Interpretation ID: aiam1387
9624 4th St.
N. E.
Everett
WA 98205;
Dear Mrs. Thompson: I would like to thank you for your interest in the safety benefits o the interlock system and for forwarding the Seattle newspaper advertisement which offers a method to bypass the seat belt interlock.; The interlock standard only requires that new vehicles be equipped wit required safety equipment. Therefore a purchaser may have the system modified to accommodate circumstances, such as physical incapacity, which makes use of the belts unwise or inconvenient.; The advertisement of a system to circumvent the standard, however, is different matter, and whether it is legally permitted is a conclusion which the courts will have to determine. This agency is reviewing the legal remedies available which might permit removal of such a product from the market. Having promulgated the interlock option as part of the occupant crash protection standard, whose validity was sustained in court, we are committed to taking all possible actions to insure its effectiveness.; Sincerely, Lawrence R. Schneider, Chief Counsel