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Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60

§1233 Violations and Penalties

Title 15 › Chapter 28— DISCLOSURE OF AUTOMOBILE INFORMATION › § 1233

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Car makers who sell new cars must put the label required by section 1232 on each new car and must clearly sign or mark that label. If a manufacturer on purpose fails to attach the label, fails to mark it clearly, or makes a false marking, they can be fined up to $1,000. Each car is a separate offense. Anyone who on purpose removes, changes, or makes a required label or its marking unreadable before the car is delivered to the buyer can be fined up to $1,000, jailed up to one year, or both. Each car is a separate offense. The maker may relabel a car if it is rerouted, bought back, or otherwise taken back by the manufacturer.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §1233

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any manufacturer of automobiles distributed in commerce who willfully fails to affix to any new automobile manufactured or imported by him the label required by section 1232 of this title shall be fined not more than $1,000. Such failure with respect to each automobile shall constitute a separate offense.
(b)Any manufacturer of automobiles distributed in commerce who willfully fails to endorse clearly, distinctly and legibly any label as required by section 1232 of this title, or who makes a false endorsement of any such label, shall be fined not more than $1,000. Such failure or false endorsement with respect to each automobile shall constitute a separate offense.
(c)Any person who willfully removes, alters, or renders illegible any label affixed to a new automobile pursuant to section 1232 of this title, or any endorsement thereon, prior to the time that such automobile is delivered to the actual custody and possession of the ultimate purchaser of such new automobile, except where the manufacturer relabels the automobile in the event the same is rerouted, repurchased, or reacquired by the manufacturer of such automobile, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Such removal, alteration, or rendering illegible with respect to each automobile shall constitute a separate offense.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the later of Oct. 1, 1958, or the first day of the introduction of any new model of automobile in any line of automobile beginning after July 7, 1958, see section 5 of Pub. L. 85–506, set out as a note under section 1231 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 1233

Title 15 — Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60