---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 32309"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "32309"
heading: "Civil penalty for labeling violations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/32309"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 323 — Consumer Information"
---

# §32309. Civil penalty for labeling violations

- (a) **Definitions.—** The definitions in [section 32304 of this title](/usc/49/32304.md) apply to this section.
- (b) **Penalties.—** A [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) of a [passenger motor vehicle](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) distributed in [commerce](/usc/49/31301.md?p=2) for sale in the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15) that willfully fails to attach the label required under [section 32304 of this title](/usc/49/32304.md) to a new [passenger motor vehicle](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) that the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) manufactures or [imports](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-12), or a [dealer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-2) that fails to maintain that label as required under [section 32304](/usc/49/32304.md), is liable to the [United States](/usc/49/31301.md?p=15) Government for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Each failure to attach or maintain that label for each vehicle is a separate violation.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1042; Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(31), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4380.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pub. L. 103–272 |  |  |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 32309(a) | (no source). |  |
| 32309(b) | 15:1950(e). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 210(e); added Oct. 6, 1992, Pub. L. 102–388, § 355, 106 Stat. 1557. |

Subsection (a) is added to ensure that the definitions in 15:1950(f), restated in section 32304 of the revised title, apply to the source provision restated in this section.

In subsection (b), the words “Each failure to attach or maintain that label” are substituted for “Such failure” for clarity.

### Pub. L. 103–429

This amends the catchline for 49:32309 to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1042).

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–429 substituted “Civil” for “Criminal” in section catchline.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### 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.