[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 15413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06433]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation


Notice of Increase in Civil Penalty for Violations of National 
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Public notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public that NHTSA has satisfied 
the requirements in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act 
(FAST Act) necessary for increases in the maximum amount of civil 
penalties that NHTSA may collect for violations of the National Traffic 
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Vehicle Safety Act) to become effective.

DATES: Effective date: The amendments to 49 U.S.C 30165(a) authorized 
by Section 24110(a) of the FAST Act are effective March 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Healy, Office of the Chief 
Counsel, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., West Building, W41-211, 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992 Fax: (202) 366-3820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2015, the FAST Act, Public 
Law 114-94, was signed into law. Section 24110 of the FAST Act 
increases the maximum civil penalty that NHTSA may collect for each 
violation of the Vehicle Safety Act to $21,000 per violation (currently 
$7,000) and the maximum amount of civil penalties that NHTSA can 
collect for a related series of violations to $105 million (currently 
$35 million). In order for these increases to become effective, the 
Secretary of Transportation must certify to Congress that NHTSA has 
issued the final rule required by Section 31203 of the Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act. Section 31203 required NHTSA to 
provide an interpretation of civil penalty factors in 49 U.S.C. 30165 
for NHTSA\1\ to consider in determining the amount of penalty or 
compromise for violations of the Vehicle Safety Act. Pub. L. 112-141, 
Sec.  31203, 126 Stat. 758 (2012). The increases in maximum civil 
penalties in Section 24110 of the FAST Act became effective the date of 
the Secretary's certification.
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    \1\ NHTSA has been delegated the Secretary of Transportation's 
authority to determine the amount of civil penalty or compromise for 
violations of the Vehicle Safety Act. 49 CFR 1.95.
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    NHTSA issued the final rule required by Section 31203 of MAP-21 on 
February 24, 2016. On March 17, 2016, the Secretary certified to 
Congress by letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and to the Chairman 
and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce that 
NHTSA had issued the Final Rule. Therefore, NHTSA shall enforce the 
increased maximum civil penalties for violation of the Vehicle Safety 
Act in 49 U.S.C. 30165 effective March 17, 2016.

    Authority: Pub. L. 114-94.

    Issued on: March 17, 2016.
Anthony Foxx,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2016-06433 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-59-P