
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: 49USC32101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
            PART C--INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS
 
                          CHAPTER 321--GENERAL
 
Sec. 32101. Definitions

    In this part (except chapter 329 and except as provided in section 
33101)--
        (1) ``bumper standard'' means a minimum performance standard 
    that substantially reduces--
            (A) the damage to the front or rear end of a passenger motor 
        vehicle from a low-speed collision (including a collision with a 
        fixed barrier) or from towing the vehicle; or
            (B) the cost of repairing the damage.

        (2) ``insurer'' means a person in the business of issuing, or 
    reinsuring any part of, a passenger motor vehicle insurance policy.
        (3) ``interstate commerce'' means commerce between a place in a 
    State and--
            (A) a place in another State; or
            (B) another place in the same State through another State.

        (4) ``make'', when describing a passenger motor vehicle, means 
    the trade name of the manufacturer of the vehicle.
        (5) ``manufacturer'' means a person--
            (A) manufacturing or assembling passenger motor vehicles or 
        passenger motor vehicle equipment; or
            (B) importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for 
        resale.

        (6) ``model'', when describing a passenger motor vehicle, means 
    a category of passenger motor vehicles based on the size, style, and 
    type of a make of vehicle.
        (7) ``motor vehicle'' means a vehicle driven or drawn by 
    mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public 
    streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle 
    operated only on a rail line.
        (8) ``motor vehicle accident'' means an accident resulting from 
    the maintenance or operation of a passenger motor vehicle or 
    passenger motor vehicle equipment.
        (9) ``multipurpose passenger vehicle'' means a passenger motor 
    vehicle constructed on a truck chassis or with special features for 
    occasional off-road operation.
        (10) ``passenger motor vehicle'' means a motor vehicle with 
    motive power designed to carry not more than 12 individuals, but 
    does not include--
            (A) a motorcycle; or
            (B) a truck not designed primarily to carry its operator or 
        passengers.

        (11) ``passenger motor vehicle equipment'' means--
            (A) a system, part, or component of a passenger motor 
        vehicle as originally made;
            (B) a similar part or component made or sold for replacement 
        or improvement of a system, part, or component, or as an 
        accessory or addition to a passenger motor vehicle; or
            (C) a device made or sold for use in towing a passenger 
        motor vehicle.

        (12) ``State'' means a State of the United States, the District 
    of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, 
    American Samoa, and the Virgin Islands.
        (13) ``United States district court'' means a district court of 
    the United States, a United States court for Guam, the Virgin 
    Islands, and American Samoa, and the district court for the Northern 
    Mariana Islands.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1034; Pub. L. 103-
429, Sec. 6(27), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4380.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
                                                 Pub. L. 103-272
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
32101(1)..............................  15:1901(5), (6) (words before    Oct. 2
0, 1972, Pub. L. 92-513, Sec.
                                         semicolon), (11).                2(1)-
(6) (words before semicolon), (7)-
                                                                          (12),
 (15)-(18), 86 Stat. 947, 948;
                                                                          Dec. 
22, 1975, Pub. L. 94-163, Sec.
                                                                          301, 
89 Stat. 901; Oct. 10, 1980, Pub.
                                                                          L. 96
-425, Sec.  8(a)(2), 94 Stat.
                                                                          1828;
 Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98-547,
                                                                          Sec. 
 101(b), 98 Stat. 2767.
32101(2)..............................  15:1901(12).
32101(3)..............................  15:1901(17).
32101(4)..............................  15:1901(8).
32101(5)..............................  15:1901(7).
32101(6)..............................  15:1901(9).
32101(7)..............................  15:1901(15).
32101(8)..............................  15:1901(10).
32101(9)..............................  15:1901(2).
32101(10).............................  15:1901(1).
32101(11).............................  15:1901(3), (4).
32101(12).............................  15:1901(16).
32101(13).............................  15:1901(18).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In clause (1), the text of 15:1901(11) is omitted as surplus because 
the complete title of the Secretary of Transportation is used the first 
time the term appears in a section. The definition of ``property loss 
reduction standard'' is combined with the definition of ``bumper 
standard'' because the former term is used only in the definition of the 
latter term. Before subclause (A), the words ``the purpose of which is'' 
and ``eliminate'' are omitted as surplus. In subclauses (A) and (B), the 
words ``(or both)'' are omitted as surplus. In subclause (A), the word 
``physical'' is omitted as surplus.
    In clause (2), the words ``of passenger motor vehicles'' and 
``engaged'' are omitted as surplus.
    In clause (5)(A), the words ``manufacturing or assembling'' are 
substituted for ``engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of'' to 
eliminate unnecessary words.
    In clause (8), the words ``maintenance or operation'' are 
substituted for ``operation, maintenance, or use'' to eliminate an 
unnecessary word.
    In clauses (12) and (13), the words ``the Northern Mariana Islands'' 
are added because of section 502(a)(2) of the Covenant to Establish a 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the 
United States of America, as enacted by the Act of March 24, 1976 
(Public Law 94-241, 90 Stat. 268), and as proclaimed to be in effect by 
the President on January 9, 1978 (Proc. No. 4534, Oct. 24, 1977, 42 F.R. 
56593). The words ``the Canal Zone'' are omitted because of the Panama 
Canal Treaty of 1977.
    In clause (12), the word ``means'' is substituted for ``includes'' 
as being more appropriate. The words ``a State of the United States'' 
are substituted for ``each of the several States'' for consistency in 
the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code.
    In clause (13), the words ``of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico'' are 
omitted as surplus because the district court of Puerto Rico is a 
district court of the United States under 28:119.


                             Pub. L. 103-429

    This makes a conforming amendment to 49:32101 necessary because of 
the amendment to 49:32304(a)(11) made by section 6(29) of the bill and 
to clarify the restatement of 15:1901 by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 
1994 (Public Law 103-272, 108 Stat. 1034).


                               Amendments

    1994--Pub. L. 103-429 amended introductory provisions generally. 
Prior to amendment, introductory provisions read as follows: ``In this 
part (except section 32304 and chapter 329)--''.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 103-429 effective July 5, 1994, see section 9 
of Pub. L. 103-429, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 32304 of this title; title 18 
sections 511, 553.
