mation, or fail or refuse to permit entry or inspection, as required under this title or any rule issued thereunder; or

(4)(A) fail to furnish a certificate required by section 105(c), or (B) issue a certificate required by such subsection to the effect that a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment conforms to all applicable bumper standards, if such person knows, or in the exercise of due care has reason to know, that such certificate is false or misleading in a material respect.

(b)(1) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall not apply to the sale, the offer for sale, or the introduction or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce of any passenger motor vehicle or any passenger motor vehicle equipment after the first purchase of it in good faith for purposes other than resale. Nothing contained in this paragraph shall be construed as prohibiting the Secretary from promulgating any standard which requires vehicles or equipment to be manufactured so as to perform in accordance with the standard over a specified period of operation or use.

(2) Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall not apply to any person who establishes that he did not have reason to know in the exercise of due care that the vehicle or item of equipment is not in conformity with applicable bumper standards or to any person who, prior to such first purchase, holds a certificate issued under section 105(c) to the effect that the vehicle or item of equipment conforms to all applicable Federal bumper standards, unless such person knows that such vehicle or such equipment does not so conform.

(3) A passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment offered for importation in violation of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) shall be refused admission into the United States under joint regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary; except that the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary may, by such regulations, provide for authorizing the importation of such vehicle or equipment into the United States upon such terms and conditions (including the furnishing of a bond) as may appear to them appropriate to insure that any such vehicle or such equipment will be brought into conformity with any applicable Federal bumper standard prescribed under this title, or will be exported or abandoned to the United States.

(4) The Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary may, by joint regulations, permit the importation of any passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment after the first purchase of it in good faith for purposes other than resale.

(c) Compliance with any Federal bumper standard issued under this title does not exempt any person from any liability under statutory or common law.

ENFORCEMENT

SEC. 107. [1917] (a) Whoever violates subsection (a) of section 106 may be assessed a civil penalty of not to exceed $1,000 for each violation. Such penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary and collected in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or by the Secretary (with the concurrence of the Attorney General) by any of the Secretary's attorneys designated by the Secretary for such pur

pose. With respect to violations of paragraph (1) or (4) of subsection (a) of section 106, a separate violation is committed with respect to each passenger motor vehicle or each item of passenger motor vehicle equipment which fails to conform to an applicable bumper standard or for which a certificate is not furnished or for which a misleading or false certificate is issued; except that the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $800,000 for any related series of violations.

(b)(1) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates section 106(a)(1) after having received notice of noncompliance from the Secretary shall be fined not more than $50,000 or be imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(2) If a corporation violates section 106(a)(1) after having received notice of noncompliance from the Secretary, any individual director, officer, or agent of such corporation who knowingly and willfully authorized, ordered, or performed any of the acts or practices constituting in whole or in part such violation and who had knowledge of such notice from the Secretary shall be subject to penalties under this section in addition to the corporation.

(c)(1) Upon petition by the Secretary or by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, the United States district courts shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown and subject to the provisions of rule 65 (a) and (b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to restrain violations of this title, or to restrain the sale, offer for sale, or the introduction or delivery for introduction in interstate commerce, or the importation into the United States, of any passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment which is determined, prior to the first purchase of such vehicle or such equipment in good faith for purposes other than resale, not to conform to applicable bumper standards prescribed pursuant to this title. Whenever practicable, the Secretary shall give notice to any person against whom an action for injunctive relief is contemplated and afford him an opportunity to present his views, and, except in the case of a knowing and willful violation, shall afford him reasonable opportunity to achieve compliance. The failure to give such notice and afford such opportunity shall not preclude the granting of appropriate relief.

(2) In any proceeding for criminal contempt for violation of an injunction or restraining order issued under this subsection, which violation also constitutes a violation of this title, trial shall be by the court, or upon demand of the accused, by a jury. Such trial shall be conducted in accordance with the practice and procedure applicable in the case of proceedings subject to the provisions of rule 42(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.

(3) Actions under paragraph (1) of this subsection and under subsection (a) of this section may be brought in the district wherein any act or transaction constituting the violation occurred, or in the district wherein the defendant is found or is an inhabitant or transacts business, and process in such cases may be served in any other district of which the defendant is an inhabitant or wherever the defendant may be found.

(4) In any actions brought under paragraph (1) of this subsection and under subsection (a) of this section, subpenas for witnesses who

are required to attend a United States district court may run into any other district.

CIVIL ACTION

SEC. 108. [1918] (a) Any owner of a passenger motor vehicle who sustains damages as a result of a motor vehicle accident because such vehicle did not comply with any applicable Federal bumper standard under this title may bring a civil action against the manufacturer of that vehicle in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, or in the United States district court for the judicial district in which that owner resides, to recover the amount of those damages, and in the case of any such successful action to recover that amount, costs and reasonable attorneys' fees shall be awarded to that owner.

(b) Any such action shall be brought within three years of the date of the motor vehicle accident.

PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION

SEC. 109. [1919] Subject to section 104(b), copies of any communications, documents, reports, or other information sent or received by the Secretary in connection with his duties under this title shall be made available to any member of the public, upon request, at

cost.

EFFECT ON STATE LAWS

SEC. 110. [1920] (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no State or political subdivision thereof shall have any authority to establish or enforce with respect to any passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment offered for sale any bumper standard which is not identical to a Federal bumper standard.

(b)(1) Until a Federal bumper standard takes effect with respect to an aspect of performance of a passenger motor vehicle or of an item of passenger motor vehicle equipment, neither this Act nor the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 1391, et seq.) shall affect the authority of a State to continue to enforce any bumper standard which is applicable to the same aspect of performance of such vehicle or item of equipment, which is not in conflict with any Federal standard promulgated under title 1 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, and which was in effect or had been promulgated on the date of enactment of this Act.

(2) The Federal Government or the government of any State or political subdivision thereof may establish a bumper standard applicable to vehicles or equipment procured for its own use which is not identical to the Federal standard under section 102 if such requirement imposes an additional or higher standard of perform

ance.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 111. [1921] There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title $320,000 for fiscal year 1983, $343,000 for fiscal year 1984, and $365,000 for fiscal year 1985.

REPORTS

SEC. 112. [1922] The Secretary shall report to the Congress and to the President not later than March 31 of each year on the progress in carrying out the purposes of this title. Each such report shall contain a statement of the cost savings that have resulted from the administration of this title, and include such recommendations for further legislative or other action as the Secretary determines may be appropriate.

TITLE II-AUTOMOBILE CONSUMER INFORMATION STUDY

CONSUMER INFORMATION

SEC. 201. [1941] (a) During the first year after enactment of this Act the Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive study and investigation of the methods for determining the following characteristics of passenger motor vehicles:

(1) The damage susceptibility of such vehicles.

(2) The degree of crashworthiness of such vehicles.

(3) The characteristics of such vehicles with respect to the ease of diagnosis and repair of mechanical and electrical systems which fail during use or which are damaged in motor vehicle accidents.

(b) After reviewing the methods for determining the characteristics enumerated in subsection (a), the Secretary shall make specific recommendations for the further development of existing methods or for the development of new methods.

(c) After the study has been completed the Secretary is authorized and directed to devise specific ways in which existing information and information to be developed relating to (1) the characteristics of passenger motor vehicles enumerated in subsection (a), or (2) vehicle operating costs dependent upon those characteristics (including information obtained pursuant to section 205 of this title), can be communicated to consumers so as to be of benefit in their passenger motor vehicle purchasing decisions.

(d) The Secretary shall compile the information described in subsection (c) and furnish it to the public in a simple and readily understandable form in order to facilitate comparison among the various makes and models of passenger motor vehicles with respect to the characteristics enumerated in subsection (a). The Secretary may by rule require automobile dealers to distribute to prospective purchasers any information compiled pursuant to this subsection. (e) The Secretary, not later than February 1, 1975, shall by rule establish procedures requiring automobile dealers to distribute to prospective purchasers information developed by the Secretary and provided to the dealer which compares differences in insurance costs for different makes and models of passenger motor vehicles

based upon differences in damage susceptibility and crashworthi

ness.

ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS

SEC. 202. [1942] In order to carry out his functions under this title the Secretary is authorized to

(1) appoint and fix the compensation of such employees as he deems necessary without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointment in the competitive service and without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates;

(2) obtain the services of experts and consultants in accordance with the provisions of section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed $100 per diem;

(3) contract with any person for the conduct of research and surveys and the preparation of reports; and

(4) appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive services, such advisory committees, representative of the divergent interests involved, as he deems appropriate for the purposes of consultation with and advice to the Secretary.

Members of advisory committees appointed under paragraph (4) of this section, other than those regularly employed by the Federal Government, while attending meetings of such committees or otherwise serving at the request of the Secretary, may be compensated at rates to be fixed by the Secretary but not exceeding $100 per day, and while away from home or regular place of business they may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons in the Government service employed intermittently. Members of such advisory committees shall, for the purposes of chapter 11, title 18, United States Code, be deemed to be special Government employees.

COOPERATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES

SEC. 203. [1943] (a) The Secretary may request from any department, agency, or independent instrumentality of the Government any information he deems necessary to carry out his functions under this title; and each such department, agency, or independent instrumentality is authorized and directed to cooperate with the Secretary and furnish such information to the Department of Transportation upon request made by the Secretary.

(b) The head of any Federal department, agency, or independent instrumentality may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any personnel of such department, agency, or independent instrumentality to assist in carrying out the duties of the Secretary under this title.

HEARINGS AND PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

SEC. 204. [1944] (a) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title, the Secretary, or on the authorization of the Sec