REGISTERED IMPORTER NEWSLETTER No. 18

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance

December 2000


    PENALTIES

    On November 1, 2000, the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation (TREAD) Act increased the maximum penalties that may be accessed. The table below summarizes the maximum penalty that may be assessed for violations occurring after November 1, 2000.

    Violation Old New
    49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 Motor Vehicle Safety
    -- single violation
    -- related series of violations
    $1,100
    $925,000
    $5,000
    $15,000,000
    49 U.S.C. 30166 Inspections, investigations, and records
    -- single violation
    -- related series of violations
      $5,000/day
    $15,000,000

    This change is also reflected in 49 CFR Part 578.
    To view the complete document, visit the GPO web site at:
    http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html
    and use the following selection criteria (quotation marks must be used)

    Issue Date -- ON -- 11/14/2000
    Search Terms – “Registered Importer”


    RECALLS

    The TREAD Act also extended the period for which a manufacturer/RI must provide remedy free of charge from 8 years to 10 years. 49 CFR 592.6(g)(2)(i) has been amended to reflect this. The recall service policies that you provide with vehicles must be revised to extend the period of coverage to 10 years.


    RI REGULATIONS

    NHTSA is proposing major changes to regulations on Registered Importers, 49 CFR Part 594. The proposed changes deal primarily with the importation of vehicles from Canada and the requirements for RI registration applications, RI duties, and suspension or revocation of an RI registration. The closing date for comments on the notice, which was published on November 20, 2000, is January 4, 2001.

    To view the complete document, visit the GPO web site at:
    http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html
    and use the following selection criteria (quotation marks must be used)

    Issue Date -- ON -- 11/20/2000
    Search Terms – “Part II”