prevent and deter auto theft. 
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 Act of 1992". 
TITLE I—TOUGHER LAW 
ENFORCEMENT AGAINST AUTO THEFT 
Subtitle A—^Enhanced Penalties for Auto 
Theft 
15 use 1901 
note. 
18 use 2119 
note. 
SEC. 101. FEDERAL PENALTIES FOR ARMED ROBBERIES OF AUTOS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 103 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"
*
§ 2119. Motor vehicles 
"Whoever, possessing a firearm as defined in section 921 of 
this title, takes a motor vehicle that has been transported, shipped, 
or received in interstate or foreign commerce from the person or 
presence of another by force and violence or by intimiaation, or 
attempts to do so, shall— 
"(1) be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 
15 years, or both, 
"(2) if serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 
of this title) results, be' fined under this title or imprisoned 
not more than 25 years, or both, and 
"(3) if death results, be fined under this title or imprisoned 
for any number of years up to life, or both.". 
(b) FEDERAL COOPERATION TO PREVENT "CARJACKING" AND 
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT.—In view of the increase of motor vehicle 
theft with its growing threat to human life and to the economic 
well-being of the Nation, the Attorney General, acting through 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Attor-
neys, is urged to work with State and local ofHcials to investigate 
car thefts, including violations of section 2119 of title 18, United 
States Code, for armed carjacking, and as appropriate and consist-
ent with prosecutorial discretion, prosecute persons who allegedly 
violate such law and other relevant Federal statutes. 
(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—^The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 103 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
"2119. Motor vehicles.". 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3385 
SEC. 102. mPORTATION AND EXPORTATION. 
Section 553(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by striking "fineid not more than $15,000 or imprisoned not more 
than five years" and inserting '^ned under this title or imprisoned 
not more than 10 years". 
SEC. 103. TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN VEmCLES. 
Each of sections 2312 and 2313(a) of title 18, United States 
Code, are amended by striking "fined not more than $5,000 or 
imprisoned not more than five years" and inserting "fined under 
this title or imprisoned not more uian 10 years". 
SEC. 104. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL FORFEITURE. 
(a) CIVIL FORFEITURE.—Section 981(aXl) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after subparagraph (E) the 
following: 
**(F) Any property, real or personal, which represents or 
is traceable to the gross proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, 
fi^m a violation o
f
— 
"(i) section 511 (altering or removing motor vehicle 
identification numbers); 
"(ii) section 553 (importing or exporting stolen motor 
vehicles); 
"(iii) section 2119 (armed robbery of automobiles); 
"(iv) section 2312 (transporting stolen motor vehicles 
in interstate commerce); or 
"(v) section 2313 (possessing or selling a stolen motor 
vehicle that has moved in interstete commerce).". 
(b) CRIMINAL FORFEITURE.—Section 982(a) of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by adding after paragraph (4) the following: 
"(5) The court, in imposing sentence on a person convicted 
of a violation or conspiracy to violate— 
"(A) section 511 (altering or removing motor vehicle identi-
fication numbers); 
"(B) section 553 (importing or exporting stolen motor 
vehicles); 
"(C) section 2119 (armed robbery of automobiles); 
"(D) section 2312 (transporting stolen motor vehicles in 
interstate commerce); or 
"(E) section 2313 (possessing or selling a stolen motor 
vehicle that has moved in interstate commerce); 
shall order that the person forfeit to the United States any property, 
real or personal, which represents or is traceable to the gross 
proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of such 
violation.". 
SEC. 105. CHOP SHOPS. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
<
*
§ 2322. Chop shops. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.— 
"(1) UNLAWFUL ACTION.—^Any person who knowingly owns, 
operates, maintains, or controls a chop shop or conducts oper-
ations in a chop shop shall be punished by a fine under this 
title or by imprisonment for not more than 15 years, or botii. 
If a conviction of a person under this paragraph is for a violation 
committed aft^er the first conviction of such person under this 
106 STAT. 3386 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
paragraph, the maximum pimishment shall be doubled with 
respect to any fine and imprisonment. 
"(2) INJUNCTIONS.—The Attorney General shall, as appro-
priate, in the case of any person who violates paragraph (1), 
commence a civil action for permanent or temporary injunction 
to restrain such violation.". 
"(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the term 'chop 
shop' means any building, lot, lacility, or other structure or premise 
where one or more persons engage in receiving, concealing, destroy-
ing, disassembling, dismantling, reassembling, or storing any pas-
senger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle part which has 
been unlawfully obtained in order to alter, counterfeit, deface, 
destroy, disguise, falsify, forge, obliterate, or remove the identity, 
including the vehicle identification number or derivative thereof, 
of such vehicle or vehicle part and to distribute, sell, or dispose 
of such vehicle or vehicle part in interstate or foreign commerce.". 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 113 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
"2322. Chop shops.". 
Subtitle B—^Targeted Law Enforcement 
42 use 3750a. 
SEC. 130. GRANT AUTHORIZATION. 
(a) PURPOSE.—^The purpose of this subtitle is to supplement 
the provisions of the Edward Byrne Memorial State and Locsil 
Law Enforcement Assistance Program to help the States to curb 
motor vehicle thefts and the related violence. 
(b) GRANTS.—^The Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance 
shall make grants to Anti Car Theft Committees submitting applica-
tions in compliance with the requirements of this subtitle. 
42 use 3750b. 
SEC. 131. APPLICATION. 
(a) SUBMISSION.—^To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
subtitle, a chief executive of an Anti Car Theft Committee shall 
submit an application to the Director of the Bureau of Justice 
Assistance. 
(b) CONTENT.—^The application submitted under subsection (a) 
shall include the following: 
(1) A statement that the applicant Anti Car Theft Commit-
tee is either a State agency or an agency of a unit of local 
government. 
(2) A statement that the applicant Anti Car Theft Commit-
tee is or will be financed in part (A) bv a fee on motor vehicles 
registered by the State or possessed or insured within the 
State (and that such fee is not less than $1 per vehicle), 
' or (B) in the same manner and to the same extent as is 
a similar program financed and implemented in a State like 
Michigan. 
(3) An assurance that Federal funds received under a grant 
under this subtitle shall be used to supplement and not sup-
plant non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available for 
activities funded luider such grant. 
(4) A statement that the resources of the applicant Anti 
Car Theft Committee will be devoted entirely to combating 
motor vehicle theft, including any or all of the following: 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3387 
(A) Financing law enforcement officers or investigators 
whose duties are entirely or primarily related to investigat-
' 
ing cases of motor vehicle theft or of trafficking in stolen 
motor vehicles or motor vehicle parts. 
(B) Financing prosecutors whose duties are entirely 
or primarily related to prosecuting cases of motor vehicle 
theft or of trafficking in stolen motor vehicles or motor 
vehicle parts. 
(C) Motor vehicle theft prevention programs, including 
vehicle identification number etching programs, programs 
implemented by law enforcement agencies and designed 
to enable the electronic tracking of stolen automobiles, 
and programs designed to prevent the export of stolen 
vehicles. 
(5) A description of the budget for the applicant Anti Car 
Theft Committee for the fiscal year for which a grant is sought. 
SEC. 132. AWARD OF GRANTS. 
42 USC 3750c. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^The Director shall allocate to each State 
a proportion of the total, fimds available under this subtitle that 
is equal to the proportion of the number of motor vehicles registered 
in such State to the total number of motor vehicles registered 
in the United States. The Director shall ensure that all applicant 
States have an opportimity to receive grants from an available 
appropriation. Any State that has not met the requirements 
described in section 203 of this Act shall be excluded from any 
allocation under this subsection. 
(b) GRANT AMOUNTS.—If one Anti Car Theft Committee within 
a State submits an application in compliance with section 131, 
the Director shall award to such Anti Car Theft Committee a 
grant equal to the total amount of funds allocated to such State 
under this section. In no case shall the Anti Car Theft Committee 
receive a grant that is more than 50 percent of the preaward 
budget for such Anti Car Theft Committee. 
(c) MULTIPLE COMMITTEES.—If two or more Anti Car Theft 
Committees within a State submit applications in compliance with 
section 131, the Director shall award to such Anti Car Theft 
Conmiittees grants that in sum are equal to the total amount 
of fimds allocated to such State under this section. In no case 
shall an Anti Car Theft Committee receive a grant that is more 
than 50 percent of the preaward budget for such Anti Car Theft 
Committee. The Director shall allocate funds among two or more 
Anti Car Theft Committees with a State according to the proportion 
of the preaward budget of each Anti Car Theft Committee to the 
total preaward budget for all grant recipient Anti Car Theft 
Conmiittees within such State. 
(d) RENEWAL OF GRANTS.—Subject to the availabiUty of funds, 
a grant under this subtitle may be renewed for up to 2 additional 
years after the first fiscal year during which the recipient receives 
an initial grant imder this subtitle if the Director determines that 
the funds made available to the recipient during the previous year 
were used in the manner required imder the approved application. 
SEC. 133. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
42 USC 3750d. 
There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry 
out this subtitle for each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995. 
106 STAT. 3388 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
Subtitle C—^Report Regarding State Motor 
Vehicle Titling Programs to 
Combat 
Motor Vehicle Thefts and Fraud 
15 use 2041 
SEC. 140. ESTABUSHMENT OF TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABUSHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Secretary of Transportation and the 
Attorney General of the United States, working together, shall, 
as soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this 
Act but not later than 180 days after such date, establish 
a task force to study problems which relate to motor vehicle 
titling, vehicle registration, and controls over motor vehicle 
salvage which may afTect the motor vehicle theft problem. The 
study shall include an examination of the extent to which 
the absence of uniformity and integration in State laws regulat-
ing vehicle titling and registration and salvage of used vehicles 
allows enterprising criminals to find the weakest link to "wash" 
the stolen character of the vehicles. It shall also consider the 
adoption of a title brand on all certificates of title indicating 
that the applicable vehicle was previously issued a title brand 
or a title signifying "rebuilt", "reconstructed", or "flood". 
(2) REPORT.—^The tesk force shall prepare a report contain-
ing the results of such study and shall submit such report 
to the President and the Congress and to the chief executive 
officer of each Stete not later than 12 months after the task 
force is esteblished, together with appropriate recommendations 
to solve these problems. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—^The tesk force shall consist o
f
— 
(1) the Secretary of Transportetion, or the Secretary's 
delegate; 
(2) the Attorney General of the United Stetes, or the Attor-
ney General's delegate; 
(3) the Secretory of Commerce, or the Secretory's delegate; 
(4) the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretarjr's 
delegate; 
(5) at least 3 representetives, to be designated by the 
Attorney General of the United Stetes; 
(6) at least 5 representetives of Stete motor vehicle depart-
mente, to be designated by the Secretory of Transportetion; 
and 
(7) at least 1 representetive, to be designated by the Sec-
retary of Transportetion, from each of the following groups: 
(A) Motor vehicle manufacturers. 
(B) Motor vehicle dealers and distributors. 
(C) Motor vehicle dismantlers, recyclers, and salvage 
dealers. 
(D) Motor vehicle repair and body shop operators. 
(E) Motor vehicle scrap processors. 
(F) Insurers of motor vehicles. 
(G) Stete law enforcement officials. 
(H) Local law enforcement officials. 
(I) The American Association of Motor Vehicle Adminis-
trators. 
' -' 
(J) The National Insurance Crime Bureau. 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3389 
(K) The National Committee on Traffic Laws and 
Ordinances. 
(c) REIMBURSEMENT.— 
(1) SALARY.—^The members of the task force shall serve 
without pay. 
(2) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—^While away from their residences 
or regular places of business in performance of services for 
the Federal Government, members of the task force shall be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently 
in the Federal Government service are allowed expenses imder 
section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 
(3) CHAIR.—^The Secretary of Transportation, or the Sec-
retary's delegate, shall serve as chairman of the task force. 
The task force may also invite representatives of the Governors 
and State legislators to participate. 
(d) REPORT.— 
(1) BASIS.—^The report required by subsection (a)(2) shall 
be made after a meaningful consultative process and review 
of existing laws, practices, studies, and recommendations 
regarding the problems specified in subsection (a)(1). 
(2) CONTENT.—^The report shall specify the key aspects 
of motor vehicle antitheft measures necessary to prevent the 
disposition or use of stolen motor vehicles, or the major compo-
nents of motor vehicles, and to prevent insurance and other 
fraud based upon false reports of stolen motor vehicles. The 
report shall indicate any of the antitheft measures for which 
national uniformity would be crucial in order for the measure 
to be adequately effective. The report shall recommend viable 
ways of obtaining any national uniformity which is necessary. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The report also shall include other 
recommendations for legislative or administrative action at the 
State level or at the Federal level, and recommendations for 
industry and public actions. 
TITLE II—AUTOMOBILE Til LE FRAUD 
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
15 USC 2041. 
For purposes of this title: 
(1) The term "automobile" has the meaning given such 
term by section 501(1) of the Motor Vehicle Information and 
Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 2001(1)). 
(2) The term "certificate of title" means a document issued 
by a State evidencing ownership of an automobile. 
(3) The term "insurance carrier' means an individual, cor-
poration, or other entity which is engaged in the business 
of underwriting automobile insurance. 
(4) The term "junk automobile" means any automobile 
which is incapable of operation on roads or highways and 
which has no value except as a source of parts or scrap. 
(5) The term "junk yard" means any individual, corporation, 
or other entity which is engaged in the business of acquiring 
or owning junJc automobiles for resale, either in their entirety 
or as spare parts, for rebuilding or restoration, or for crushing. 
(6) The term "operator" means a person or entity authorized 
or designated as the operator of the information system pursu-
106 STAT. 3390 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
ant to section 202(a)(2) or if no such person or entity is author-
ized, the Secretary. 
(7) The term "salvage automobile" means any automobile 
which is damaged by collision, fire, flood, accident, trespass, 
or other occurrence to the extent that its fair salvage value 
plus the cost of repairing the automobile for legal operation 
on roads or highways would exceed the fair market value 
of the automobile immediately prior to the occurrence causing 
its damage. 
(8) The term "salvage yard" means any individual, corpora-
tion, or other entity which is engaged in the business of acquir-
ing or owning salvage automobiles for resale, either in their 
entirety or as spare parts, or for rebuilding or restoration, 
or for crushing. 
(9) The term "Secretar/'means the Secretary of Transpor-
tation. 
(10) The term "State" means any State of the United States 
or the District of Columbia. 
15 use 2042. 
SEC. 202. NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM. 
(a) INFORMATION SYSTEM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than January 1996, the 
Secretary, in cooperation with the States, shall establish an 
information system (in this title referred to as the "National 
Motor Vehicle Title Information System") which will enable 
States and others to gain instant and reliable access to informa-
tion maintained by other States pertaining to the titling of 
automobiles, unless the Secretary determines that an existing 
information system meets the requirements of subsections (b) 
and (c) of this section and will enable the Secretary to imple-
ment this title as early as possible and designates, in consulta-
tion with the Attorney General of the United States, such 
system as the information system for purposes of this title. 
In establishing the system, the Secretary, working with the 
Attorney General of the United States and the States, shall 
ascertain the extent to which title and related information 
to be included in the system will be adequate, timely, reliable, 
uniform, and capable oi aiding in efforts to prevent the introduc-
tion or reintroduction into interstate commerce of stolen 
vehicles or parts. 
(2) OPERATION.—The Secretary may authorize the oper-
ation of the information system established or designated under 
paragraph (1) by contract through an agreement with a State 
or States, or by redesignating, after consultation with the 
States, a third party which represents the interests of the 
States. 
(3) FEES.—Operation of the information system established 
or designated under paragraph (1) shall be paid for by a system 
of user fees and should be self-sufficient and not be dependent 
on Federal funds. The amount of fees collected and retained 
subject to annual appropriation Acts, by the operator pursuant 
to this paragraph, not including fees collected by the operator 
and passed on to a State or other entity providing information 
to the operator, shall not exceed the costs of operating the 
system. 
(b) MINIMUM FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES.—The information sys-
tem established or designated under subsection (a)(1) shall, at a 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3391 
minimum, enable a user of the system instantly and reliably to 
determine— 
(1) the validity and status of a document purporting to 
be a certification of title, 
(2) whether an automobile bearing a known vehicle identi-
fication number is titled in a particular State, 
(3) whether an automobile known to be titled in a particular 
State is or has been a jimk vehicle or a salvage vehicle, 
(4) for an automobile known to be titled in a particular 
State, the odometer reading information, as required in section 
408 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act 
(15 U.S.C. 1988), of such vehicle on the date its certificate 
of title was issued and such later odometer information, if 
noted by the State, and 
(5) whether an automobile bearing a known vehicle identi-
fication number has l)een reported as a junk vehicle or a salvage 
vehicle pursuant to section 204. 
(c) AVAILABILITY OF L^ffl-ORMATiON.— 
(1) To STATE.—^IJpon request of a participating State, the 
operator makes available to such State information in the 
information system pertaining to any automobile. 
(2) To L
A
W ENFORCEMENT.—Upon request of a Federal, 
State, or local law enforcement official, the operator makes 
available to such official information in the information system 
pertaining to a particular automobile, salvage yard, or junk 
yard. 
(3) To PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS.—Upon request of a 
prospective purchaser of an automobile, including an auction 
company or an entity that is in the biisiness of purchasing 
used automobiles, the operator makes available to such prospec-
tive purchaser information in the information system pertaining 
to such automobile. 
(4) To INSURANCE CARRIERS.—^Upon request of a prospective 
or current insurer of an automobile, the operatoi" makes avail-
able to such prospective or current insurer information in the 
information system pertaining to such automobile. 
(5) PRIVACY.—^Notwithstanding any provision of paragraphs 
(1) through (4), the operator shall release no information ouier 
than what is necessary to reasonably satisfy the requirements 
of subsection (b). In no event shall the operator collect an 
individual's social security niunber or enable users of the 
information system to obtain an individual's address or social 
security number. 
SEC. 203. STATE PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE 15 USC 2043. 
TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM. 
(a) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) INFORMATION SHARING.—Each State shall make titling 
information maintained by such State available for use in 
establishing the National Motor Vehicle Htle Information Sys-
tem established under section 202. 
(2) TITLE VERIFICATION.—Each State shall establish a prac-
tice of performing an instant title verification check before 
issuing a certificate of title to an individual or entity claiming 
to have purchased an automobile from an individual or entity 
in another State. Such instant title verification check shall 
consist of— 
106 STAT. 3392 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
(A) communicating to the operator the vehicle identi-
fication nimiber of the vehicle for which the certificate 
of title is sought, the name of the State which issued 
the most recent certificate of title pertaining to the vehicle, 
and the name of the individual or entity to whom such 
certificate was issued; and 
(B) affording the operator an opportimity to commu-
nicate to the participating State the results of a search 
of the information. 
(b) GRANTS TO STATES.— 
(1) REVIEW OF STATE SYSTEMS.—Not later than January 
1, 1994, the Secretary, in cooperation with the States, shall— 
(A) conduct a review of systems used by the States 
to compile and maintain information concerning the titling 
of automobiles, and 
(B) determine, for each State, the cost of making titling 
information maintained by such State available to the 
operator of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information 
System for the purpose of meeting the requirements of 
subsection (b). 
(2) AWARD OF GRANTS.—^The Secretary may award grants 
to participating States to be used in making titling information 
maintained by such States available to the operator of the 
National Motor Vehicle Title Information System if— 
(A) for any State that is a recipient of such a grant, 
the grant does not exceed— 
(i) 25 percent of the cost of making titling informa-
tion maintained by such State available to the operator 
of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System 
as determined by the Secretary under subsection 
(d)(1)(B); or 
(ii) $300,000; 
whichever is lower; and 
, 
(B) the Secretary determined that such grants are 
fair, reasonable, and necessary for the establishment of 
the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System under 
section 202(a)(1). 
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—NO later than January 1, 1997, 
the Secretary shall report to Congress which States have met the 
requirements imposed by section 203. If any State has not met 
these requirements, the Secretary shall describe the impediments 
that have resulted in the State's failure to meet the requirements. 
15 use 2044. 
SEC. 204. REPORTING. 
^ -
(a) OPERATORS OF JUNK OR SALVAGE YARD.— 
(1) INVENTORY REPORT.—Beginning at a time determined 
by the Secretary, but no earlier than 3 months prior to the 
establishment of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information 
System, any person or entity in the business of operating an 
automobile junk yard or automobile salvage yard shall file 
a monthly report with the operator. Such report shall contain 
an inventory of all junk vehicles or salvage vehicles obtained 
by the junk yard or salvage yard during the preceding month. 
Such inventory shall contain the vehicle identification number 
of each vehicle obtained, the date on which it was obtained, 
the name of the person or entity from whom the reporter 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3393 
obtained the vehicle, and a statement of whether the vehicle 
was crushed or otherwise disposed of for sale or other purposes. 
(2) APPLICATION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to— 
(A) persons or entities that are required by State law 
to report the acquisition of 
junk vehicles or salvage vehicles 
to Stete or local authorities if such authorities make such 
information available to the operator, or 
(B) any person who is issued a verification imder sec-
tion 607 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Act stating that the vehicle or parts from such vehicle 
are not reported £is stolen. 
(b) INSURANCE CARRIERS.—Beginning at a time determined by 
the Secretary, but no earlier than 3 months prior to the establish-
ment of the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, any 
person or entity engaged in the business of an insurance carrier 
shall file, directly or through a designated agent, a monthly report 
with the operator. Such report shall contain an inventory oi all 
vehicles of the current model year or any of the 4 preceding model 
years which such carrier has, during the preceding month, obtained 
possession of and determined to be salvage or junk vehicles. Such 
inventory shall contain the vehicle identification number of each 
vehicle obtained, the date on which it was obtained, the name 
of the person or entity from whom the reporter obtained the vehicle, 
and the owner of the vehicle at the time of the filing of the 
report. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.— 
(1) PENALTY AMOUNT.—^Whoever violates this section may 
be assessed a civil penalty of not to exceed $1,000 for each 
violation. 
(2) PENALTY PROCEDURE.—Any such penalty shall be 
assessed by the Secretary and collected in a civil action brought 
by the Attorney General of the United States. Any such penalty 
may be compromised by the Secretary. In determining the 
amount of such penalty, or the amount agreed upon in com-
promise, the appropriateness of such penalty to the size of 
the business of the person charged and the gravity of the 
violation shall be considered. The amount of such penalty, 
finally determined, or the amoimt agreed upon in compromise, 
may be deducted from any sums owed by the United States 
to the person charged. 
(d) PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES.—The Secretary shall establish 
by rule procedures and practices to facilitate reporting in the least 
burdensome and costly fashion. 
TITLE III—AMENDMENTS ON THEFT 
PREVENTION 
REGARDING 
"CHOP 
SHOP'* RELATED THEFTS 
SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS. 
(a) CARS, SPECIALTY' VEHICLES, AND LIGHT-DUTY TRUCKS.— 
Section 601(1) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Act (15 U.S.C. 2021(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(1) The term 'pEissenger motor vehicle' includes any multi-
purpose passenger vehicle and light-duty truck that is rated 
at 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or less.". 
106 STAT. 3394 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
(b) CHOP SHOP DEFINITION.—Section 601 of the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Saving Act (15 U.S.C. 2021) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
(11) The term 'chop shop' means any building, lot, facility, 
or other structure or premise where one or more persons engage 
in receiving, concealing, destroying, disassembling, dismantling, 
reassembling, or storing any passenger motor vehicle or pas-
senger motor vehicle part wnich has oeen unlawfully obtained 
in order to alter, counterfeit, deface, destroy, disguise, falsi^, 
forge, obliterate, or remove the identity, including the vehicle 
identification number or derivative thereof, of such vehicle or 
vehicle part and to distribute, sell, or dispose of such vehicle 
or vehicle part in interstate or foreign commerce.". 
(c) MAJOR REPLACEMENT PART.—Section 601(8) (15 U.S.C. 
2021(8)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(8) The term 'm£yor replacement part' means any m^or 
part— 
"(A) which is not instcdled in or on a motor vehicle 
at the time of its delivery to the first purchaser and the 
equitable or legal title to which has not been transferred 
to any first purchaser, or 
(B) which is a customized or modified version of an 
original mcyor part in or on a completed motor vehicle 
after the manuiacture of such vehicle but before the time 
of its delivery to the first purchaser.". 
SEC. 302. THEFT PREVENTION STANDARD. 
Section 602 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Act (15 U.S.C. 2022) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (dXD to read as follows: 
"(dXl) In the case of major parts installed by the motor vehicle 
manufacturer, the standard under this section may not require 
any part to have more than a single identification.", and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
Regulations. 
"(fXD )^thin 2 years after the date of the enactment of the 
Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, the Secretary shall promulgate a 
vehicle theft standard which conforms to the requirements of this 
title and which applies with respect to the covered major parts 
which are installed oy all foreign and domestic manufacturers into 
passenger motor vehicles (other than Ught-duty trucks) in not to 
exceed one-half of the lines not designated under section 603 as 
high theft lines. Such rule shall be effective for model years 
applicable to such passenger motor vehicles as provided in sub-
section (cX4) of this section. 
"(2) Within 3 years after the rule under paragraph (1) is promul-
gated, the Secret€U7, based on the Attorney (jeneral's finding under 
paragraph (3), shall designate all the remaining such lines of such 
passenger motor vehicles (other than light-duty trucks) and apply 
such standard to such lines in conformance with the requirements 
of this title. Such rule shall also apply to the m^or replacement 
parts for the miyor parts described m this paragraph. Such rule 
shall be effective, for model years applicable to such passenger 
motor vehicles as provided in subsection (cX4) of this section. 
"(3) The Attorney General shall make a finding prior to the 
Secretary's initiation and promulgation of a rule under paragraph 
(2) that the rule shall be promulgated unless the Attorney (general 
finds, based upon the information collected and analyzed under 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3395 
section 615 and such other information as the Attorney Greneral 
may develop (after notice and after a public hearing), that requiring 
such additional parts marking for all of the applicable passenger 
motor vehicles would not substantially inhibit chop shop operations 
and vehicle thefts. The Attorney General shall also take into account 
as part of the record additional costs, effectiveness, competition, 
and available alternatives factors. The Attorney General shall trans-
mit the finding and the record upon which the finding is based 
to the Secretary. Such finding and record shall be a part of the 
Secretary's rulemaking record. 
"(4) The Attorney Greneral of the United States shall by Decem-
ber 31, 1999, determine, after notice and a public hearing, whether 
one or both rules promulgated under this subsection have been 
an effective means to substantially inhibit the operation of chop 
shops and vehicle theft, taking into account the additional cost, 
competition, and available alternatives. The Attorney General shall 
base his determination on information collected and analyzed under 
section 615, the 3-year and 5-year reports issued by the Secretary 
under this title, and such other information as he may develop 
and include in the public record. He shall take into consideration 
the effectiveness, extent of use, and the extent to which civil and 
criminal penalties under section 610(b) of this title and 18 U.S.C. 
2322 regarding chop shops have been effective in substantially 
inhibiting chop shop operations and vehicle theft. The Attorney 
Greneral shall promptly transmit his finding to the Secretary. If Termination 
the determination is that one or both rules have not been an ^^*^ 
efiTective means to substantially inhibit chop shop operation and 
vehicle theft, the Secrefciry shall within 180 days after receipt 
of such finding terminate by order 1 or both of the rules promulgated 
under this subsection effective the next model year following the 
issuance of such order. 
"(5) The Attorney Greneral shall make a separate determination 
by December 31, 1999, after notice and a public hearing, as to 
whether the antitheft devices for which an exemption under section 
605 is authorized are an efiective substitute for parts marking 
in substantially inhibiting vehicle theft, taking into account the 
additional cost, competition, and available alternatives. If the Attor-
ney (General determines that such antitheft devices are an effective 
substitute for parts marking in substantially inhibiting vehicle 
theft, the Secretary shall continue to grant exemptions under sec-
tion 605 at the level authorized prior to the date of the enactment 
of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 or at the level authorized for 
model year 2000, as dete;rmined by the Attorney General. Nothing 
in this paragraph affects exemptions granted in model year 2000 
or earlier to any manufacturer. 
"(6) The Secretary and the Attorney General shall keep the 
appropriate legislative committees of (Jongress with jurisdiction 
over this Act and 18 U.S.C. 2322 informed about the actions taken 
or planned under this subsection. 
"(g) The Secretary is authorized to periodically redetermine 
and establish by rule the median theft rate under subsection (aXD, 
but not more than every 2 years.". 
SEC. 303. DESIGNATION OF HIGH THEFT VEHICLE LINES AND PARTS. 
Section 603 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Act (15 U.S.C. 2023) is amended— 
106 STAT. 3396 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
(1) by striking in subsection (aXlXA) **in which the final 
standard is promulgated" and inserting in lieu thereof "in which 
the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 is enacted"; 
(2) by striking out paragraph (3) of subsection (a) and 
by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (3) and 
(4), respectively; 
(3) by striking "or (3)" in redesignated paragraphs (3) and 
(4) of subsection (a); 
(4) by adding at the end of subsection (a) (as amended 
by paragraph (2)) the following: 
"(5) Any motor vehicle line subject, on the date of enact-
ment of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, to parts marking 
requirements imder section 602 and this section shall continue 
to be subject to such requirements imless such motor vehicle 
line becomes exempt from such requirements under section 
605.", and 
(5) by striking paragraph (4) of subsection (b) and 
redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4). 
SEC. 304. LIMITED EXEMPTION FOR NEW VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 
EFFECTIVE ANTITHEFT AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. 
(a) CONTINUING CURRENT LAW.—The second sentence of section 
605(a)(2) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act 
(15 U.S.C. 2025(aX2)) is amended by inserting "through model 
year 1996" after "model year". 
(b) MODEL YEARS AFTER MODEL YEAR 1996.—Section 605(aX2) 
of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 
2025(aX2)) is amended by adding at the end the following: "For 
model year 1997 through model year 2000, the Secretary may 
grant such an exemption for not more than 1 additional line of 
any manufacturer and such exemption shall not affect the validity 
of the exemption of any line previously exempted imder this para-
graph. For model years subsequent to 2000, the number of lines 
for which the Secretary may grant such an exemption (if any) 
shall be determined by the Attorney (jeneral under section 602(fX5). 
SEC. 305. PROHIBITED ACTS. 
(a) RULES.—Section 610(aX2) of the Motor Vehicle Information 
£md Cost Savings Act (as so redesignated by section 306 of this 
15 use 2027. 
Act) is amended by inserting "or Attorney Greneral" after "Sec-
retary". 
(b) CHOP SHOPS.—Section 610 of the Motor Vehicle Information 
and Cost Savings Act (as so redesignated by section 306 of this 
Act) (15 U.S.C. 2027) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
"(cXD It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly own, 
operate, maintain, or control a chop shop or conduct operations 
in a chop shop of any kind or transport by any means any passenger 
motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle part to or from a chop 
shop. 
"(2) The Secretary shall, as appropriate and in consultation 
with the Attorney General, in the case of any person who violates 
paragraph (1), commence a civil action for permanent or temporary 
injimction to restrain such violation or the Secretary shall assess 
and recover a civil penalty of not more than $100,000 per day 
for each such violation, or both.". 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3397 
SEC. 306. VERIFICATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VI of the Motor Vehicle Information 
and Cost Savings Act is amended by redesignating sections 607 
through 614 as sections 610 through 617, respectively, by striking 
in section 602(e) "and 612" and inserting "and 615", and by inserting 
after section 606 the following: 
"VERIFICATION OF VEHICLE AS LEGAL SALVAGE OR JUNK VEHICLE 
15 use 
2027-2034. 
15 u s e 2022. 
15 use 2026a. 
"SEC. 607. (a) Any person engaged in business as an insurance 
carrier to sell comprehensive insurance coverage for motor vehicles 
shall, if such carrier obtains possession of and transfers a junk 
motor vehicle or a salvage motor vehicle— 
"(1) verify, in accordance with procedures established by 
rule under section 609 by the Attorney Greneral and in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Transportation, whether that motor 
vehicle is reported as stolen, and 
"(2) provide verification to whomever such carrier transfers 
or sells any such salvage or junk motor vehicle identifying 
the vehicle identification nimibier or derivative thereof of such 
vehicle and verifying that such vehicle has not been reported 
as stolen or, if reported as stolen, that such insurance carrier 
has recovered the vehicle and has proper legal title to the 
vehicle. 
For purposes of para^aph (2), the term Vehicle identification num-
ber* means a umque identification number assigned to a passenger 
motor vehicle by a manufacturer in compliance with applicable 
regulations or a derivative thereof. Nothing in this pcuragraph shall 
be construed to prohibit such carrier from transierring a motor 
vehicle if, within a reasonable period of time during normal business 
operations (as determined by the Attorney (jreneral under section 
609 of this title) using reasonable efibrts, such carrier has not 
received a determination under section 609 that the vehicle has 
not been reported as stolen or to otherwise determine whether 
such vehicle has been reported as stolen, except that such carrier 
shall provide a written certification of such lack of determination. 
"(b) The Attorney G<ineral, in consultation with the Secretary, Regulations. 
shall promulgate such regulations as are needed to ensure that 
verification performed and provided by insurance carriers under 
subsection (aX2) is uniform, effective, and resistant to firaudulent 
use.". 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The regulations required by section 
607(b) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act 
shall be promulgated within 6 months after the date of the enact-
ment of this subsection. The amendment made by subsection (a) 
shall take effect within 3 months after such regulations are promul-
gated, but not before the system in section 609 of the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Savings Act is operational. 
(c) PARTS.—^Title VI of such Act, as amended by subsection 
(a), is amended by inserting after section 607 the following new 
section: 
15 use 2026a 
note. 
"PARTS 
"SEC. 608. (a) No person engaged in the business of salvaging, 
dismantUng, recycling, or repairing passenger motor vehicles shall 
knoMongly sell or distribute in commerce or transfer or install 
a nuyor part marked with an identification number without— 
15 use 2026b. 
106 STAT. 3398 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
Regulations. 
Regulations. 
15 use 2026b 
note. 
"(1) first determining, through a procedure established by 
rule by the Attorney General in consultation with the Secretary 
of Transportation under section 609 that such major part has 
not been reported as stolen; and 
"(2) providing the purchaser or transferee with a verifica-
tion identifying tne vehicle identification number or derivative 
thereof of such msgor part, and verifying that such msgor part 
has not been reported as stolen. 
"(b) The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Transportation, shedl promulgate such regulations as are needed 
to ensure that verifications provided by persons under subsection 
(aX2) are uniform, effective, £uid resistant to fraudulent use. 
"(c) Subsection (a) shall not apply to a person who is the 
manufacturer of the major part, who has purchased the mapor 
part directly from the manufacturer, who has received a verification 
from an insurance carrier pursuant to section 607 that the motor 
vehicle from which such major part is derived has not been reported 
as stolen, or that such carrier has failed, in accordance with section 
607, to determine whether such vehicle has been stolen. Such 
person shall be required to provide such verification to any person 
to whom such vehicle, or any megor part of such vehicle, is thereafter 
transferred or sold in commerce. The Attorney General shall 
promulgate regulations to implement this section.". 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—^The amendment made by subsection (c) 
shall be effective on the date that the system required by section 
609 is established. 
(e) NATIONAL STOLEN AUTO PART INFORMATION SYSTEM.—Title 
VI of such Act, as amended by subsection (c), is amended by 
inserting after section 608 the following new section: 
"NATIONAL STOLEN AUTO PART INFORMATION SYSTEM 
1
5 use 2026c. 
"SEC. 609. (a) The Attorney General shall, within 9 months 
of the date of the enactment of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, 
maintain in the National Crime Information Center an information 
system containing the identification numbers of stolen passenger 
motor vehicles and stolen passenger motor vehicle parts. The Attor-
ney General shall also consult with State and local law enforcement 
agencies in the establishment of such system. The Attorney General 
shall also consult with the National Crime Information Center 
Policy Advisory Board to ensure the security of the information 
in such system and that such svstem will not compromise the 
security of stolen vehicle and vemcle parts information in such 
information system. 
"(b) The Attorney General shall specify procedures hy rule 
by which individuals or entities seeking to transfer a vehicle or 
vehicle parts may obtain a determination whether a part is listed 
in the system as stolen. If the Attorney Greneral determines that 
the National Crime Information Center is not able to perform 
the functions of the information system required under subsection 
(a), the Attorney General shall enter into an agreement for the 
operation of such a system separate from the National Crime 
Information Center. 
"(c) The information svstem imder subsection (a) shall, at a 
minimum, include the following information perteining to each 
passenger motor vehicle reported to a law enforcement authority 
as stolen and not recovered: 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3399 
"(1) The vehicle identification number of such passenger 
motor vehicle. 
''(2) The make and model year of such passenger motor 
vehicle. 
''(3) The date on which the passenger motor vehicle was 
reported as stolen. 
**(4) The location of the law enforcement authority that 
received the reports of the passenger motor vehicle's theft. 
"(5) If the passenger motor vehicle at the time of its theft 
contained parts bearing identification numbers or the derivative 
thereof Afferent from the vehicle identification number of the 
stolen passenger motor vehicle, the identification numbers of 
such parts. 
"(d) ADVISORY CoMMrrrEE.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The National Stolen Auto Part Informa-
tion System to be maintained imder subsection (a) is to be 
developed by the Attorney General with the advice and rec-
ommendation of the advisory committee established under para-
graph (2). 
"(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Attomejr General shall 
establish in the Department of Justice and appoint an advisory 
committee with respect to the National Stolen Auto Part 
Information System to be maintained imder subsection (a). 
"(3) MEMBERSHIP.—^The advisory committee established 
under paragraph (2) shall be composed of 10 members as 
follows: 
"(A) The Attorney General shall serve as the chair-
person of the advisory committee. 
"(B) The Secretary of Transportation. 
"(C) One individiial appointed by the Attorney General 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the law 
enforcement community at the State level. 
"(D) One individual appointed by the Attomev Greneral 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the law 
enforcement community at the local level. 
"(E) One individual appointed by the Attorney (general 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the automotive 
recycling industry. 
"(F) One individual appointed by the Attorney Greneral 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the automotive 
repair industry. 
"(G) One individual appointed by the Attorney General 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the automotive 
rebuilders industry. 
"(H) One individual appointed by the Attorney General 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the automotive 
parts suppliers industnr. 
"(I) One individual appointed by the Attorney General 
who is qualified to represent the interests of the insurance 
industry. 
"(J) One individual appointed by the Attorney (General 
who is qualified to represent the interests of consumers. 
"(4) DUTIES.—^The advisory committee established under 
paragraph (2) shall make recommendations regarding— 
"(A) the development and implementation of the 
National Stolen Auto Part Information System, and 
106 STAT. 3400 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—CKrr. 25, 1992 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
15 use 2034. 
"(B) the development and implementation of a verifica-
tion system as required by section 607. 
"(5) REPORT.—^Not later ihan 6 months after the date of 
the enactment of the Anti Car Theft Act of 1992, the advisory 
committee established under paragraph (2) shall submit to 
the Attorney General, the Secretsuy of Transportation, and 
the Congress a report containing the committee's recom-
mendations.". 
"(e) Upon request b^ an insurance carrier, a person lawfully 
selling or distributing m interstate commerce passenger motor 
vehicle parts, or an individual or enterprise engaged in the business 
of repairing passenger motor vehicles, the Attorney General, or 
the entity or entities designated by the Attorney General, shall 
immediately provide such insurance carrier or person with a deter-
mination as to whether the information system under subsection 
(a) conttdns a record of an passenger motor vehicle or a i>a8senger 
motor vehicle part bearing a particular vehicle identification num-
ber or derivative tiiereof having been reported stolen. The Attorney 
General may require such verification as the Attorney General 
deems appropriate to ensure that the request is legitimate and 
will not compromise the security of the system. 
"(f) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out this section. "Hie information svstem 
established under subsection (a) shall be effective as provided in 
the rules promulfi^ted by the Attorney General.". 
(e) STUDY.-—Section 617 of the Motor Vehicle Information and 
Cost Savings Act (as so redesignated) is amended in subsection 
(aXD by striking "after the date of tiie enactment of this title" 
and in subsection (bXD by striking ''after the promulgation of 
the standard required by this title" and inserting in each place 
"after the date of the enactment of the Anti Car Theft Act of 
1992". 
TITLE IV—EXPORT OF STOLEN 
AUTOMOBILES 
19 u s e 1646b. 
19 u s e 1646c. 
SEC. 401. RANDOM CUSTOBIS INSPECTIONS FOR STOLEN AUTO-
MOBILES BEING EXPORTED. 
Part VI of title IV of the Tariff Act of 1930 is amended by 
inserting after section 646 the following new sections: 
'<SEC. 646A. RANDOM CUSTOBIS INSPECTIONS FOR STOLEN AUTO-
MOBILES BEING EXPORTED. 
The Commissioner of Customs shall direct customs ofi&cers 
to conduct at random inspections of automobiles, and of shippii^ 
containers that may contain automobiles that are being exported, 
for purposes of determining whether such automobiles were stolen. 
"SEC. 648B. EXPORT REPORTING REQUIREMENT. 
The Commissioner of Customs shall require all persons or 
entities exporting used automobiles, including automobiles exported 
for personal use, by air or ship to provide to the Customs Service, 
at least 72 hours before the export, tne vehicle identification number 
of each such automobile and proof of ownership of such automobile. 
The Commissioner shall establish specific criteria for randomly 
selecting used automobiles scheduled to be exported, consistent 
PUBLIC LAW 102-519—OCT. 25, 1992 
106 STAT. 3401 
with the risk of stolen automobiles being exported and shall check 
the vehicle identification number of each automobile selected pursu-
ant to such criteria against the information in the National Crime 
Information Center to determine whether such automobile has been 
reported stolen. At the request of the Director of the Federal Bureau 
of Investigation, the Commissioner shall make available to the 
Director ail vehicle identification nimibers obtained under this 
section.". 
SEC. 402. PILOT STUDY AUTHORIZING UTILITY OF NONDESTRUCTIVE 
19 USC 1646b 
EXAMINATION SYSTEM. 
^o^-
The Secretary of the Treasiiry, acting through the Commis-
sioner of Customs, shall conduct a pilot study of the utility of 
a nondestructive examination system to be used for inspection 
of containers that may <:ontain automobiles leaving the country 
for the purpose of determining whether such automobiles have 
been stolen. 
Approved October 25, 1992. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4542: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-851, Pt. 1 (Ck)mm. on the Judiciary), Ft. 2 (Comm. on 
Energy and C!ommerce), and Pt. 3 (Ck)mm. on Ways and Means). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992): 
Oct. 5, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 8, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992): 
Oct. 25, Presidential statement.