Interpretation ID: aiam2838

Mr. George C. Nield, President, Automobile Importers of America, 900 17th Street, N.W. Suite 100, Washington, DC 20006; Mr. George C. Nield
President
Automobile Importers of America
900 17th Street
N.W. Suite 100
Washington
DC 20006;

Dear Mr. Nield: This responds to your recent letter asking whether passive safety belt are exempt from the requirements of Safety Standard No. 209, *Seat Belt Assemblies*.; The answer to your question is yes, with one exception. Paragrap S4.5.3.4 of Safety Standard No. 208, *Occupant Crash Protection*, specifies that passive safety belts that are not required for the vehicle to meet the perpendicular frontal crash protection requirements of the standard must meet the requirements of Standard No. 209. Therefore, only passive belts that are installed to meet the frontal crash protection requirements of Standard No. 208 are exempted from the requirements of Standard No. 209.; Sincerely, Joseph J. Levin, Jr., Chief Counsel