Interpretation ID: nht89-1.91

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 05/18/89

FROM: BOB SANDBLOM -- BOOKLAND PRESIDENT

TO: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

TITLE: NONE

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 06/19/89 FROM STEPHEN P. WOOD -- NHTSA TO BOB SANDBLOM; REDBOOK A33 [B]; STANDARD 108; LETTER DATED 09/03/87 FROM ERIKA Z. JONES -- NHTSA TO DAVID M. ROMANSKY; STANDARD 108

TEXT: Dear Department of Transportation-

I thought you might want to know about a disturbing trend I have noticed in the Phoenix area and suspect exists across the country. Car dealers are putting their name and logo on the red lens of the high mounted brake light inside the rear window. Not only is this a nuisance for the car buyer to get rid of but the black letters and logo can take up more than half of the light producing area.

Surely it is not legal for a car dealer to defeat this federally mandated safety feature any more than it would be legal for them to remove a car's seat belts before offering it for sale. I have seen several different dealers' names in the lights but th e one I remember from seeing the most recently is Pitre Buick of Scottsdale.

Just thought you would like to know.

Sincerely,