Interpretation ID: nht89-1.14

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 02/03/89

FROM: STEVEN P. ELLIOT -- CITY OF SPARKS ATTORNEY

TO: HARRY REID -- UNITED STATES SENATOR

TITLE: AUTHORIZATION TO DISCONNECT AUTOMOBILE AIR BAGS

ATTACHMT: ATTACHED TO LETTER DATED 05/25/89 FROM STEPHEN P. WOOD -- NHTSA TO HARRY REID -- SENATE; REDBOOK A33 [4]; VSA 108 [A] [2] [A]; STANDARD 208; LETTER DATED 03/08/89 FROM PATRICIA KLINGER WATHEN -- DOT TO HARRY REID -- SENATE; LETTER DATED 02/23/8 9 FROM HARRY REID -- SENATE TO DOT; REPORT FROM DAVID J. ROMEO AND JOHN B. MORRIS, DRIVER AIR BAG POLICE FLEET DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM A 24 MONTH PROGRESS REPORT AT EXPERIMENTAL SAFETY VEHICLE CONFERENCE OXFORD, ENGLAND, JULY 1-5, 1985; RESEARCH NOTES ON C RASH EXPERIENCE OF GOVERNMENT SPONSORED AIR BAG VEHICLES THROUGH 03/31/89, FROM VERNON ROBERTS

TEXT: Dear Senator Reid:

The City of Sparks Police Department just received delivery of six Plymouth Grand Fury police patrol vehicles. These automobiles are equipped with air bags and have a sticker on the dashboard stating that it is a violation of federal law to disconnec t the air bag. Since the Police Department is finding it difficult to engage in normal police activities with the air bags installed as they are and the City of Sparks does not want to violate a federal law, we are hoping you will help us obtain permiss ion to disconnect the air bags in our new vehicles.

The Sparks Police Department is finding it difficult to work with the air bags because police cars are often required to push disabled vehicles out of the travel lanes of a street or highway. The air bags are activated when the front bumper of the pa trol car receives a certain amount of pressure. We believe that the pressure threshold will be reached when a patrol car bumper is used to push another vehicle. This is particularly so if the disabled vehicle has been damaged so that its wheels do not turn freely or if the vehicles bump together due to an uneven surface. We have been informed that air bags are not reusable, and the replacement cost for an air bag is approximately $ 700.00.

We believe the United States Department of Transportation can authorize the City of Sparks to disconnect the air bags permanently or temporarily. We would like to receive authorization to disconnect the air bags on our police patrol vehicles so the v ehicles then can be safely and economically used to push disabled vehicles. Any assistance you can provide us in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely yours,