Interpretation ID: aiam4036
Esq.
Assistant Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
American Samoa Government
Pago Pago
American Samoa 96799;
Dear Mr. Levi: Thank you for your letter of September 18, 1985, to Mr. Hal Paris o this agency requesting information on the bumper requirements that apply to small trucks. You also asked about the effect of our standards on vehicles sold in your Territory. Your letter was referred to my office for reply. I hope the following discussion answers your questions.; Under the authority of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safet Act (15 U.S.C. 1381 *et seq*.) and the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1901 *et seq*.), we have issued Part 581, *Bumper Standard* (49 CFR Part 581), a copy of which is enclosed. The Part 581 standard applies only to passenger motor vehicles. Section (2)(1) of the Cost Savings Act (15 U.S.C. 1901(1)) defines a 'passenger motor vehicle' as a vehicle designed to carry 12 persons or less, except a motorcycle or a truck not designed primarily as a passenger carrier, but is instead designed primarily to carry cargo. Therefore, under Federal law, a small utility truck may be sold without any rear bumper.; Both the Vehicle Safety Act and the Cost Savings Act apply to moto vehicles manufactured in or imported into the United States. Both Acts define the term 'State' to include American Samoa (15 U.S.C. 1391(8) and 1901(16)). Therefore, the requirements of the Part 581 standard would apply to vehicles sold in American Samoa.; If you have any further questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Erika Z. Jones, Chief Counsel