109th Congress on EDR as of June 14 2006
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5609
To require automobile dealers to disclose to consumers the presence of
event data recorders, or `black boxes', on new automobiles, and to
require manufacturers to provide the consumer with the option to
enable and disable such devices on future automobiles.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 14, 2006
Mrs. BONO (for herself and Mr. CAPUANO) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To require automobile dealers to disclose to consumers the presence of
event data recorders, or `black boxes', on new automobiles, and to
require manufacturers to provide the consumer with the option to
enable and disable such devices on future automobiles.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Consumers have the right to know that event data
recorders are installed in their vehicles, that they are
capable of collecting data recorded in automobile
accidents, and how such data may be used.
(2) From the standpoint of consumer privacy rights, most
consumers are not aware that their vehicles are recording
data that not only may be used to aid traffic safety
analyses, but has the potential of being used against them
in a civil or criminal proceeding, or by their insurer to
increase rates.
(3) There exists no Federal law clarifying the rights of a
vehicle owner to ownership of the recorded data and, in
the absence of Federal direction, States have begun to
create different standards of ownership and rights for
recorded data.
SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE OF EVENT DATA RECORDERS ON
AUTOMOBILES.
(a) Required Disclosure- In accordance with regulations
prescribed by the Federal Trade Commission under section 5(c),
a dealer shall disclose, to each consumer who purchases a new
automobile, in a clear and conspicuous written format at the
time of purchase, the following information regarding any event
data recorder installed on such new automobile--
(1) the presence and location of an event data recorder;
(2) the type of information recorded by the event data
recorder and how such information is recorded; and
(3) that the information recorded by the event data
recorder also may be used in a law enforcement
proceeding.
(b) Required Disclosures in Owner's Manual- The manufacturer
shall include, in clear and conspicuous language in the owner's
manual of any new automobile containing an event data
recorder, the disclosures required by subsection (a).
SEC. 3. OWNERSHIP AND RETRIEVAL OF EVENT DATA
RECORDER DATA.
Any event data recorder in the vehicle and any data recorded on
any event data recorder in the vehicle shall be considered the
property of the owner of the vehicle. Data that is recorded on
any event data recorder may not be downloaded or otherwise
retrieved by a person other than the owner of the motor vehicle,
except under one of the following circumstances:
(1) The owner of the motor vehicle or the owner's agent or
legal representative consents to the retrieval of the
information.
(2) In response to an order of a court having jurisdiction to
issue the order.
(3) The data is retrieved by a motor vehicle dealer, or by
an automotive technician for the purpose of diagnosing,
servicing, or repairing the motor vehicle.
(4) For the purpose of improving motor vehicle safety,
including medical research on the human body's reaction
to motor vehicle accidents, provided that the identity of
the registered owner or driver is not disclosed in
connection with that retrieved data.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT FOR EVENT DATA RECORDERS ON
NEW AUTOMOBILES.
No person may manufacture for sale, sell, offer for sale,
introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, or import into the
United States, an automobile manufactured after 2008 (and
bearing a model year of 2009 or later) that is equipped with an
event data recorder, unless such event data recorder includes a
function whereby the consumer has the option to enable or
disable the recording function of the event data recorder. Once
disabled, the recording function shall not resume functioning
until the consumer elects to enable such functioning.
SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Treatment of Violations as Unfair or Deceptive Acts or
Practices- A violation of section 2, 3 or 4 shall be treated as a
violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice
prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(b) Federal Trade Commission Authority- The Federal Trade
Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the
same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties
as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal
Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated
into and made a part of this Act.
(c) Rulemaking- Within 180 days following the enactment of this
Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall prescribe regulations to
carry out this Act, including guidelines setting forth a uniform
method by which a dealer may provide the disclosures and
options required by section 2.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) The term `consumer' has the meaning given the term
`ultimate purchaser' in section 2 of the Automobile
Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1231).
(2) The term `dealer' has the meaning given that term in
section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
(3) The term `event data recorder' means any device or
means of technology installed in an automobile that
records information such as vehicle speed, seatbelt use,
application of brakes or other information pertinent to the
operation of the automobile.
(4) The terms `manufacturer' and `new automobile' have
the meanings given those terms in section 2 of the
Automobile Information Disclosure Act (15 U.S.C. 1231).
SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.