Interpretation ID: aiam1853
Director of Safety
CINCUSAREUR
APO NY 09403;
Dear Mr. Blanda: This responds to your question whether a recent amendment of Standar No. 208, *Occupant crash protection*, which modified the requirement for a seat belt warning system, would make legal the disconnection of warning systems which conformed to earlier requirements.; The answer to your question concerning vehicle owners is yes Disconnection of safety devices is subject to a Federal statue, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 1391 et seq.), as recently amended (P.L. 93-492). For your information, I will summarize the relevant provisions on disconnection.; The Safety Act prohibits knowing disconnection of safety devices afte the first retail sale, as well as before this sale, with three exceptions.; First, after December 26, 1974, a *private party* may disconnect *any devices *after* sale. Generally, a manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or repair business may not knowingly disconnect safety devices except during repair of the vehicle.; Second, after December 26, 1974, any person, including a new ca dealer, may disconnect the ignition interlock and *continuous* buzzer (but *not* the warning *light*) at any time *after* sale of 1974- or 1975-model passenger car. This does not include the 8-second buzzer found on the newest 1975 models.; Third, a *dealer* may disconnect the ignition interlock an *continuous* buzzer (but *not* the warning *light) at the request of the first purchaser *before sale* of the new vehicle. This is the only exception to the rule that no person may disconnect any safety devices prior to sale. This does not include disconnection of the 8-second buzzer found on the newest 1975 models.; Yours truly, Richard B. Dyson, Acting Chief Counsel