1361
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention StatutesMandatory
Theft Prevention Standard
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA)
original
mandatory component identification standard for high theft "passenger car"
lines
became effective on April 25, 1986. The original standard was not
applicable to
vans, trucks, motorcycles, trailers, buses, or low theft passenger car
lines, nor
did the original standard cover any component on a 1986 or prior model year
vehicle. Once a "passenger car" line became subject to the standard,
coverage
continues until the line ceases to be manufactured, or the line receives a
"black
box" exception pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 543 from NHTSA because of
additional
anti theft features that the car contains as standard equipment. As new
"passenger cars" were introduced, NHTSA would make a determination as to
which
would likely be high theft lines, and such lines became subject to the theft
prevention (parts marking) standard.
The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 expanded the universe of vehicles
subject to parts marking. The new standard extends to "passenger motor
vehicles," including certain multipurpose passenger vehicles, except light
duty
trucks, and extends to not more than 50% of the lines not designated as high
theft lines. The current parts marking regulations appear at 49 C.F.R. Part
542
et seq.
The mandatory standard now covers these eighteen components and
their
replacements on the covered passenger motor vehicle lines: (1) engine; (2)
transmission; (3) right front fender; (4) left front fender; (5) hood; (6)
right
front door; (7) left front door; (8) right rear door (if present); (9) left
rear
door (if present); (10) sliding or cargo door(s); (11) front bumper; (12)
rear
bumper; (13) right rear quarter panel (passenger cars); (14) left rear
quarter
panel (passenger cars); and (15) right side assembly (MPVs); (16) left side
assembly MPVs); (17) pickup box, and/or cargo box LDTs; (18) rear door(s);
(both
doors in case of double doors) decklid, tailgate, or hatchback (whichever is
present). In most cases the full 17 character VIN of the vehicle itself
must be
placed on the original component. While the number can be stamped into the
component, most manufacturers are applying a counterfeit resistant label
that
contains the VIN. The label will self-destruct if it is removed. The
number is
to remain with the component until the component ceases to exist.
New replacements for the required components must contain the
registered trademark of the manufacturer, the letter "R" to indicate
"replacement," and the letters "DOT" which reflects the manufacturer's
certification of compliance with the mandatory standard. Only the
components
originally attached to a car will contain a specific VIN, which, as
mentioned
above, will be the VIN assigned to the particular passenger car to which the
component was attached.
[cited in USAM 9-61.700] | |