Title 49 — Transportation

Part A · Chapter 305 — National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

§ 30503. State participation

Statutory text

State Information.—

Each State shall make titling information maintained by that State available for use in operating the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System established or designated under section 30502 of this title.

Verification Checks.—

Each State shall establish a practice of performing an instant title verification check before issuing a certificate of title to an individual or entity claiming to have purchased an automobile from an individual or entity in another State. The check shall consist of—

communicating to the operator—

the vehicle identification number of the automobile for which the certificate of title is sought;

the name of the State that issued the most recent certificate of title for the automobile; and

the name of the individual or entity to whom the certificate of title was issued; and

giving the operator an opportunity to communicate to the participating State the results of a search of the information.

Grants to States.—

In cooperation with the States and not later than January 1, 1994, the Attorney General shall—

conduct a review of systems used by the States to compile and maintain information about the titling of automobiles; and

determine for each State the cost of making titling information maintained by that State available to the operator to meet the requirements of section 30502(d) of this title.

The Attorney General may make reasonable and necessary grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator.

Report to Congress.—

Not later than October 1, 1998, the Attorney General shall report to Congress on which States have met the requirements of this section. If a State has not met the requirements, the Attorney General shall describe the impediments that have resulted in the State’s failure to meet the requirements.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1994
Pub. L. 103–272 § 1(e) · 108 Stat. 745
Enacted · 49 U.S.C. § 30503
Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981
Enacted provision · exact public law section
Section 1. subtitles ii, ii, and v-x of title 49, united states code (a) Certain general and permanent laws of the 49 USC prec. 101 note. United States, related to transportation, are revised, codified, and enacted by subsections (c)–(e) of this section without substantive change as subtitles II, III, and V–X of title 49, United States Code, “Transportation”. Those laws may be cited as “49 U.S.C. ________”. (b) Title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking the table of subtitles at the beginning of the title and substituting the following new table of subtitles: “Subtitle “I. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION “II. OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES “III. GENERAL AND INTERMODAL PROGRAMS “IV. INTERSTATE COMMERCE “V. RAIL PROGRAMS “VI. MOTOR VEHICLE AND DRIVER PROGRAMS “VII. AVIATION PROGRAMS “VIII. PIPELINES “IX. COMMERCIAL SPACE TRANSPORTATION “X. MISCELLANEOUS (c) Title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking subtitle II, except that chapter 31 (comprising sections 3101–3104) of subtitle II is redesignated and restated as chapter 315 (comprising sections 31501–31504) of subtitle VI of title 49, as enacted by subsection (e) of this section. (d) Title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding the following immediately after subtitle I:
1996
Pub. L. 104–152 § 2(c) · 110 Stat. 1384
1. Amended · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(a)
  Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105–102
2. Substituted · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(a)
  Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c), as substituted “National Motor Vehicle Title Information System” for “National Automobile Title Information System”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105–102, substituted “National Motor Vehicle Title Information System” for “National Automobile Title Information System”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(c) System Name.— Chapter 305 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking “National Automobile Title Information System” each place it occurs in the chapter heading, the table of sections for chapter 305, the section heading for section 30502, and in the texts of sections 30502 and 30503 and inserting “National Motor Vehicle Title Information System”.
1996
Pub. L. 104–152 § 3(a) · 110 Stat. 1384
Substituted · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(c)(1)
Pub. L. 104–152, § 3(a), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of Transportation”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–152, § 3(a), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of Transportation”.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Secretary of Transportation.— Sections 30501, 30502, 30503, 30504, and 30505 of title 49, United States Code, are each amended by striking each reference to “Secretary of Transportation” or “Secretary” and inserting “Attorney General”.
1996
Pub. L. 104–152 § 6(a) · 110 Stat. 1384
Amended · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(c)(2)
Pub. L. 104–152, § 6(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Secretary may make grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator if—
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–152, § 6(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Secretary may make grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator if—
“(A) the grant to a State is not more than the lesser of— “(i) 25 percent of the cost of making titling information maintained by that State available to the operator as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; or “(ii) $300,000; and “(B) the Secretary decides that the grants are reasonable and necessary to establish the System.”
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(a) Amendment.— Section 30503(c)(2) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(2) The Attorney General may make reasonable and necessary grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator.“.
1996
Pub. L. 104–152 · 110 Stat. 1384
1. Substituted · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(d)
  Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), 3(a), substituted “October 1, 1998” for “January 1, 1997”
2. Substituted · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(d)
  Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), 3(a), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in two places
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), 3(a), substituted “October 1, 1998” for “January 1, 1997” and substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in two places.
1997
Pub. L. 105–102 § 3(b) · 111 Stat. 2204
Amended · 49 U.S.C. § 30503(a)
Pub. L. 105–102 amended directory language of Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c). See 1996 Amendment note below
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–102 amended directory language of Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c). See 1996 Amendment note below.
Enacted provision · exact public law section
(b) Effective July 2, 1996, section 2(c) of the Anti-Car Theft Improvements Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–152; 110 Stat. 1384) is amended by striking “sections 30502 and 30503” and substituting 49 USC 30501 note, 30501–30504. “sections 30501(6), 30502, 30503, and 30504(a)(1)”.
Effective date note
Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215, provided that the amendment made by section 3(b) is effective July 2, 1996. Amendment by Pub. L. 105–102 effective as if included in the provisions of the Act to which the amendment relates, see section 3(f) of Pub. L. 105–102, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.

6 of 8 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 2 partial

Notes

historicalAndRevision

Historical and Revision Notes
RevisedSection	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
30503(a)	15:2043(a)(1).	Oct. 25, 1992, Pub. L. 102–519, § 203, 106 Stat. 3391.
30503(b)	15:2043(a)(2).
30503(c)	15:2043(b).
30503(d)	15:2043(c).

In subsection (a), the words “for use in operating . . . established or designated” are substituted for “for use in establishing . . . established” for clarity and for consistency with the source provisions restated in section 30502 of the revised title.

In subsection (b), before clause (1), the words “The check” are substituted for “Such instant title verification check” to eliminate unnecessary words. In subclauses (A) and (B), the words “of the automobile” are substituted for “of the vehicle” for consistency in the revised chapter.

In subsection (c)(1)(B), the words “section 30502(d) of this title” are substituted for “subsection (b)” to reflect the apparent intent of Congress.

In subsection (c)(2)(A), before subclause (i), the words “is not more than the lesser of” are substituted for “does not exceed . . . whichever is lower” for clarity. In subclause (i), the words “paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection” are substituted for “subsection (d)(1)(B)” to reflect the apparent intent of Congress.

In subsection (c)(2)(B), the word “fair” is omitted as being included in “reasonable”.

Editorial Notes

Amendments1996–1997 · 2 rounds

1997

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–102 amended directory language of Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c). See 1996 Amendment note below.

1996

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–152, § 2(c), as amended by Pub. L. 105–102, substituted “National Motor Vehicle Title Information System” for “National Automobile Title Information System”.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 104–152, § 3(a), substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary of Transportation”.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 104–152, § 6(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “The Secretary may make grants to participating States to be used in making titling information maintained by those States available to the operator if—

“(A) the grant to a State is not more than the lesser of—

“(i) 25 percent of the cost of making titling information maintained by that State available to the operator as determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; or

“(ii) $300,000; and

“(B) the Secretary decides that the grants are reasonable and necessary to establish the System.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), 3(a), substituted “October 1, 1998” for “January 1, 1997” and substituted “Attorney General” for “Secretary” in two places.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215, provided that the amendment made by section 3(b) is effective July 2, 1996.

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–102 effective as if included in the provisions of the Act to which the amendment relates, see section 3(f) of Pub. L. 105–102, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.

Credits

1994–1997 · 3 acts

1994Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981
1996Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), (c), 3(a), 6(a), July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384, 1385
1997Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215.

Show as published

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 981; Pub. L. 104–152, §§ 2(b), (c), 3(a), 6(a), July 2, 1996, 110 Stat. 1384, 1385; Pub. L. 105–102, § 3(b), Nov. 20, 1997, 111 Stat. 2215.)