Vehicle equipment: supplemental restraint system components and nonfunctional airbags.

Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to (a) install, reinstall, rewire, tamper with, alter, or modify for compensation, a vehicle's computer system or supplemental restraint system, otherwise referred to as an airbag, so that it falsely indicates the supplemental restraint system is in proper working order; or (b) knowingly distribute or sell a previously deployed airbag or component that will no longer meet the original equipment manufacturing form or function for proper operation. This bill would repeal these provisions and instead make it a misdemeanor for any person to knowingly and intentionally manufacture, import, install, reinstall, distribute, sell, or offer for sale any device intended to replace a supplemental restraint system component, as defined, in any motor vehicle if the device is a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or a nonfunctional airbag, as defined, or does not meet specified federal safety requirements. The bill would also make it a misdemeanor to knowingly and intentionally sell, install, or reinstall in a vehicle any device that causes the vehicle's diagnostic systems to fail to warn when the vehicle is equipped with a counterfeit supplemental restraint system component or nonfunctional airbag, or when no airbag is installed. The bill would provide that its provisions do not affect any duties, rights, or remedies otherwise available at law or preclude prosecution under any other law. By creating new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.