[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 69125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30693]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[NHTSA-03-16121]


Insurer Reporting Requirements; Reports Under 49 U.S.C. on 
Section 33112(c)

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual 
insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 1997 reporting year. 
Section 33112(c) of title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this 
information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in 
a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement 
community, and Congress. As required by section 33112(c), this report 
provides information on theft and recovery of vehicles; rating rules 
and plans used by motor vehicle insurers to reduce premiums due to a 
reduction in motor vehicle thefts; and actions taken by insurers to 
assist in deterring thefts.

ADDRESSES: Due to the voluminous content of this report, interested 
persons may obtain a copy of this report by contacting the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. (Docket hours are from 10 
a.m. to 5 p.m.). Requests should refer to Docket No. 2003-16121. This 
report without appendices may also be viewed on-line at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/theft.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ms. Rosalind Proctor, Office of Planning and 
Consumer Standards, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Ms. Proctor's telephone number is (202) 366-0846. Her fax number 
is (202) 493-2290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act 
of 1984 (Theft Act) was implemented to enhance detection and 
prosecution of motor vehicle theft (Pub. L. 98-547). The Theft Act 
added a new Title VI to the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings 
Act, which required the Secretary of Transportation to issue a theft 
prevention standard for identifying major parts of certain high-theft 
lines of passenger cars. The Act also addressed several other actions 
to reduce motor vehicle theft, such as increased criminal penalties for 
those who traffic in stolen vehicles and parts, curtailment of the 
exportation of stolen motor vehicles and off-highway mobile equipment, 
establishment of penalties for dismantling vehicles for the purpose of 
trafficking in stolen parts, and development of ways to encourage 
decreases in premiums charged to consumers for motor vehicle theft 
insurance.
    Title VI (which has since been recodified as 49 U.S.C. Chapter 
331), was designed to impede the theft of motor vehicles by creating a 
theft prevention standard which required manufacturers of designated 
high-theft car lines to inscribe or affix a vehicle identification 
number onto major components and replacement parts of all vehicle lines 
selected as high theft. The theft standard became effective in Model 
Year 1987 for designated high-theft car lines.
    The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-519) amended the law 
relating to the parts-marking of major component parts on designated 
high-theft vehicles. One amendment made by the Anti Car Theft Act was 
to 49 U.S.C. 33101(10), where the definition of ``passenger motor 
vehicle'' now includes a ``multipurpose passenger vehicle or light-duty 
truck when that vehicle or truck is rated at not more than 6,000 pounds 
gross vehicle weight.'' Since ``passenger motor vehicle'' was 
previously defined to include passenger cars only, the effect of the 
Anti Car Theft Act is that certain multipurpose passenger vehicle (MPV) 
and light-duty truck (LDT) lines may be determined to be high-theft 
vehicles subject to the Federal motor vehicle theft prevention standard 
(49 CFR part 541).
    Section 33112 of title 49 requires subject insurers or designated 
agents to report annually to the agency on theft and recovery of 
vehicles, on rating rules and plans used by insurers to reduce premiums 
due to a reduction in motor vehicle thefts, and on actions taken by 
insurers to assist in deterring thefts. Rental and leasing companies 
also are required to provide annual theft reports to the agency. In 
accordance with 49 CFR 544.5, each insurer, rental and leasing company 
to which this regulation applies must submit a report annually not 
later than October 25, beginning with the calendar year for which they 
are required to report. The report would contain information for the 
calendar year three years previous to the year in which the report is 
filed. The report that was due by October 25, 2000, contains the 
required information for the 1997 calendar year. Interested persons may 
obtain a copy of individual insurer reports for CY 1997 by contacting 
the Docket Section, NHTSA, Room 5109, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Requests should refer to Docket No. 00-001; 
Notice 04.
    The annual insurer reports provided under section 33112 are 
intended to aid in implementing the Theft Act and fulfilling the 
Department's requirements to report to the public the results of the 
insurer reports. The first annual insurer report, referred to as the 
Section 612 Report on Motor Vehicle Theft, was prepared by the agency 
and issued in December 1987. The report included theft and recovery 
data by vehicle type, make, line, and model which were tabulated by 
insurance companies and, rental and leasing companies. Comprehensive 
premium information for each of the reporting insurance companies was 
also included. This report, the 13th, discloses the same subject 
information and follows the same reporting format.

    Issued on: December 5, 2003.
Stephen R. Kratzke,
Associate Administrator for Rulemaking.
[FR Doc. 03-30693 Filed 12-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P