Interpretation ID: nht69-2.29

DATE: 12/05/69

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Francis Armstrong; NHTSA

TO: La France Precision Casting Company

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of February 11, 1969, to Mr. Lowell K. Bridwell. Your letter was misplaced and did not reach me until now. I apoligise for the delay.

You submitted a label, asking whether it would comply with the Certification Regulations for motor vehicles, with particular reference to campers, trailers and motor homes. The current Certification Regulation for motor vehicles, published July 9, 1969 (34 F.R. 11560, copy enclosed), require that the vehicle label contain, in the order listed:

1. name of manufacturer;

2. month and year during which manufacture of the vehicle is completed;

3. the following statement --

"THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS IN EFFECT ON THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE:"

4. vehicle identification number;

5. (for multipurpose passenger vehicles only, as defined in 49 CFR @ 371.3) the words. "TYPE MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE."

You should note that the above requirements only apply to complete vehicles, which include motor homes and trailers, and not to items of equipment, such as campers, which will be only part of a vehicle. No regulations have been issued as yet for the certification of equipment. Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, equipment that either is covered by a standard or, as in the case of most campers, contains other equipment such as glazing that is covered by a standard, must carry a label or tag certifying that the equipment conforms to applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The label that you submitted differs from the above requirements in several respects. If you or your customers have further questions concerning the certification requirements, we will be pleased to answer them.

ENCLOSURE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY BUREAU -- MVSFS