2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 31 - Motor and Other Vehicles › Chapter 31-53 - The 2010 Automobile Airbag Fraud Prevention Act › Section 31-53-5. - Airbag antitheft.

§ 31-53-5. Airbag antitheft.
(a) Purchase, sale, or installation of new or salvaged airbag
— records.
(1)
Any person engaged in the business of purchasing, selling, or installing salvaged airbags shall maintain a manual and/or electronic record of the purchase, sale, or installation, which shall include the identification number of the airbag; the vehicle identification number of the motor vehicle from which the salvaged airbag was removed; the name, address, and driver’s license number or other means of identification of the person from whom the salvaged airbag was purchased; and, in the event that the salvaged airbag is installed, the vehicle identification number of the vehicle into which the airbag is installed. No new or salvaged airbag shall be sold or installed which is or has been subject to a specific manufacturer’s or appropriate authority’s notice of recall.
(2)
In the case of a new replacement airbag, any person engaged in installing any airbag shall maintain the name and tax identification number of the supplier of the airbag and record the vehicle identification number of the vehicle into which the airbag is installed, as well as the identification number of the airbag being installed. Additionally, the airbag identification of the previously deployed airbag being replaced shall be recorded. Upon request of any law enforcement officer of this state or other authorized representative of the agency charged with administration of this section, the installer shall produce such records and permit said agent or police officer to examine them.
(3)
Any person who sells a salvaged airbag or who installs a salvaged airbag must disclose to the purchaser and vehicle owner that the airbag is salvaged.
(4)
The person who installs a new or salvaged airbag shall submit an affidavit to the vehicle owner or their representative stating that the replacement airbag had been properly installed and received from the owner or their representatives written consent for its installation.
(5)
All records must be maintained for not less than five (5) years following the transaction, and may be inspected during normal business hours by any law enforcement officer of this state or other authorized representative of the agency charged with administration of this chapter.
(6)
Upon request, information within a portion of such record pertaining to a specific transaction must be provided to the insurer and the vehicle owner.
(7)
Persons engaged in the business of selling salvaged airbags shall comply with regulations developed by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles.
(8)
State rules regarding the sale of salvaged airbags shall include, but not be limited to, the following standards:
(i)
Identification of the supplier of the unit;
(ii)
Identification of the recipient vehicle, including VIN, year, make, and model;
(iii)
Identification of the airbag module cover color (and color code if available);
(iv)
Identification of the donor vehicle, including VIN, year, make, and model;
(v)
Supplier’s internal stock number or locator number;
(vi)
Indication of source of interchange information (i.e. interchange manual/part number, OEM information, etc.);
(vii)
A supplier certificate indicating that all the requirements of the inspection protocol have been successfully achieved and identifying the person who completed the inspection; and
(viii)
A document containing the vehicle description including the year, make, and model for which the airbag system component is required when being sold to the end-user.
(9)
Salvaged airbags conforming to such standards shall be accompanied by a certificate of conformance that shall be retained by the installer.
(b) Prohibition
— penalties.
(1)
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly possess, sell, or install a stolen airbag; an airbag from which the manufacturer’s part number labeling and/or VIN has been removed, altered, or defaced; or an airbag taken from a stolen motor vehicle. Any person who violates this subdivision commits a felony.
(2)
Any person who fails to maintain complete and accurate records, to prepare complete and accurate documents, to provide information from such record upon request, or to properly disclose that an airbag is salvaged, as required by this chapter, commits a misdemeanor.
History of Section.
P.L. 2010, ch. 123, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 319, § 1.