---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 U.S.C. § 33102"
title: "49"
title_heading: "Transportation"
number: "33102"
heading: "Theft prevention standard for high theft lines"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/33102"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs"
  - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements"
  - "Chapter 331 — Theft Prevention"
---

# §33102. Theft prevention standard for high theft lines

- (a) **General.—**
  - (1) The Secretary of Transportation by regulation shall prescribe a [vehicle theft prevention standard](/usc/49/33101.md?p=11) that conforms to the requirements of this chapter. The standard shall apply to—
    - (A) [covered major parts](/usc/49/33101.md?p=2) that [manufacturers](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) install in [passenger motor vehicles](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) in [lines](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) designated under [section 33104 of this title](/usc/49/33104.md) as high theft [lines](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5); and
    - (B) [major replacement parts](/usc/49/33101.md?p=7) for the [major parts](/usc/49/33101.md?p=6) described in clause (A) of this paragraph.
  - (2) The standard may apply only to—
    - (A) [major parts](/usc/49/33101.md?p=6) that [manufacturers](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) install in [passenger motor vehicles](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) having a [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year designation later than the calendar year in which the standard takes effect; and
    - (B) [major replacement parts](/usc/49/33101.md?p=7) manufactured after the standard takes effect.
- (b) **Standard Requirements.—** The standard shall be practicable and provide relevant objective criteria.
- (c) **Limitations on Major Part and Replacement Part Standards.—**
  - (1) For a [major part](/usc/49/33101.md?p=6) installed by the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) of the [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7), the standard may not require a part to have more than one identification.
  - (2) For a [major replacement part](/usc/49/33101.md?p=7), the standard may not require—
    - (A) identification of a part not designed as a replacement for a [major part](/usc/49/33101.md?p=6) required to be identified under the standard; or
    - (B) the inscribing or affixing of identification except a symbol identifying the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) and a common symbol identifying the part as a [major replacement part](/usc/49/33101.md?p=7).
- (d) **Records and Reports.—** This chapter does not authorize the Secretary to require a person to keep records or make reports, except as provided in sections [33104(c)](/usc/49/33104.md?p=c), [33106(c)](/usc/49/33106.md?p=c), [33108(a)](/usc/49/33108.md?p=a), and [33112](/usc/49/33112.md)[^1] of this title.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1077.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 33102(a)(1) | 15:2022(a). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(a), (b), (c)(1)–(3), (5), (d)(2); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756. |
| 33102(a)(2) | 15:2022(c)(1)–(3), (5). |  |
| 33102(b) | 15:2022(b). |  |
| 33102(c) | 15:2022(d)(1). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(d)(1); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756; restated Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 302(1), 106 Stat. 3394. |
| 33102(d) | 15:2022(e). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 602(e); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2756; Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 306(a), 106 Stat. 3397. |

In subsection (a)(1), before clause (A), the words “in accordance with this section” are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (a)(2), the text of 15:2022(c)(1)–(3) is omitted as obsolete because the standard has already been prescribed. See 49 C.F.R. part 541.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 33112 of this title, referred to in subsec. (d), was repealed by Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title I, § 31313(2), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 772.