The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a delay of its final rule (FR) on civil penalties and issued a notice of reconsideration of its FR and request for comments on civil penalties.
NHTSA is delaying the effective date of the FR entitled “Civil Penalties,” published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2016, because NHTSA is reconsidering the appropriate level for Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) civil penalties. NHTSA also seeks comment on whether and how to amend the civil penalty rate for violations of CAFE standards.
NHTSA initially raised the civil penalty rate for CAFE standard violations for inflation in 2016, but upon further consideration, NHTSA believes that obtaining additional public input on how to proceed with CAFE civil penalties in the future will be helpful. Therefore, NHTSA is issuing this document to seek public comment as it reconsiders its final rule regarding the appropriate inflationary adjustment for CAFE civil penalties. Comments must be received by October 10.