
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC30503]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
                             PART A--GENERAL
 
      CHAPTER 305--NATIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE INFORMATION SYSTEM
 
Sec. 30503. State participation

    (a) State Information.--Each State shall make titling information 
maintained by that State available for use in operating the National 
Motor Vehicle Title Information System established or designated under 
section 30502 of this title.
    (b) Verification Checks.--Each State shall establish a practice of 
performing an instant title verification check before issuing a 
certificate of title to an individual or entity claiming to have 
purchased an automobile from an individual or entity in another State. 
The check shall consist of--
        (1) communicating to the operator--
            (A) the vehicle identification number of the automobile for 
        which the certificate of title is sought;
            (B) the name of the State that issued the most recent 
        certificate of title for the automobile; and
            (C) the name of the individual or entity to whom the 
        certificate of title was issued; and

        (2) giving the operator an opportunity to communicate to the 
    participating State the results of a search of the information.

    (c) Grants to States.--(1) In cooperation with the States and not 
later than January 1, 1994, the Attorney General shall--
        (A) conduct a review of systems used by the States to compile 
    and maintain information about the titling of automobiles; and
        (B) determine for each State the cost of making titling 
    information maintained by that State available to the operator to 
    meet the requirements of section 30502(d) of this title.

    (2) The Attorney General may make reasonable and necessary grants to 
participating States to be used in making titling information maintained 
by those States available to the operator.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than October 1, 1998, the 
Attorney General shall report to Congress on which States have met the 
requirements of this section. If a State has not met the requirements, 
the Attorney General shall describe the impediments that have resulted 
in the State's failure to meet the requirements.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 104-
152, Secs. 2(b), (c), 3(a), 6(a), July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384, 1385; 
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)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
30503(a)..............................  15:2043(a)(1).                   Oct. 2
5, 1992, Pub. L. 102-519, Sec.
                                                                          203, 
106 Stat. 3391.
30503(b)..............................  15:2043(a)(2).
30503(c)..............................  15:2043(b).
30503(d)..............................  15:2043(c).
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---------------------------------

    In subsection (a), the words ``for use in operating . . . 
established or designated'' are substituted for ``for use in 
establishing . . . established'' for clarity and for consistency with 
the source provisions restated in section 30502 of the revised title.
    In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words ``The check'' are 
substituted for ``Such instant title verification check'' to eliminate 
unnecessary words. In subclauses (A) and (B), the words ``of the 
automobile'' are substituted for ``of the vehicle'' for consistency in 
the revised chapter.
    In subsection (c)(1)(B), the words ``section 30502(d) of this 
title'' are substituted for ``subsection (b)'' to reflect the apparent 
intent of Congress.
    In subsection (c)(2)(A), before subclause (i), the words ``is not 
more than the lesser of'' are substituted for ``does not exceed . . . 
whichever is lower'' for clarity. In subclause (i), the words 
``paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection'' are substituted for ``subsection 
(d)(1)(B)'' to reflect the apparent intent of Congress.
    In subsection (c)(2)(B), the word ``fair'' is omitted as being 
included in ``reasonable''.


                               Amendments

    1997--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-102 amended directory language of 
Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 2(c). See 1996 Amendment note below.
    1996--Subsec. (a). 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''.
    Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 3(a), substituted ``Attorney 
General'' for ``Secretary of Transportation''.
    Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104-152, Sec. 6(a), amended par. (2) 
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: ``The Secretary 
may make grants to participating States to be used in making titling 
information maintained by those States available to the operator if--
        ``(A) the grant to a State is not more than the lesser of--
            ``(i) 25 percent of the cost of making titling information 
        maintained by that State available to the operator as determined 
        by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; or
            ``(ii) $300,000; and
        ``(B) the Secretary decides that the grants are reasonable and 
    necessary to establish the System.''
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104-152, Secs. 2(b), 3(a), substituted 
``October 1, 1998'' for ``January 1, 1997'' and substituted ``Attorney 
General'' for ``Secretary'' in two places.


                    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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 30502 of this title; title 42 
section 3750c.
