49 U.S.C. § 30172
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThe date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsec. (i), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 114-94 which was approved Dec. 4, 2015.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
RULE OF CONSTRUCTION Pub. L. 114-94, div. B, title XXIV, §24352(b), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1720, provided that:"(1) ORIGINAL INFORMATION.-Information submitted to the Secretary of Transportation by a whistleblower in accordance with the requirements of section 30172 of title 49, United States Code, shall not lose its status as original information solely because the whistleblower submitted the information prior to the effective date of the regulations issued under subsection (i) of that section if that information was submitted after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015]."(2) AWARDS.-A whistleblower may receive an award under section 30172 of title 49, United States Code, regardless of whether the violation underlying the covered action occurred prior to the date of enactment of this Act, and may receive an award prior to the Secretary of Transportation promulgating the regulations under subsection (i) of that section."
- defect
- "defect" includes any defect in performance, construction, a component, or material of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment.
- manufacturer
- "manufacturer" means a person-(A) manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment; or(B) importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale.
- motor vehicle equipment
- "motor vehicle equipment" means-(A) any system, part, or component of a motor vehicle as originally manufactured;(B) any similar part or component manufactured or sold for replacement or improvement of a system, part, or component, or as an accessory or addition to a motor vehicle; or(C) any device or an article or apparel, including a motorcycle helmet and excluding medicine or eyeglasses prescribed by a licensed practitioner, that-(i) is not a system, part, or component of a motor vehicle; and(ii) is manufactured, sold, delivered, or offered to be sold for use on public streets, roads, and highways with the apparent purpose of safeguarding users of motor vehicles against risk of accident, injury, or death.
- motor vehicle
- "motor vehicle" means a vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power and manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways, but does not include a vehicle operated only on a rail line.