
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: 49USC30502]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
      CHAPTER 305--NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM
 
Sec. 30502. National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

    (a) Establishment or Designation.--(1) In cooperation with the 
States and not later than December 31, 1997, the Attorney General shall 
establish a National Motor Vehicle Title Information System that will 
provide individuals and entities referred to in subsection (e) of this 
section with instant and reliable access to information maintained by 
the States related to automobile titling described in subsection (d) of 
this section. However, if the Attorney General decides that the existing 
information system meets the requirements of subsections (d) and (e) of 
this section and will permit the Attorney General to carry out this 
chapter as early as possible, the Attorney General, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Transportation, may designate an existing information 
system as the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System.
    (2) In cooperation with the Secretary of Transportation and the 
States, the Attorney General shall ascertain the extent to which title 
and related information to be included in the system established under 
paragraph (1) of this subsection will be adequate, timely, reliable, 
uniform, and capable of assisting in efforts to prevent the introduction 
or reintroduction of stolen vehicles and parts into interstate commerce.
    (b) Operation.--The Attorney General may authorize the operation of 
the System established or designated under subsection (a)(1) of this 
section by agreement with one or more States, or by designating, after 
consulting with the States, a third party that represents the interests 
of the States.
    (c) User Fees.--Operation of the System established or designated 
under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be paid for by user fees 
and should be self-sufficient and not be dependent on amounts from the 
United States Government. The amount of fees the operator collects and 
keeps under this subsection subject to annual appropriation laws, 
excluding fees the operator collects and pays to an entity providing 
information to the operator, may be not more than the costs of operating 
the System.
    (d) Information Requirements.--The System established or designated 
under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall permit a user of the 
System at least to establish instantly and reliably--
        (1) the validity and status of a document purporting to be a 
    certificate of title;
        (2) whether an automobile bearing a known vehicle identification 
    number is titled in a particular State;
        (3) whether an automobile known to be titled in a particular 
    State is or has been a junk automobile or a salvage automobile;
        (4) for an automobile known to be titled in a particular State, 
    the odometer mileage disclosure required under section 32705 of this 
    title for that automobile on the date the certificate of title for 
    that automobile was issued and any later mileage information, if 
    noted by the State; and
        (5) whether an automobile bearing a known vehicle identification 
    number has been reported as a junk automobile or a salvage 
    automobile under section 30504 of this title.

    (e) Availability of Information.--(1) The operator shall make 
available--
        (A) to a participating State on request of that State, 
    information in the System about any automobile;
        (B) to a Government, State, or local law enforcement official on 
    request of that official, information in the System about a 
    particular automobile, junk yard, or salvage yard;
        (C) to a prospective purchaser of an automobile on request of 
    that purchaser, including an auction company or entity engaged in 
    the business of purchasing used automobiles, information in the 
    System about that automobile; and
        (D) to a prospective or current insurer of an automobile on 
    request of that insurer, information in the System about that 
    automobile.

    (2) The operator may release only the information reasonably 
necessary to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (1) of this 
subsection. The operator may not collect an individual's social security 
account number or permit users of the System to obtain an individual's 
address or social security account number.
    (f) Immunity.--Any person performing any activity under this section 
or sections 30503 or 30504 in good faith and with the reasonable belief 
that such activity was in accordance with this section or section 30503 
or 30504, as the case may be, shall be immune from any civil action 
respecting such activity which is seeking money damages or equitable 
relief in any court of the United States or a State.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 980; Pub. L. 104-
152, Secs. 2(a), (c), 3, 4, July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384; Pub. L. 105-
102, Sec. 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30502(a)..............................  15:2042(a)(1).                   Oct. 2
5, 1992, Pub. L. 102-519, Sec.
                                                                          202, 
106 Stat. 3390.
30502(b)..............................  15:2042(a)(2).
30502(c)..............................  15:2042(a)(3).
30502(d)..............................  15:2042(b).
30502(e)..............................  15:2042(c).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In subsection (a)(1), the words ``January 31, 1996'' are substituted 
for ``January 1996'' for clarity. The words ``National Automobile Title 
Information System'' are substituted for ``National Motor Vehicle Title 
Information System'' for clarity and consistency because the defined 
term in the source provisions being restated is ``automobile''. The 
words ``individuals and entities referred to in subsection (e) of this 
section'' are substituted for ``States and others'', the words 
``information maintained by the States related to automobile titling 
described in subsection (d) of this section'' are substituted for 
``information maintained by other States pertaining to the titling of 
automobiles'', and the words ``existing information system'' are 
substituted for ``such system'', for clarity.
    In subsection (a)(2), the words ``In cooperation with'' are 
substituted for ``working with'' for clarity and consistency in the 
revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
    In subsection (b), the word ``agreement'' is substituted for 
``contract through an agreement'' to eliminate unnecessary words. The 
word ``designating'' is substituted for ``redesignating'' for clarity.
    In subsection (c), the words ``user fees'' are substituted for ``a 
system of user fees'' to eliminate unnecessary words. The words 
``amounts from the United States Government'' are substituted for 
``Federal funds'' for clarity and consistency in the revised titles and 
with other titles of the Code. The word ``pays'' are substituted for 
``passed on'' for clarity. The word ``entity'' is substituted for 
``State or other entity'' to eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (d)(4), the words ``the odometer mileage disclosure 
required'' are substituted for ``the odometer reading information'', and 
the words ``any later mileage information'' are substituted for ``any 
such later odometer information'', for consistency with section 32705 of 
the revised title.
    In subsection (e)(2), the words ``The operator may release only the 
information necessary'' are substituted for ``Notwithstanding any 
provision of paragraphs (1) through (4), the operator shall release no 
information other than what is necessary'' to eliminate unnecessary 
words. The words ``social security account number'' are substituted for 
``social security number'' for consistency with 42:405.


                               Amendments

    1997--Pub. L. 105-102 amended directory language of Pub. L. 104-152, 
Sec. 2(c). See 1996 Amendment notes below.
    1996--Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105-102, 
substituted ``Motor Vehicle'' for ``Automobile'' in section catchline.
    Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3(a), which directed the 
amendment of this section by striking each reference to ``Secretary of 
Transportation'' or ``Secretary'' and inserting ``Attorney General'', 
and Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3(b), which directed the striking of each 
reference to ``Attorney General'' and inserting ``Secretary of 
Transportation'', were executed simultaneously, to reflect the probable 
intent of Congress. See below.
    Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3, substituted ``Attorney 
General shall'' for ``Secretary of Transportation shall'', ``Attorney 
General decides'' for ``Secretary decides'', ``permit the Attorney 
General'' for ``permit the Secretary'', and ``Attorney General, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation'' for ``Secretary, in 
consultation with the Attorney General''.
    Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105-102, 
substituted ``National Motor Vehicle Title Information System'' for 
``National Automobile Title Information System'' in two places.
    Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 2(a), substituted ``December 31, 1967'' for 
``January 31, 1966''.
    Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3, substituted ``Secretary of 
Transportation'' for ``Attorney General'' and ``Attorney General'' for 
``Secretary''.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3(a), substituted ``Attorney 
General'' for ``Secretary''.
    Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 4, added subsec. (f).


                    Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

    Pub. L. 105-102, Sec. 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215, provided 
that the amendment made by section 3(b) is effective July 2, 1996.
    Amendment by Pub. L. 105-102 effective as if included in the 
provisions of the Act to which the amendment relates, see section 3(f) 
of Pub. L. 105-102, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.


                         Effectiveness of System

    Section 6(c) of Pub. L. 104-152 provided that: ``The information 
system established under section 30502 of title 49, United States Code, 
shall be effective as provided in the rules promulgated by the Attorney 
General.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 30501, 30503, 30504 of this 
title.
