Interpretation ID: nht93-4.8

DATE: May 21, 1993

FROM: Carl W. Vogt -- Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board

TO: Howard Smolkin -- Acting Administrator, NHTSA

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 6-11-93 from Howard M. Smolkin to Laura J. Platter (A41; Part 571)

TEXT: Enclosed is correspondence received from Honorable Barbara Mikulski on behalf of Mrs. Laura J. Platter regarding the classification of minivans.

We have advised Senator Mikulski that her correspondence would be forwarded to you for your review.

Thank you for your time and attention.

May 11, 1993

Mr. Brent Bahler Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs 490 L'Enfant Plaza East, S.W. 6th Floor Washington, DC 20594

Dear Mr. Bahler:

Because of the desire of this office to be responsive to all inquiries and communications, your consideration of the attached correspondence from Laura J. Platter is requested. Please respond directly to Ms. Platter and send a copy to Chip Paucek of my staff.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Mikulski United States Senator

BAM:cjp

Enclosure

6662 Mohawk Court Columbia, MD 21046

January 29, 1993

Dear Senator Mikulski:

In reference to minivans: rather than impose a tariff on imported minivans, I think all such vehicles should be reclassified as passenger vehicles so that they come under the same safety regulations as passenger cars. We have driven vans since 1970, and we continue to be angry at Congress for catering to the auto manufacturers, and at the manufacturers for using the "truck" classification to get away with providing less in the way of safety features for their passengers. This is becoming even more of a potential scandal as more and more young families use minivans.

Please take the lead in moving to classify minivans as passenger cars. And please don't let us get into the vicious circle of punitive tariffs. Times are changing, and industry has to make painful changes too.

Sincerely,

Laura J. Platter (Mrs. John Platter)