Interpretation ID: aiam2255
President
Trail-O-Matic
Inc.
P.O. Box 2367
Jacksonville
FL 32203;
Dear Mr. Chancey: This responds to your March 8, 1976, request to know the status of 'lo trailers' under Standard No. 121, *Air Brake Systems*, whether the exclusion for 'heavy hauler' trailers terminates September 1, 1976, and what the penalties are for non-compliance with an applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard. You indicate that you may know of some manufacturers that do not comply with Standard No. 121 and suggest that all persons concerned with the standard be advised of the status of the regulation.; Without description of the 'log trailers' in question, it is no possible to determine if Standard No. 121 applies to them. Most pole trailers and trailers equipped with any axle having a gross axle weight rating of 24,000 pounds or more are examples of vehicles that may be excluded from the standard. Mr. Herlihy of this office has already sent applicable documents to you under separate cover. The exclusion from the standard for 'heavy hauler' trailers was extended recently and now terminates September 1, 1977.; Section 108(a)(1) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Ac (15 U.S.C. S1397(a)(1)) prohibits the sale and false or misleading certification of a non-complying vehicle to which a standard is applicable. Each violation of these provisions makes the manufacturer liable to a maximum civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation, up to a total of $800,000 for a related series of violations. (15 U.S.C. S1398). You may advise our Office of Standards Enforcement of any violations of which you are aware.; The NHTSA finds it impracticable to notify directly every intereste person of each of its regulatory actions. Each action is made public and is widely distributed by commercial services and trade associations. Enclosed is an information sheet that explains the various means to obtain copies of our regulations.; Yours truly, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel