Interpretation ID: nht94-7.25

DATE: March 24, 1994

FROM: John Womack -- Acting Chief Counsel, NHTSA

TO: Gary D. March -- Director, Illinois Dept. of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety (Springfield, IL)

TITLE: None

ATTACHMT: Attached to letter dated 2/14/94 from Gary D. March to John Womack (OCC 9667)

TEXT:

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 S568.6). The choice of a date is the manufacturers.

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.