[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TITLE BRANDING LEGISLATION

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Today I express my appreciation to the majority leader, 
Senator Ford, Senator Gorton, and Senator McCain for their hard work 
and efforts on S. 852, the National Salvage Motor Vehicle Consumer 
Protection Act. I believe S. 852 will deter automobile theft and 
protect consumers by providing them with notice of severely damaged 
vehicles. I would like to emphasize one provision contained in the 
bill. It is my understanding that the process of reducing salvage and 
nonrepairable vehicles to parts cannot begin before receipt of a 
salvage title, nonrepairable vehicle certificate, or other appropriate 
ownership documentation under state law. If a vehicle could be 
dismantled prior to the receipt of the appropriate ownership documents, 
then the parts from a severely damaged vehicle could skirt the titling 
system which this bill has put in place to deter automobile theft. Is 
my understanding correct?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes, that is correct. A vehicle that would qualify as a 
nonrepairable or as salvage vehicle cannot be taken apart for its parts 
before appropriate ownership documentation has been received for that 
vehicle.
  Mr. President, I appreciate that the Senator from Colorado has taken 
the time to address this important issue.

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