NHTSA Maximum Civil Fines Rising March 4
Adjusting for inflation will keep the top penalty for a related series of violations of school bus safety provisions on the march: It would set you back $16,500,000.
Effective March 4, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will raise some of its maximum civil penalties for violating safety standards. The DOT agency published a final rule on Tuesday that adjusts the top penalties for safety requirements involving school buses, bumper standards, consumer information requirements, odometer tampering, and disclosure requirements for inflation.
The maximum civil penalty for a single violation of school bus safety provisions will rise from $10,000 to $11,000, but the maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations under those provisions will climb from $15,000,000 to $16,650,000. Other changes contained in the rule include:
- Maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations of the bumper standards: $1,175,000, up from $1,025,000
- Maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations of the consumer information requirements regarding crashworthiness and damage susceptibility: $575,000, up from $500,000
- Maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations of the odometer requirements: $140,000, up from $130,000
- Maximum civil penalty for a daily violation of vehicle theft protection provisions: $140,000, up from $130,000
- Maximum civil penalty for a related series of violations of the vehicle theft protection provisions: $350,000, up from $325,000
Petitions for reconsideration should refer to Docket ID Number NHTSA-2009-0066 and be submitted via www.regulations.gov.