Interpretation ID: aiam1328
Ass't. Vice President
Mercedes-Benz of North America
Inc.
One Mercedes Drive
P.O. Box 350
Montvale
NJ 07645;
Dear Mr. Gerth: This is in reply to your letter of September 24, 1973, concerning th conformity of an emergency feature of Mercedes-Benz's interlock system to S7.4.3 of Standard No. 208.; The feature you describe would permit the engine starting system to b operated without belt use for a period of 3 minutes after an activation knob inside the engine compartment is depressed. If the vehicle stalls, the driver would have to leave his seat, open the hood, depress the knob, close the hood, and return to his seat, at which point the interlock would be deactivated for the 3-minute period. This bypass feature would apparently supplement other convenience aspects provided pursuant to S7.4.3.; After review of the Mercedes system we have determined that it woul not result in bypassing the interlock in situations where that would not be permissible under S7.4.3 or S7.4.4. We therefore conclude that it is an allowable system and that it may be installed.; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Assistant Chief Counsel