Interpretation ID: 9667
Illinois Dept. of Transportation
Division of Traffic Safety
3215 Executive Park Drive
P.O. Box 19212
Springfield, IL 62794-9212
Dear Mr. March:
This responds to your letter of February 14, 1994, requesting an explanation of the compliance date for vehicles manufactured in two or more stages of a recent final rule amending Standard No. 217, Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release (57 FR 49413; November 2, 1992).
The effective date for the November 2 final rule is May 2, 1994. Only vehicles manufactured on or after the effective date of an applicable requirement in a Federal motor vehicle safety standard must comply with that requirement. If a vehicle is manufactured in two or more stages, the final stage manufacturer is required to certify that the vehicle complies with "the standards in effect on the date of manufacture of the incomplete vehicle, the date of final completion, or a date between those two dates." (49 CFR Part 568.6). The choice of a date is the manufacturer's.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any other questions, please contact Walter Myers of my staff at this address or by phone at (202) 366-2992.
Sincerely,
John Womack Acting Chief Counsel
ref:586#217 d:3/17/94