
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC30103]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
                    CHAPTER 301--MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
 
Sec. 30103. Relationship to other laws

    (a) Uniformity of Regulations.--The Secretary of Transportation may 
not prescribe a safety regulation related to a motor vehicle subject to 
subchapter I of chapter 135 of this title that differs from a motor 
vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the 
Secretary may prescribe, for a motor vehicle operated by a carrier 
subject to subchapter I of chapter 135, a safety regulation that imposes 
a higher standard of performance after manufacture than that required by 
an applicable standard in effect at the time of manufacture.
    (b) Preemption.--(1) When a motor vehicle safety standard is in 
effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State 
may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the same 
aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only 
if the standard is identical to the standard prescribed under this 
chapter. However, the United States Government, a State, or a political 
subdivision of a State may prescribe a standard for a motor vehicle or 
motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes a higher 
performance requirement than that required by the otherwise applicable 
standard under this chapter.
    (2) A State may enforce a standard that is identical to a standard 
prescribed under this chapter.
    (c) Antitrust Laws.--This chapter does not--
        (1) exempt from the antitrust laws conduct that is unlawful 
    under those laws; or
        (2) prohibit under the antitrust laws conduct that is lawful 
    under those laws.

    (d) Warranty Obligations and Additional Legal Rights and Remedies.--
Sections 30117(b), 30118-30121, 30166(f), and 30167(a) and (b) of this 
title do not establish or affect a warranty obligation under a law of 
the United States or a State. A remedy under those sections and sections 
30161 and 30162 of this title is in addition to other rights and 
remedies under other laws of the United States or a State.
    (e) Common Law Liability.--Compliance with a motor vehicle safety 
standard prescribed under this chapter does not exempt a person from 
liability at common law.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 943; Pub. L. 104-
88, title III, Sec. 308(j), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 947.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30103(a)..............................  15:1392(g).                      Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Secs.
                                                                          103(g
), 105(a)(6), 116, 80 Stat. 720,
                                                                          721, 
727.
30103(b)..............................  15:1392(d).                      Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Sec.
                                                                          103(d
), 80 Stat. 719; Oct. 15, 1982,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 97-331, Sec.  3, 96 Stat.
                                                                          1619.
30103(c)..............................  15:1405.
30103(d)..............................  15:1394(a)(6).
                                        15:1410a(e).                     Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, 80 Stat.
                                                                          718, 
Secs.  124(e), 160; added Oct.
                                                                          27, 1
974, Pub. L. 93-492, Secs.
                                                                          102(a
), 106, 88 Stat. 1477, 1481.
                                        15:1420.
30103(e)..............................  15:1397(k).                      Sept. 
9, 1966, Pub. L. 89-563, Sec.
                                                                          108(k
), 80 Stat. 723; Oct. 31, 1988,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 100-562, Sec.  2(b), 102 Stat.
                                                                          2818.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), the words ``or the Transportation of Explosives 
Act, as amended (18 U.S.C. 831-835)'' are omitted as obsolete because 
18:831-835 have been repealed. The word ``prescribe'' is substituted for 
``adopt'' for consistency. The words ``or continue in effect'' and ``In 
prescribing safety regulations'' are omitted as surplus. The word 
``prescribed'' is substituted for ``issued'' for consistency. The words 
``to comply'' and ``Federal'' are omitted as surplus. The words ``in 
effect'' are added for clarity.
    In subsection (b)(1), the word ``Federal'' is omitted as surplus. 
The word ``prescribe'' is substituted for ``either to establish, or to 
continue in effect'' for consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words. 
The words ``standard prescribed under this chapter'' are substituted for 
``Federal standard'' for clarity. The words ``However, the United States 
. . . may prescribe'' are substituted for ``Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to prevent the Federal . . . from establishing'' for 
consistency. The words ``of a State'' are substituted for ``thereof'' 
for clarity. The word ``standard'' is substituted for ``safety 
requirement'' for consistency. The words ``performance requirement'' are 
substituted for ``standard of performance'' to avoid using ``standard'' 
in 2 different ways.
    Subsection (b)(2) is substituted for 15:1392(d) (2d sentence) for 
consistency and to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (c), the words ``be deemed to'' and ``of the United 
States'' are omitted as surplus.
    In subsection (d), the words ``United States'' are substituted for 
``Federal'' in 15:1420 for consistency. The words ``Consumer'' in 
15:1420, ``not in lieu of'' in 15:1410a(e) and 1420, and ``not in 
substitution for'' in 15:1394(a)(6) are omitted as surplus. The word 
``other'' is added for clarity.


                               Amendments

    1995--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-88 substituted ``subchapter I of 
chapter 135'' for ``subchapter II of chapter 105'' in two places.


                    Effective Date of 1995 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 104-88 effective Jan. 1, 1996, see section 2 of 
Pub. L. 104-88, set out as an Effective Date note under section 701 of 
this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 31136 of this title.
