
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: 49USC33109]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
             SUBTITLE VI--MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS
 
            PART C--INFORMATION, STANDARDS, AND REQUIREMENTS
 
                      CHAPTER 331--THEFT PREVENTION
 
Sec. 33109. National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information 
        System
        
    (a) General Requirements.--(1) Not later than July 25, 1993, the 
Attorney General shall establish, and thereafter maintain, a National 
Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information System containing the vehicle 
identification numbers of stolen passenger motor vehicles and stolen 
passenger motor vehicle parts. The System shall be located in the 
National Crime Information Center and shall include at least the 
following information on each passenger motor vehicle reported to a law 
enforcement authority as stolen and not recovered:
        (A) the vehicle identification number.
        (B) the make and model year.
        (C) the date on which the vehicle was reported as stolen.
        (D) the location of the law enforcement authority that received 
    the report of the theft of the vehicle.
        (E) the identification numbers of the vehicle parts (or 
    derivatives of those numbers), at the time of the theft, if those 
    numbers are different from the vehicle identification number of the 
    vehicle.

    (2) In establishing the System, the Attorney General shall consult 
with--
        (A) State and local law enforcement authorities; and
        (B) the National Crime Information Center Policy Advisory Board 
    to ensure the security of the information in the System and that the 
    System will not compromise the security of stolen passenger motor 
    vehicle and passenger motor vehicle parts information in the System.

    (3) If the Attorney General decides that the Center is not able to 
perform the functions of the System, the Attorney General shall make an 
agreement for the operation of the System separate from the Center.
    (4) The Attorney General shall prescribe by regulation the effective 
date of the System.
    (b) Requests for Information.--(1) The Attorney General shall 
prescribe by regulation procedures under which an individual or entity 
intending to transfer a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor 
vehicle part may obtain information on whether the vehicle or part is 
listed in the System as stolen.
    (2) On request of an insurance carrier, a person lawfully selling or 
distributing passenger motor vehicle parts in interstate commerce, or an 
individual or enterprise engaged in the business of repairing passenger 
motor vehicles, the Attorney General (or the entity the Attorney General 
designates) immediately shall inform the insurance carrier, person, 
individual, or enterprise whether the System has a record of a vehicle 
or vehicle part with a particular vehicle identification number (or 
derivative of that number) being reported as stolen. The Attorney 
General may require appropriate verification to ensure that the request 
is legitimate and will not compromise the security of the System.
    (c) Advisory Committee.--(1) Not later than December 24, 1992, the 
Attorney General shall establish in the Department of Justice an 
advisory committee. The Attorney General shall develop the System with 
the advice and recommendations of the committee.
    (2)(A) The committee is composed of the following 10 members:
        (i) the Attorney General.
        (ii) the Secretary of Transportation.
        (iii) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the law enforcement community at the State level.
        (iv) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the law enforcement community at the local level.
        (v) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the automotive recycling industry.
        (vi) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the automotive repair industry.
        (vii) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the automotive rebuilders industry.
        (viii) one individual who is qualified to represent the 
    interests of the automotive parts suppliers industry.
        (ix) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of the insurance industry.
        (x) one individual who is qualified to represent the interests 
    of consumers.

    (B) The Attorney General shall appoint the individuals described in 
subparagraph (A)(iii)-(x) of this paragraph and shall serve as chairman 
of the committee.
    (3) The committee shall make recommendations on developing and 
carrying out--
        (A) the National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information 
    System; and
        (B) the verification system under section 33110 of this title.

    (4) Not later than April 25, 1993, the committee shall submit to the 
Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress a report including the 
recommendations of the committee.
    (d) Immunity.--Any person performing any activity under this section 
or section 33110 or 33111 in good faith and with the reasonable belief 
that such activity was in accordance with such section 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. 1084; Pub. L. 104-
152, Sec. 5, July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1385.)

                                          Historical and Revision Notes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
           Revised  Section                    Source (U.S. Code)              
 Source (Statutes at Large)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
33109(a)..............................  15:2026c(a), (b) (last           Oct. 2
0, 1972, Pub. L. 92-513, 86 Stat.
                                         sentence), (c), (f).             947, 
Sec.  609; added Oct. 25, 1992,
                                                                          Pub. 
L. 102-519, Sec.  306(e), 106
                                                                          Stat.
 3398.
33109(b)..............................  15:2026c(b) (1st sentence),
                                         (e).
33109(c)..............................  15:2026c(d).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------

    In the section, the words ``National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle 
Information System'' are substituted for ``National Stolen Auto Part 
Information System'' for consistency with the terminology used and with 
the source provisions restated in the revised chapter.
    In subsection (a)(1), before clause (A), the words ``establish, and 
thereafter maintain'' are substituted for ``maintain'' for clarity. The 
words ``shall be located'' are added for clarity.
    In subsection (a)(2)(B), the words ``stolen passenger motor vehicle 
and passenger motor vehicle parts information'' are substituted for 
``stolen vehicle and vehicle parts information'' for consistency with 
the terminology used in the revised chapter.
    In subsection (a)(4), the text of 15:2026c(f) (1st sentence) is 
omitted as surplus. The words ``the effective date of the System'' are 
substituted for ``shall be effective as provided'' because of the 
restatement.
    In subsection (b)(1), the words ``intending to transfer'' are 
substituted for ``seeking to transfer'' for clarity. The words 
``passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle part'' are 
substituted for ``a vehicle or vehicle parts'' for consistency with the 
terminology used in the revised chapter. The words ``whether the vehicle 
or part'' are substituted for ``whether a part'' for consistency with 
source provisions restated in the revised section.
    In subsection (b)(2), the words ``shall inform the insurance 
carrier, person, individual, or enterprise whether'' are substituted for 
``provide such insurance carrier or person with a determination as to 
whether'' for clarity and consistency in the revised subsection. The 
words ``may require appropriate verification'' are substituted for ``may 
require such verification as the Attorney General deems appropriate'' to 
eliminate unnecessary words.
    In subsection (c)(1), the words ``and appoint'' are omitted as 
unnecessary because of the restatement.


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104-152 added subsec. (d).


                   Termination of Advisory Committees

    Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not 
later than the expiration of 2-year period beginning on date of their 
establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the 
President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is 
renewed by appropriate action prior to expiration of such 2-year period, 
or in the case of a committee established by Congress, its duration is 
otherwise provided for by law. See section 14 of Pub. L. 92-463, Oct. 6, 
1972, 86 Stat. 776, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government 
Organization and Employees.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 33110, 33111 of this title.
