NHTSA Seeks OMB Approval to Reinstated Criminal Penalty Safe Harbor Data Collection

LATEST MATERIAL CHANGE

What changed?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has filed a request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew, for another three‑year period, its previously approved Information Collection Request (ICR) for the Criminal Penalty Safe Harbor Provision. The ICR, which was granted a three‑year approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, requires NHTSA to gather data on how the safe harbor provision is applied in criminal penalty cases involving automotive safety violations. NHTSA published a notice on May 29, 2026, inviting public comment on the reinstatement; the agency received no comments. The agency now awaits OMB’s review and approval, after which it will resume collecting the required information under the same terms as the original approval.

Why it matters

The renewal will allow NHTSA to continue monitoring enforcement of safe harbor provisions, ensuring that criminal penalties are applied consistently and that automotive safety regulations remain effective.