NHTSA Interpretation File Search
Overview
NHTSA's Chief Counsel interprets the statutes that the agency administers and the standards and regulations that it issues. Members of the public may submit requests for interpretation, and the Chief Counsel will respond with a letter of interpretation. These interpretation letters look at the particular facts presented in the question and explain the agency’s opinion on how the law applies given those facts. These letters of interpretation are guidance documents. They do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. They are intended only to provide information to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.
Understanding NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files
NHTSA makes its letters of interpretation available to the public on this webpage.
An interpretation letter represents the opinion of the Chief Counsel based on the facts of individual cases at the time the letter was written. While these letters may be helpful in determining how the agency might answer a question that another person has if that question is similar to a previously considered question, do not assume that a prior interpretation will necessarily apply to your situation.
- Your facts may be sufficiently different from those presented in prior interpretations, such that the agency's answer to you might be different from the answer in the prior interpretation letter;
- Your situation may be completely new to the agency and not addressed in an existing interpretation letter;
- The agency's safety standards or regulations may have changed since the prior interpretation letter was written so that the agency's prior interpretation no longer applies; or
- Some combination of the above, or other, factors.
Searching NHTSA’s Online Interpretation Files
Before beginning a search, it’s important to understand how this online search works. Below we provide some examples of searches you can run. In some cases, the search results may include words similar to what you searched because it utilizes a fuzzy search algorithm.
Single word search
Example: car
Result: Any document containing that word.
Multiple word search
Example: car seat requirements
Result: Any document containing any of these words.
Connector word search
Example: car AND seat AND requirements
Result: Any document containing all of these words.
Note: Search operators such as AND or OR must be in all capital letters.
Phrase in double quotes
Example: "headlamp function"
Result: Any document with that phrase.
Conjunctive search
Example: functionally AND minima
Result: Any document with both of those words.
Wildcard
Example: headl*
Result: Any document with a word beginning with those letters (e.g., headlamp, headlight, headlamps).
Example: no*compl*
Result: Any document beginning with the letters “no” followed by the letters “compl” (e.g., noncompliance, non-complying).
Not
Example: headlamp NOT crash
Result: Any document containing the word “headlamp” and not the word “crash.”
Complex searches
You can combine search operators to write more targeted searches.
Note: The database does not currently support phrase searches with wildcards (e.g., “make* inoperative”).
Example: Headl* AND (supplement* OR auxiliary OR impair*)
Result: Any document containing words that are variants of “headlamp” (headlamp, headlights, etc.) and also containing a variant of “supplement” (supplement, supplemental, etc.) or “impair” (impair, impairment, etc.) or the word “auxiliary.”
Search Tool
NHTSA's Interpretation Files Search
| Interpretations | Date |
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ID: aiam2517OpenMr. Richard Hadley, Chief Product Engineer, Harman International Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 329, Bolivar, Tennessee 38008; Mr. Richard Hadley Chief Product Engineer Harman International Industries Inc. P.O. Box 329 Bolivar Tennessee 38008; Dear Mr. Hadley: This responds to your February 2, 1977, request for approval of Harma Industries procedure for measuring the average reflectance value of its 'Nite-Ban' rearview mirror. You describe the 'Nite-Ban' as a mirror glass having a band of low reflectance horizontal to the horizon and centered between the top and bottom of the glass. You request confirmation that the 'Nite-Ban' mirror conforms to the requirements of Standard No. 111, *Rearview Mirrors*.; Paragraph S11 of Standard No. 111, 49 CFR 571.111, specifies that th *average* reflectance value of any mirror required by the standard shall be at least 35 percent, determined in accordance with SAE Recommended Practice J964a. If the average reflectance value of the reflective surface of a 'Nite-Ban' mirror is at least 35 percent, the mirror is acceptable under Standard No. 111. However, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to determine if an item of motor vehicle equipment complies with applicable safety standards. The agency cannot grant prior approval.; Further, the agency cannot approve a manufacturer's test procedures i advance. Therefore, we cannot confirm that your proposed procedure for measuring the average reflectance value of 'Nite-Ban' mirrors is an acceptable procedure. It is the manufacturer's responsibility to exercise sound engineering judgement in determining that its vehicle meet the performance levels prescribed in the safety standards.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2560OpenMr. R. W. Hildebrandt, Group Director of Engineering, Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, The Bendix Corporation, 901 Cleveland Street, Elyria, OH 44035; Mr. R. W. Hildebrandt Group Director of Engineering Heavy Vehicle Systems Group The Bendix Corporation 901 Cleveland Street Elyria OH 44035; Dear Mr. Hildebrandt: This responds to Bendix Corporation's March 29, 1977, request fo confirmation that the manual adjustment of automatic adjusters is acceptable following the burnish procedures of Standard No. 121, *Air Brake Systems*, at the option of the manufacturer.; The procedure that you recommend is not permitted by any provision o Standard No. 121. The NHTSA would consider some provision to deal with the overadjustment of automatic adjusters upon receipt of technical data showing justification for such action. Based on consideration of the data received and a petition for amendment, the agency could commence a rulemaking proceeding in accordance with established procedures.; I have enclosed a copy of a similar interpretation made to Rockwel International.; Sincerely, Frank A. Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2130OpenMr. Bruce J. Smith, Engineering Services Department, Bucyrus- Erie Company, South Milwaukee, WI 53172; Mr. Bruce J. Smith Engineering Services Department Bucyrus- Erie Company South Milwaukee WI 53172; Dear Mr. Smith: This responds to Bucyrus-Erie's October 8, 1975, suggestion that th terms 'unloaded vehicle weight' and 'passenger-carrying capacity' be defined in 49 CFR S 571.3 to reflect explanations of them that appeared in the preamble of recent NHTSA rulemaking on Standard No. 121, *Air Brake Systems*. (40 FR 38160, August 27, 1975). You believe that removable portions of a vehicle that are essential to its function (e.g., the boom on a mobile crane) should not be considered part of the vehicle's 'cargo' as that term is used in the present definition of unloaded vehicle weight.; The NHTSA explained in the preamble to which you refer that th unloaded vehicle weight is easily determined by, in most cases, subtracting the weight of cargo and occupants from the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) assigned to the vehicle by the manufacturer. We believe that the term 'cargo' clearly indicates that the manufacturer must only subtract the weight of commodities or freight that the vehicle is designed to carry as a transportation function. Presumably the manufacturer of a mobile crane would have no difficulty in concluding under the present definition of 'unloaded vehicle weight' that its vehicle does not transport 'cargo' and that no value must be subtracted from the GVWR on this account.; It does appear that the term 'passenger-carrying capacity' used i Standard No. 121 could be expanded to reflect the exclusion of the operating crew from consideration as passengers. In response to your request we are considering an amendment of S3 to make this concept clearer.; Sincerely, Frank A. Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam3371OpenMr. Stephen E. Mulligan, International Harvester, 401 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; Mr. Stephen E. Mulligan International Harvester 401 North Michigan Avenue Chicago IL 60611; Dear Mr. Mulligan: This is in response to your letter of October 1, 1980, in which you as whether compliance with 49 CFR 567, Certification, will satisfy the requirements of S4.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115, 49 CFR 571.115.; Section 4.3 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 115 require that the vehicle identification number (VIN) 'appear clearly and indelibly upon either a part of the vehicle other than the glazing that is not designed to be removed except for repair or upon a separate plate or label which is permanently affixed to such a part.' S4.3.1 requires each character to appear in a capital, sans serif typeface. In the case of passenger cars and trucks of 10,000 pounds or less GVWR, each character must have a minimum height of 4 mm. S4.4 specifies that the VIN for passenger cars and trucks of 10,000 pounds or less GVWR shall be located within the passenger compartment.; Section 567.4 of Part 567, Certification (49 CFR 567), requires tha the certification label be permanently affixed to the vehicle, and display the vehicle identification number. Consequently, for all vehicles except passenger cars and trucks of 10,000 pounds or less GVWR, compliance with S 567.4 of Part 567 would also effect compliance with S4.3 of Standard No. 115 so long as capital, sans serif typeface was used.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2999OpenMr. R. M. Premo, Vehicle Safety Activities, Sheller-Globe Corporation, 3555 St. Johns Road, Lima, OH 45804; Mr. R. M. Premo Vehicle Safety Activities Sheller-Globe Corporation 3555 St. Johns Road Lima OH 45804; Dear Mr. Premo: This is in response to your letter of February 15, 1979, concerning th definition of 'forward control' vehicle contained in 49 CFR 571.3. Your specific concern is how to measure a vehicle's length to determine if 'the steering wheel hub is in the forward quarter of the vehicle length.'; Overall vehicle length should be determined by measuring the maximu longitudinal distance between the foremost point on the front bumper face bar and the rearmost point on the rear bumper face bar. In the context of the Part 581 Bumper Standard (49 CFR 581), the agency considers bumper guards to be part of the bumper face bar if they are contacted by the impact ridge of the pendulum test device used in compliance testing (43 F.R. 20804, May, (sic) 15, 1978). For the purposes of determining vehicle length, the agency will consider bumper guards as a part of the vehicle bumper face bar and thus included in the measurement of vehicle length. Components such as a permanent or fold-down step which are not associated with the bumper system's function are not considered part of the bumper face far for the purposes of Part 581 Bumper Standard (43 F.R. 40230, Sept. 11, 1978). Therefore, the agency will not consider a permanent or fold-down step as a part of the bumper face bar for the purposes of determining vehicle length.; I have enclosed for your information a notice of proposed rulemakin which would extend Standards No. 201, 203 and 204 to forward control vehicles. The notice also states the agency's intention to eliminate the forward control exemption found in other Federal motor vehicle safety standards.; If you have any further questions, please let me know. Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2833OpenRichard A. Brandeis, Esq., Investigative Services, Department of Public Safety, P.O. Box 1456, Atlanta, GA 30301; Richard A. Brandeis Esq. Investigative Services Department of Public Safety P.O. Box 1456 Atlanta GA 30301; Dear Mr. Brandeis: This is in reply to your letter of May 23, 1978, to Ms. Claybrook o moped helmets. You have informed us of Ga. L. 1978, Act 1476, which allows the Commissioner of the Deparment of Public Safety to develop a standard for 'moped' helmets different than that for a motorcycle helmet. You have asked whether NHTSA considers mopeds as motor vehicles 'as they relate to helmet use'. If so, must a moped helmet comply with Standard No. 218. Finally, if a separate State standard is allowable, you have asked whether Georgia could develop and implement its own standard for 'moped' helmets.; As defined in 49 CFR 571.3(b) a 'motorcycle' is 'a motor vehicle .. having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground'. We have no other definitions applicable to two-wheeled vehicles and, for purposes of compliance with the Federal motor vehicle safety standards, a 'moped' is a 'motorcycle'. Paragraph S2 of Standard No. 218 states that Federal requirements apply to helmets designed for use by motorcyclists and other motor vehicle users'. We view a moped operator as a 'motorcyclist' within the meaning of S2 and a helmet designed for use by a moped operator would have to comply with Standard No. 218. However, S2 continues by stating that Standard No. 218 applies only to 'helmets that fit headform size C' and that other sizes 'will not be covered by this standard until it is extended to those sizes by further amendment.'; Section 103(c) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1 U.S.C. 1342(d)) prohibits a State from establishing a safety standard applicable to the same aspect of performance as an existing Federal safety standard if the state standard differs from it. In our view, this means that Georgia could not establish 'moped' helmet requirements for helmets that fit size C headformns, unless they were identical to the requirements of Standard No. 218, but it could issue and implement 'moped' helmet requirements for helmets that fit other size headforms, such as A, B, and D.; While this represents an interpretation under existing Federa regulations, Georgia could petition NHTSA for rulemaking to adopt a different headgear standard for moped helmets that fit size C headform if the State, pursuant to its legislature's authorization, developed what it believed to be a more appropriate requirement. I enclose a copy of our rulemaking procedures, 49 CFR Part 552.; If you have any further questions, we will be pleased to answer them. Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam3721OpenMs. Betty Thain, Harper, Robinson & Co., 9620 N.E. Colfax, Portland, OR 97220; Ms. Betty Thain Harper Robinson & Co. 9620 N.E. Colfax Portland OR 97220; Dear Ms. Thain: This responds to your recent letter to this office, asking whether client of yours may import used tires from Japan for resale. You noted that the tires met the requirements of Japanese Industrial Standards, but do not have a DOT symbol marked on the sidewall. Such tires may not be imported into this country, except under very limited circumstances.; Section 108(a)(1)(A) of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safet Act (15 U.S.C. 1397(a)(1)(A)) specifies that 'no person shall...import into the United States any motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment manufactured on or after the date any applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standard takes effect under this title, unless it is in conformity with such standard.' You stated that your client wants to import used truck tires.; Section S6.5(a) of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 119 (4 CFR S 571.119) also requires tires for use on motor vehicles other than passenger cars to have a DOT symbol permanently labeled on the sidewall, as a certification by the manufacturer that the tire fully complies with the standard. Without such a certification, the tires are not in conformity with applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards, and the law expressly prohibits importing such tires.; There are three very narrow exceptions to this principle. First, tire which are not in compliance with applicable safety standards may be imported if the importer posts a bond with the Customs Service, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1397(b)(3), to insure that any nonconforming tires would be brought into conformity with the applicable standards (in terms of meeting performance and certification requirements). This would be very difficult for the importer, because the used tires would have to conform to new tire standards. To my knowledge, no importer has ever been able to do this with used tires.; The second exception which allows tires without a DOT symbol to b imported occurs when the importer can furnish proof that the tires were manufactured before the applicable safety standard came into effect. For tires for use on motor vehicles other than passenger cars, Standard No. 119 became effective March 1, 1975. Based on that information enclosed with your letter, it appears that the tires your client wishes to import are more recently manufactured than this date, and so this exception will not prove useful.; The third exception involves three conditions, all of which must b satisfied for the tires to be imported. Tires without a DOT symbol on the sidewall may be imported if:; (1) they are used tires for use on motor vehicles other than passenge cars,; (b) they have less than 2/32 inch of tread remaining on the tire, and (c) the tires are imported solely for the purpose of retreading. When these three conditions are met, the agency has interpreted th tires not to be 'items of motor vehicle equipment' within the meaning of the law. However, your client's tires appear to meet only the first condition.; If you have any further questions on this matter, please feel free t contact Steve Kratzke of my staff at this address, or by phone at (202) 426-2992.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam3234OpenMr. W. C. Jones, Director, Vehicle Safety Programs, American Motors Corporation, 14250 Plymouth Road, Detroit, MI 48232; Mr. W. C. Jones Director Vehicle Safety Programs American Motors Corporation 14250 Plymouth Road Detroit MI 48232; Dear Mr. Jones: This responds to your letter of January 14, 1980, requesting a interpretation concerning the proper designated seating capacity for the front seats of the 1981-model AMC Concord. Your letter states that the Concord front seats have over 50 inches of hip room as measured by SAE procedure J1100a, but you characterize the seats as 'individual' seats since they are separately adjustable. You ask whether the seats can qualify as having only two designated seating positions.; Based upon the information in your letter and on the photographs yo submitted February 22, it is our opinion that there must be three front designated seating positions in the 1981 AMC Concord. The amended definition of 'designated seating position' provides that there shall be at least three positions in any bench or split-bench seat having greater than 50 inches of hip room, unless there is some obstruction or design preventing use of the center position. Although the seats in this model are on separate tracks and are separately adjustable, they are the functional equivalent of a split bench seat when the two sections are side-by side (as illustrated in your Number One photograph). There is not sufficient space between the seats for them to qualify as separate bucket seats. Bucket seats are typically separated by at least 8 to 10 inches. The juxtaposition and design of these 'individual' seats creates a well-padded center position. Further, although the inboard buckle portion of the seat belt assemblies occupy the center position, the buckles can be easily pushed down between the seats and would not be an impediment to use of the center position (as illustrated in your photograph Number Three).; For these 'individual' seats to qualify as having only two designate seating positions, it is our opinion that they would have to be much further apart, as is true of typical bucket seats, since they currently provide over 50 inches of hip room. Alternatively, the buckle ends of the seat belt assemblies would have to be on much stiffer cables that could not be moved out of the way or pushed between the seats. Moreover, these buckle ends must extend far enough onto the seat to provide true obstructions to use of the center position.; Finally, I would emphasize that this letter only represents th agency's opinion based on the information supplied in your submissions. The NHTSA does not pass approval on any vehicle design, for any safety standards, prior to the actual events that underlie certification. It is up to the manufacturer to determine whether its vehicles comply with all applicable safety standards and regulations, and to certify the vehicles in accordance with that determination.; Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam1209OpenMr. Erik Sundelin, Trelleborgs Gummifabriks Aktiebolag, S-23101 Trelleborg, Sweden; Mr. Erik Sundelin Trelleborgs Gummifabriks Aktiebolag S-23101 Trelleborg Sweden; Dear Mr. Sundelin: This is in reply to your letter of May 9, 1973, in which you as whether certain radial passenger car tires may be imported if they are tested to see that they meet DOT requirements (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109, 49 CFR S CFR(sic) 571.109), and if the information required pursuant to paragraph S4.3 of Standard No. 109, which does not presently appear on the tires, is branded with a hot stamp on the tire sidewalls.; The NHTSA does not view with approval the importation into the Unite Stated of passenger car tires that were not originally designed and manufactured for importation into the United States. Although Standard No. 109 as presently written does not prohibit the branding of information required by the standard onto the tire, as long as the information becomes part of the actual sidewall material, it is difficult for us to understand how a manufacturer can, in branding the necessary information, readily assume that the information is in fact reflective of the tire's performance capability. To stipulate as you do that the tires will be tested to Standard No. 109 is not responsive to the issue, for in the case of the Standard No. 109 tests, which are destructive in nature, only sample testing is conducted and the tires actually imported are not themselves tested. Consequently, the testing of tires by a manufacturer that he desires to brand and import into the United Stated will only provide reliable evidence of conformity if the manufacturer's testing is of uniform batches or lots.; A similar problem is presented by a manufacturer's branding onto th tire of the identification number required by Part 574. This number is required to be based on certain facts regarding the manufacture of the tire, the week and year of manufacture. Consequently, this information must be known to the manufacturer if his identification number is to be consistent with Part 574.; In summary, the NHTSA's position regarding the branding and subsequen importation of tires not originally manufactured for importation into the United States is that although the practice is not prohibited by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, Standard No, 109, or the regulations regarding the importation of motor vehicle equipment (19 CFR 12.80), manufacturers who brand tires must base their representation of conformity to the standard and to the identifications requirements on information which, in the exercise of due care, they know to be accurate. Because such conformity is not apparent from an examination of these tires or even from post-production testing you should be aware that the NHTSA may request documentation that supports any manufacturer's representations regarding conformity.; Sincerely, Lawrence R. Schneider, Chief Counsel |
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ID: aiam2976OpenMr. J. B. H. Knight, Chief Car Safety Engineer, Rolls-Royce Motors, Crewe Cheshire, CW1 3PL, England; Mr. J. B. H. Knight Chief Car Safety Engineer Rolls-Royce Motors Crewe Cheshire CW1 3PL England; Dear Mr. Knight:#This responds to your letters of July 11, 1978, an January 18, 1979, concerning Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 101-80, *Controls and Displays*. I regret the delay in responding to your inquiry. The answers to your questions are as follows:#1. The turn signal control lever used by Rolls-Royce is mounted on the steering column and is positioned horizontally. To operate the turn signals, the lever must rotated either clock-wise or anti-clock-wise. To label the control lever and to indicate the manner of operation, Rolls- Royce is considering placing the arrows of the turn signal symbol so that they point up and down. You ask whether the standard permits that orientation of the arrows.#The answer is no. Section 5.2.1 requires that the turn signal symbol appear perceptually upright to the driver. The upright position of a symbol is determined by referring to column 3 of Table 1 of the standard. That table shows that the upright position for the turn signal symbol is with the arrows pointing horizontally. Thus, the arrows must point essentially horizontally in the motor vehicle. Complying with the perceptually upright requirement instead of reorienting the symbol to serve other purposes will aid in ensuring quick and accurate identification of the turn signal control. We wish to observe that essentially the same result as that sought by RollsRoyce (sic) in reorienting the turn signal symbol could be achieved by placing curved, thinner arrows next to the symbol to indicate mode of operation.#2. (i) You noted that differing display identification requirements for safety belts appear in FMVSS 101-80 and FMVSS 208. FMVSS 101-80 does not supersede or preempt FMVSS 208 in this area. However, the agency will soon issue a notice that will provide for use of the safety belt symbol in Table 2 of FMVSS 101-80 for the purposes of both standards.#(ii) You are correct in assuming that column 3 of Table 2 should include a reference to FMVSS 105-75 for brake system malfunction displays and a reference to FMVSS 121 for brake air pressure displays. These inadvertent omissions will be corrected in the notice mentioned above. You are also correct in assuming that the options in section 5.3.5 of FMVSS 105-75 are still available.#3. You referred to the statement in the final rule preamble that the visibility requirements of 101- 80 would be deemed satisfied even if minimal movements by the driver were necessary and suggested that this interpretation be incorporated in section 6, conditions, and amplified. The agency does not believe that this step is necessary. The agency does, however, believe it appropriate to amplify its earlier interpretation. By minimal movement, the agency meant head movement of not more than a few inches. By a 'few' inches, we mean up to approximately three inches. As to your suggestion for specifying the size of the driver to be used in determining compliance with the visibility requirements, the agency will consider this suggestion and address it at a future date.#4. You should comply with the speedometer scale requirements in FMVSS 101-80 since the labelling requirements in FMVSS 127 were deleted in the response to reconsideration petitions that was published July 27, 1978 (43 FR 32421).#Sincerely, Frank Berndt, Acting Chief Counsel; |
Request an Interpretation
You may email your request to Interpretations.NHTSA@dot.gov or send your request in hard copy to:
The Chief Counsel
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, W41-326
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20590
If you want to talk to someone at NHTSA about what a request for interpretation should include, call the Office of the Chief Counsel at 202-366-2992.
Please note that NHTSA’s response will be made available in this online database, and that the incoming interpretation request may also be made publicly available.