would make it illegal for someone to knowingly manufacture, sell or install counterfeit vehicle safety systems, including airbags that fail to meet federal safety standards. Federal officials have flagged the issue nationwide, as unsuspecting consumers don鈥檛 know they were scammed until it鈥檚 too late.
鈥淭hey are sold over the Internet usually and are installed in vehicles of unknowing Oregonians,鈥� said Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, who presented the bill to the Senate.
The bill passed with a bipartisan 25-4 vote and still faces a vote in the House.
The bill would make counterfeit airbags part of the state鈥檚 Unlawful Trade Practices Act, which protects consumers against deceptive practices and allows them to sue for damages. The bill also would allow the attorney general to file a civil action against the perpetrator to force them to stop.
Federal officials can take action in cases with counterfeit airbag equipment that involves trademark infringement, such as having a vehicle manufacturer鈥檚 logo on it. In 2019, Oregon federal prosecutors filed charges against a man who sold counterfeit airbags on Ebay, and he received six months in prison.
But not all counterfeit airbags meet the criteria that qualifies for federal prosecution.
The bill鈥檚 chief sponsor, Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale, who was absent for the vote said the bill would protect consumers from dangerous situations. 鈥淐ounterfeit and nonfunctional car safety components are a danger to us all,鈥� Gorsek said. 鈥淏y enforcing strict regulations and holding violators accountable, we are prioritizing the well-being of our communities and promoting responsible business practices.鈥�
Airbags have saved more than 50,000 lives from 1987 to 2017 in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
One of the bill鈥檚 opponents, Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, said he voted against the bill because he鈥檚 worried that third-party auto parts for consumers would be squeezed out of the market.
Thirty-one states have passed similar legislation.
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