Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 88 Part 2.djvu/163

 88 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 93-492-OCT. 27, 1974

priate State and local officials to the greatest extent possible consistent with the purposes of this subsection. "(2) For purposes of carrying out paragraph (1), officers or employees duly designated by the Secretary, upon presenting appropriate credentials and written notice to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, are authorized at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner— " (A) to enter (i) any factory, warehouse, or establishment in which motor vehicles or items of motor vehicle equipment are manufactured, or held for introduction into interstate commerce or are held for sale after such introduction, or (ii) any premises where a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment involved in a motor \ehicle accident is located; " (B) to impound for a period not to exceed 72 hours, any motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment involved in a motor vehicle accident; and " (C) to inspect any factory, warehouse, establishment, vehicle, or equipment referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B). Each inspection under this paragraph shall be commenced and completed with reasonable promptness. "(3)(A) Whenever, under the authority of paragraph (2)(B), the Secretary inspects or temporarily impounds for the purpose of inspection any motor vehicle (other than a vehicle subject to part II of the Interstate (^.ommerce Act) or an item of motor vehicle equipment, he shall pay reasonable compensation to the owner of such vehicle to the extent that such inspection or impounding results in the denial of the use of the vehicle to its owner or in the reduction in value of the vehicle. " (B) As used in this subsection, 'motor vehicle accident' means an occurrence associated with the maintenance, use, or operation of a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment in or as a result of which any person suffers death or personal injury, or in which there is property damage. " (b) Every manufacturer of motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment shall establish and maintain such records and every manufacturer, dealer, or distributor shall make such reports, as the Secretary may reasonably require to enable him to determine whether such manufacturer, dealer, or distributor has acted or is acting in compliance with this title or any rules, regulations, or orders issued thereunder and shall, upon request of an officer or employee duly designated by the Secretary, permit such officer or employee to inspect appropriate books, papers, records, and documents relevant to determining whether such manufacturer, dealer, or distributor has acted or is acting in compliance with this title or any rules, regulations, or orders issued thereunder. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as imposing recordkeeping requirements on distributors or dealers, except those requirements imposed under section 158 and regulations and orders promulgated thereunder. "(c)(1) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title, the Secretary, or on the authorization of the Secretary, any officer or employee of the Department of Transportation may hold such hearings, take such testimony, sit and act at such times and places, administer such oaths, and require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, contracts, agreements, or other records as the Secretary, or such officer or employee, deems advisable. "(2) In order to carry out the provisions of this title, the Secretary or his duly authorized agent shall at all reasonable times have access to, and for the purposes of examination the right to copy, any docu-

1479

Impoundment of motor v e h i c l e s.

Compensation to vehicle

49 USC 3 0 1.

"Motor vehicle accident."

Hearings.

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