HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1485        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1803

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Jennifer E. Benson

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to counterfeit airbag prohibition.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1485        FILED ON: 1/18/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1803

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act relative to counterfeit airbag prohibition.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 90I the following chapter:-

Chapter 90J.

COUNTERFEIT AIRBAG PROHIBITION.

Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

“Airbag”, A motor vehicle inflatable occupant restraint system, or any component part, such as, but not limited to the cover, sensors, controllers, inflators, wiring and cushion material that:

(a) operates in the event of a crash; and

(b) is designed in accordance with federal motor vehicle safety standards for the make, model and year of the motor vehicle in which it is or will be installed.

“Counterfeit airbag”, A replacement motor vehicle inflatable occupant restraint system, or any component part, such as, but not limited to the cover, sensors, controllers, inflators, and wiring that bears without authorization a mark identical or substantially similar to the genuine mark of the manufacturer of a motor vehicle or a supplier of parts to the manufacturer of a motor vehicle.

“Nonfunctional airbag”, A replacement airbag that:

(a) has been previously deployed or damaged;

(b) has an electrical fault that is detected by the vehicle diagnostic system after the installation procedure is completed; or

(c) any object, including a counterfeit airbag or airbag component intended to deceive a vehicle owner or operator into believing that it is a functional airbag.

Section 2. A person who knowingly and intentionally does any of the following shall be guilty of the crime of airbag fraud and shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment in a house of correction for not more than 5 years, or by both such fine and impressment:

(a) import, manufacture, sell or offer for sale a counterfeit airbag or a nonfunctional airbag;

(b) install or reinstall a counterfeit airbag or nonfunctional airbag in a motor vehicle;

(c) sell, offer for sale, install or reinstall a device in a vehicle that causes the vehicle’s diagnostic system to inaccurately indicate that the vehicle is equipped with a functional airbag when a counterfeit airbag, nonfunctional airbag or no airbag is installed;

(d) represent to another person that a counterfeit airbag or a nonfunctional airbag that is or will be installed in a motor vehicle is an airbag; or

(e) assist or cause a person to violate this subsection.