Interpretation ID: aiam4026
Attorney at Law
111 Addison
Elmhurst
IL 60126;
Dear Ms. Nedoba: Your letter of September 4, 1985, to the Consumer Product Safet Commission was forwarded to our agency for reply, since we issue safety standards for motor vehicles under the authority of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1381 *et seq*.). You asked if there are regulations that would apply to a safety belt used in a race car.; Our agency has issued Safety Standard No. 209, *Seat Belt Assemblies* which sets performance requirements for safety belts used in motor vehicles. A copy of the standard is enclosed. Section 102(3) of the Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1391(B)) defines a motor vehicle as 'any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power manufactured primarily for the public streets, roads, and highways,....' Whether a race car would be considered a motor vehicle covered by our standard would be determined by whether it was used on the street or whether it was intended and sold solely for off-road use. If the race car was manufactured for off-road (or non-public road) use, the standard would not apply.; If you have any further questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel