49 U.S.C. § 33109 — National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information System

(a) General Requirements — (1) By July 25, 1993, the Attorney General must build and maintain a National Stolen Passenger Motor Vehicle Information System, housed in the National Crime Information Center, listing vehicle identification numbers of stolen vehicles and stolen vehicle parts. For every vehicle reported stolen and not recovered, the System must include at least: (A) the vehicle identification number; (B) the make and model year; (C) the date it was reported stolen; (D) the location of the law enforcement agency that took the report; and (E) the parts' identification numbers at the time of theft, if different from the vehicle's own number. (2) In building the System, the Attorney General must consult (A) state and local law enforcement, and (B) the National Crime Information Center Policy Advisory Board, to keep the System's information secure. (3) If the Center can't handle the System, the Attorney General must arrange for it to run separately. (4) The Attorney General must set the System's effective date by regulation. (b) Requests for Information — (1) The Attorney General must set, by regulation, procedures for anyone planning to transfer a vehicle or part to check whether it's listed as stolen. (2) On request from an insurer, a lawful parts seller or distributor, or a vehicle repair business, the Attorney General (or a designee) must immediately say whether the System shows that vehicle identification number as stolen — and may require reasonable verification that the request is legitimate and won't compromise the System's security. (c) Advisory Committee — (1) By December 24, 1992, the Attorney General must set up an advisory committee in the Justice Department and develop the System with its advice. (2)(A) The committee has 10 members: (i) the Attorney General; (ii) the Secretary of Transportation; and one representative each for (iii) state law enforcement, (iv) local law enforcement, (v) the auto recycling industry, (vi) the auto repair industry, (vii) the auto rebuilding industry, (viii) the auto parts supply industry, (ix) the insurance industry, and (x) consumers. (B) The Attorney General appoints members (iii)-(x) and chairs the committee. (3) The committee recommends how to develop and run (A) the System, and (B) the verification system under section 33110. (4) By April 25, 1993, the committee must send the Attorney General, the Secretary, and Congress a report with its recommendations. (d) Immunity — Anyone who acts under this section, or sections 33110 or 33111, in good faith and reasonably believing they're following the law, is immune from any civil lawsuit for money damages or an injunction over that action, in any U.S. or state court.