
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: 49USC33101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
            PART C--INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS
 
                      CHAPTER 331--THEFT PREVENTION
 
Sec. 33101. Definitions

    In this chapter--
        (1) ``chop shop'' means a building, lot, facility, or other 
    structure or premise at which at least one person engages in 
    receiving, concealing, destroying, disassembling, dismantling, 
    reassembling, or storing a passenger motor vehicle or passenger 
    motor vehicle part that has been unlawfully obtained--
            (A) to alter, counterfeit, deface, destroy, disguise, 
        falsify, forge, obliterate, or remove the identity of the 
        vehicle or part, including the vehicle identification number or 
        a derivative of that number; and
            (B) to distribute, sell, or dispose of the vehicle or part 
        in interstate or foreign commerce.

        (2) ``covered major part'' means a major part selected under 
    section 33104 of this title for coverage by the vehicle theft 
    prevention standard prescribed under section 33102 or 33103 of this 
    title.
        (3) ``existing line'' means a line introduced into commerce 
    before January 1, 1990.
        (4) ``first purchaser'' means the person making the first 
    purchase other than for resale.
        (5) ``line'' means a name that a manufacturer of motor vehicles 
    applies to a group of motor vehicle models of the same make that 
    have the same body or chassis, or otherwise are similar in 
    construction or design.
        (6) ``major part'' means--
            (A) the engine;
            (B) the transmission;
            (C) each door to the passenger compartment;
            (D) the hood;
            (E) the grille;
            (F) each bumper;
            (G) each front fender;
            (H) the deck lid, tailgate, or hatchback;
            (I) each rear quarter panel;
            (J) the trunk floor pan;
            (K) the frame or, for a unitized body, the supporting 
        structure serving as the frame; and
            (L) any other part of a passenger motor vehicle that the 
        Secretary of Transportation by regulation specifies as 
        comparable in design or function to any of the parts listed in 
        subclauses (A)-(K) of this clause.

        (7) ``major replacement part'' means a major part that is--
            (A) an original major part in or on a completed motor 
        vehicle and customized or modified after manufacture of the 
        vehicle but before the time of its delivery to the first 
        purchaser; or
            (B) not installed in or on a motor vehicle at the time of 
        its delivery to the first purchaser and the equitable or legal 
        title to the vehicle has not been transferred to a first 
        purchaser.

        (8) ``model year'' has the same meaning given that term in 
    section 32901(a) of this title.
        (9) ``new line'' means a line introduced into commerce after 
    December 31, 1989.
        (10) ``passenger motor vehicle'' includes a multipurpose 
    passenger vehicle or light duty truck when that vehicle or truck is 
    rated at not more than 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
        (11) ``vehicle theft prevention standard'' means a minimum 
    performance standard for identifying major parts of new motor 
    vehicles and major replacement parts by inscribing or affixing 
    numbers or symbols on those parts.

(Pub. L. 103-272, Sec. 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1076; Pub. L. 103-
429, Sec. 6(44), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4383; Pub. L. 104-287, 
Sec. 6(d)(1)(B), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3399.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
                                                 Pub. L. 103-272
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
33101(1)..............................  15:2021(11).                     Oct. 2
0, 1972, Pub. L. 92-513, 86 Stat.
                                                                          947, 
Sec.  601(11); added Oct. 25,
                                                                          1992,
 Pub. L. 102-519, Sec.  301(b),
                                                                          106 S
tat. 3394.
33101(2)..............................  15:2021(6).                      Oct. 2
0, 1972, Pub. L. 92-513, 86 Stat.
                                                                          947, 
Sec.  601(2)-(7), (9), (10);
                                                                          added
 Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98-547,
                                                                          Sec. 
 101(a), 98 Stat. 2755, 2756.
33101(3)..............................  15:2021(3).
33101(4)..............................  15:2021(5).
33101(5)..............................  15:2021(2).
33101(6)..............................  15:2021(7).
33101(7)..............................  15:2021(8).                      Oct. 2
0, 1972, Pub. L. 92-513, 86 Stat.
                                                                          947, 
Sec.  601(1), (8); added Oct. 25,
                                                                          1984,
 Pub. L. 98-547, Sec.  101(a), 98
                                                                          Stat.
 2755; restated Oct. 25, 1992,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 102-519, Sec.  301(a), (c),
                                                                          106 S
tat. 3393, 3394.
33101(8)..............................  15:2021(9).
33101(9)..............................  15:2021(4).
33101(10).............................  15:2021(1).
33101(11).............................  15:2021(10).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In clause (2), the words ``section 33102(c)(1)'' are substituted for 
``section 2022(d)(1)(B)'' to correct an erroneous cross-reference. 
Section 302(1) of the Act of October 25, 1992 (Public Law 102-519, 106 
Stat. 3394), restated section 602(d)(1)(A) and (B) of the Motor Vehicle 
Information and Cost Savings Act (Public Law 92-513, 86 Stat. 947) as 
section 602(d)(1) without making a corresponding change in the cross-
reference restated in this section.
    In clause (3), the words ``before January 1, 1990'' are substituted 
for ``before the beginning of the 2-year period specified in section 
2023(a)(1)(A) of this title'' for clarity. See the revision notes for 
section 33104 of the revised title.
    In clause (5), the words ``of motor vehicles'' are added for 
consistency in this chapter.
    Clause (6)(I) is substituted for ``rear quarter panels'' for clarity 
and consistency.
    In clause (7)(A), the word ``completed'' is omitted as unnecessary 
because of the restatement.
    In clause (9), the words ``after December 31, 1989'' are substituted 
for ``on or after the beginning of the 2-year period specified in 
section 2023(a)(1)(A) of this title'' for clarity and consistency.


                     Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 6(44)(A)

    This corrects a cross-reference in 49:33101(2) by eliminating the 
reference to 49:33102(c)(1). Section 302(1) of the Anti Car Theft Act of 
1992 (Public Law 102-519, 106 Stat. 3394) restated section 602(d)(1)(A) 
and (B) of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (Public 
Law 92-513, 86 Stat. 947) as section 602(d)(1) without making a change 
in the cross-reference in section 601(6) to section 602(d)(1)(B).


                     Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 6(44)(B)

    This makes a conforming amendment for consistency with the style of 
title 49.


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-287 made technical amendment to directory language 
of Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 6(44)(B). See 1994 Amendment note below.
    1994--Par. (2). Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 6(44)(B), as amended by Pub. 
L. 104-287, inserted ``of this title'' before period at end.
    Pub. L. 103-429, Sec. 6(44)(A), substituted ``section 33104'' for 
``sections 33102(c)(1) and 33104''.


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Section 6(d) of Pub. L. 104-287 provided that the amendment made by 
that section is effective Oct. 31, 1994.


                    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 32101 of this title.
