1. Home
  2. |Insights
  3. |NHTSA Proposes Increases in Maximum Civil Penalties

NHTSA Proposes Increases in Maximum Civil Penalties

Client Alert | 2 min read | 09.10.12

This past Friday the Federal Register published the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) notice of proposed rulemaking to increase the maximum civil penalties allowable for violations of certain statutes it administers. The proposed rule would adjust the maximum civil penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Act. The proposed rule would provide the following penalty maximum increases:


Rules

Current Maximum Penalty

Proposed Maximum Penalty

Motor Vehicle Safety Rules

49 U.S.C. § 30112, 30115, 30117-30122, 30123(a), 30125(c), 30127, 30141-30147

  • Single per-day violation: $6,000
  • Series of related violations: $16,375,000
  • Single per-day violation: $7,000
  • Series of related violations: $17,350,000;

School Buses

49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(1), (a)(2)
  • Series of related violations: $16,650,000
  • Series of related violations: $17,250,000

Inspections, Investigations and Records

49 U.S.C. § 30166
  • Single per-day violation: $6,000
  • Series of related violations: $16,375,000
  • Single per-day violation: $7,000
  • Series of related violations: $17,350,000

Bumper Standards

49 U.S.C. § 32506(a)
  • Series of related violations: $1,175,000
  • Series of related violations: $1,225,000

Consumer Information

49 U.S.C. § 32308
  • Series of related violations: $575,000
  • Series of related violations: $600,000

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

49 C.F.R. § 535
  • None codified
  • Series of related violations: $37,500 per vehicle or engine


Comments on the proposed rule are due on October 9, 2012. The proposed rule would take effect thirty days after its final publication in the Federal Register. Though no specific date is identified, the Agency anticipates the revised civil penalties to be in place by December 31, 2012.

Contacts

Insights

Client Alert | 14 min read | 03.13.26

AI for Government: 7 Days for Contractor Comments on GSA Proposed Contract Clause for AI Systems

On March 6, 2026, the General Services Administration (GSA) issued a significant proposed contract clause, GSAR 552.239-7001, Basic Safeguarding of Artificial Intelligence Systems (“Clause”), for inclusion in GSA Schedule solicitations and contracts for AI capabilities.  The proposed clause would impose substantial new requirements related to AI sources, intellectual property rights, data use, change management, and performance standards.  The Clause would also take precedence over any other contract terms (including commercial licensing terms) related to AI, including a Seller’s terms of sale and service to which the Government had previously agreed.  GSA requests comments by March 20, 2026....

View All Insights