--- kind: "section" citation: "49 U.S.C. § 33106" title: "49" title_heading: "Transportation" number: "33106" heading: "Exemption for passenger motor vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/49/33106" units: - "Subtitle VI — Motor Vehicle and Driver Programs" - "Part C — Information, Standards, and Requirements" - "Chapter 331 — Theft Prevention" --- # §33106. Exemption for passenger motor vehicles equipped with anti-theft devices - (a) **Definitions.—** In this section— - (1) “anti-theft device” means a device to reduce or deter theft that— - (A) is in addition to the theft-deterrent devices required by [motor vehicle safety standard](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-10) numbered 114 in section 571.114 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations; - (B) the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) believes will be effective in reducing or deterring theft of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7); and - (C) does not use a signaling device reserved by [State](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-12) law for use on police, emergency, or official vehicles, or on schoolbuses. - (2) “standard equipment” means equipment already installed in a [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) when it is delivered from the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) and not an accessory or other item that the [first purchaser](/usc/49/30102.md?p=b-1-B) customarily has the option to have installed. - (b) **Granting Exemptions and Limitations.—** - (1) A [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) may petition the Secretary of Transportation for an exemption from a requirement of a standard prescribed under section [33102](/usc/49/33102.md) or [33103](/usc/49/33103.md) of this title for a [line](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) of [passenger motor vehicles](/usc/49/32101.md?p=10) equipped as standard equipment with an anti-theft device that the Secretary decides is likely to be as effective in reducing and deterring [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) theft as compliance with the standard. - (2) The Secretary may grant an exemption— - (A) for [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year 1987, for not more than 2 [lines](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) of a [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6); - (B) for each of the [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) years 1988–1996, for not more than 2 additional [lines](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) of a [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6); - (C) for each of the [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) years 1997–2000, for not more than one additional [line](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) of a [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6); and - (D) for each of the [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) years after [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year 2000, for the number of [lines](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) that the Attorney General decides under [section 33103(d)(3) of this title](/usc/49/33103.md?p=d-3). - (3) An additional exemption granted under paragraph (2)(B) or (C) of this subsection does not affect an exemption previously granted. - (c) **Petitioning Procedure.—** A petition must be filed not later than 8 months before the start of production for the first [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year covered by the petition. The petition must include— - (1) a detailed description of the device; - (2) the reasons for the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6)’s conclusion that the device will be effective in reducing and deterring theft of [motor vehicles](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7); and - (3) additional information the Secretary reasonably may require to make the decision described in [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) of this section. - (d) **Decisions and Approvals.—** The Secretary shall make a decision about a petition filed under this section not later than 120 days after the date the petition is filed. A decision approving a petition must be based on substantial evidence. The Secretary may approve a petition in whole or in part. If the Secretary does not make a decision within the 120-day period, the petition shall be deemed to be approved and the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) shall be exempt from the standard for the [line](/usc/49/33101.md?p=5) covered by the petition for the subsequent [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year. - (e) **Rescissions.—** The Secretary may rescind an exemption if the Secretary decides that the anti-theft device has not been as effective in reducing and deterring [motor vehicle](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-7) theft as compliance with the standard. A rescission may be effective only— - (1) for a [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year after the [model](/usc/49/32901.md?p=a-15) year in which the rescission occurs; and - (2) at least 6 months after the [manufacturer](/usc/49/30102.md?p=a-6) receives written notice of the rescission from the Secretary. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1082; Pub. L. 103–429, § 6(45), Oct. 31, 1994, 108 Stat. 4383.) ## Notes | Historical and Revision Notes | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Pub. L. 103–272 | | | | Revised
Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) | | 33106(a)(1) | 15:2025(e). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 605(a)(1), (3), (b)–(e); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2759. | | 33106(a)(2) | 15:2025(a)(3). | | | 33106(b) | 15:2025(a)(1), (2). | Oct. 20, 1972, Pub. L. 92–513, 86 Stat. 947, § 605(a)(2); added Oct. 25, 1984, Pub. L. 98–547, § 101(a), 98 Stat. 2759; Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 304, 106 Stat. 3396. | | 33106(c) | 15:2025(b). | | | 33106(d) | 15:2025(c). | | | 33106(e) | 15:2025(d). | | In subsection (b)(1), the words “the application of any of” are omitted as surplus. The words “or lines” are omitted because of 1:1. In subsection (b)(2)(A), the words “for model year 1987” are substituted for “For the initial model year to which such standard applies” for clarity. See 50 Fed. Reg. 43166 (1985). In clause (D), the words “that the Attorney General decides” are substituted for “for which the Secretary may grant such an exemption (if any) shall be determined” for clarity and because of the restatement. In subsection (d), the words “for the line covered by the petition” are added for clarity. Subsection (e) is substituted for 15:2025(d) for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words. ### Pub. L. 103–429 This amends 49:33106(b)(3) to correct an error in the codification enacted by section 1 of the Act of July 5, 1994 (Public Law 103–272, 108 Stat. 1082). ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1994—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103–429 substituted “paragraph (2)(B) or (C) of this subsection” for “subparagraph (2)(B) or (C) of this paragraph”. ### 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.