By
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON - A Senate committee approved legislation yesterday that would give federal regulators more authority to investigate vehicle-related safety defects.
The measure is "an imperfect piece of legislation," said Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee. But, given the Firestone tire recall, he said it was important for Congress to act.
Bridgestone/Firestone last month recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires. Thousands of people have reported problems with the tires, usually tread separations.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week raised the number of possible tire-related deaths it is investigating from 88 to 103.
McCain, R-Ariz., said there is a "strong possibility that we could get some action before Congress goes out of session" in a few weeks.
The measure would provide criminal penalties of up to 15 years in prison for executives of corporations who knowingly sell a defective product that causes death.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a powerful lobby representing 13 of the world's automakers, strongly opposes the provision.
The group's spokeswoman, Gloria Bergquist, said there already are criminal penalties for willful violations of safety standards. Also, she said the standard that the bill sets for producing a "defective" product is "very subjective."
"We don't believe something that is so subjective should be criminalized," she said.
The alliance opposes a provision that would require manufacturers to report accidents and claims and warranty data related to safety problems.
"We think that they would produce mountains of paper that would bury any useful insights that are in them," Bergquist said.
In the House, legislation sponsored by Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., does not include criminal penalties and only requires tire makers, not automakers, to turn over claims and warranty data.
