HB213 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Paul DeMarcoMary Sue McClurkinPebblin W. WarrenBill PooleWes LongEd HenryKurt WallaceDickie DrakeDavid StandridgeAlan HarperDavid SessionsMac McCutcheonJim CarnsK.L. BrownRandy DavisBarry MooreJohn MerrillJoe HubbardMike HubbardLynn GreerThomas JacksonTerri Collins

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Airbag fraud, crime of created, penalties, enhanced penalties for physical injury, Sec. 13A-11-270 am'd, Sec. 13A-11-271 repealed

Summary

HB213 renames and expands airbag fraud crimes, adding penalties for deceptive airbags and related devices while repealing a prior airbag-related offense.

What This Bill Does

It renames the offense from fraudulent repair of an airbag to 'airbag fraud' and broadens it to cover counterfeit airbags, nonfunctional airbags, or devices that falsely indicate a working airbag. It criminalizes selling, installing, or reinstalling airbags or devices that make a vehicle’s diagnostic system think the airbag is functional when it is not, as well as selling a vehicle with a counterfeit, nonfunctional, or no airbag to deceive a buyer. It imposes enhanced penalties if airbag fraud results in physical injury. It also repeals the existing offense of fraudulent sale of a motor vehicle without an airbag and notes local-funds considerations, with an effective date set several months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Vehicle buyers and lessees, who would be better protected from purchasing vehicles with counterfeit, nonfunctional, or missing airbags or from deceptive safety disclosures.
• Auto repair shops, dealers, and airbag installers, who would face new criminal penalties and compliance expectations for selling, installing, or misrepresenting airbags and related devices.

Key Provisions

• Renames the offense to 'airbag fraud' and defines key terms: airbag, counterfeit airbag, and nonfunctional airbag.
• Creates criminal penalties for selling, installing, or reinstalling airbags or devices that cause the vehicle’s diagnostic system to indicate a functional airbag when it is not, and for selling a vehicle with a counterfeit, nonfunctional, or no airbag to deceive the purchaser; establishes the base and enhanced penalties depending on injuries.
• Repeals Section 13A-11-271, which previously dealt with fraudulent sale of a motor vehicle without an airbag.
• Provides that the bill is exempt from certain local-fund expenditure requirements (per Amendment 621) because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses