Interpretation ID: 1969truck

Mr. John Dunn
1392 Webb Rd. Apt. 28
Lakewood, OH 44107

Dear Mr. Dunn:

This is in response to your recent inquiry regarding requirements for seat belts in light trucks. Specifically, you ask if Federal regulations required 1969 model year pickup trucks to be equipped with seat belts. The answer to your question is no.

Some background information about our agency may be helpful. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is authorized under Title 49, Chapter 301 of the U.S. Code to issue Federal motor vehicle safety standards that set performance requirements for new motor vehicles and new items of motor vehicle equipment. Federal law prohibits the manufacture or sale of any new motor vehicle or new item of motor vehicle equipment which does not conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

One of the standards that NHTSA has issued is Standard No. 208, Occupant Crash Protection (49 CFR 571.208), which specifies occupant protection requirements based on vehicle type and seating position within the vehicle. The requirements for trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less, which have since been amended, originally required that trucks in this weight category manufactured on or after July 1, 1971, must be equipped either with an automatic occupant protection system or a Type 1 (lap) or Type II (lap and shoulder) seat belt at each designated seating position. As your 1969 model year truck was built before January 1, 1972, it was not required to have seat belts at any seating position.

I hope that this is responsive to your inquiry. If you have any questions, please contact Otto Matheke of my staff at 202-366-5253.

Sincerely,
Frank Seales, Jr.
Chief Counsel
ref:208
d.10/21/99