Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Annette Quijano Charles Mainor and Nancy Pinkin to keep counterfeit air bags out of cars and motorists safe received final legislative approval 37-0 by the Senate on Thursday.
The bill was approved 76-0 by the Assembly in June. The measure now goes to the governor.
“By tampering with air bags, these individuals are increasing the potential for injury or worse in the event of an accident,” said Quijano (D-Union). “The roads are treacherous enough. Consumers should trust that the air bags in their vehicles will function properly if they are ever involved in a crash.”
“A properly working air bag can save a life. To think there are individuals who would willingly put others at risk for profit is sickening,” said Mainor (D-Hudson). “Making, selling or knowingly installing faulty air bags is reprehensible and dangerous. This bill would make it a punishable crime.”
“Tinkering with equipment that is meant to protect drivers and passengers in the event of a crash puts motorists at grave risk,” said Pinkin (D-Middlesex). “This will help deter individuals who illegally profit from making, selling or installing nonfunctioning air bags, and keep residents safe on the road.”
The bill (A-3364) makes it a fourth degree crime for a person to manufacture, import, install, reinstall, sell, or offer for sale any device with the intent that the device replace an air bag in any motor vehicle that the person knows or reasonably should know is a counterfeit or nonfunctional air bag, or does not meet certain federal safety requirements.
The bill additionally makes it a fourth degree crime for a person to sell, install, or reinstall in any motor vehicle a device that causes the motor vehicle’s diagnostic system to inaccurately indicate that the vehicle is equipped with a functional air bag when a counterfeit or nonfunctional air bag or no air bag has been installed.