Washington - At the Maryland House Judiciary Committee hearing on counterfeit airbag legislation, the Association of Global Automakers (AGA) urged the committee to pass House Bill 885, making it a criminal offense if an individual knowingly sells or installs a counterfeit airbag in a vehicle.

"This is a public safety issue that auto manufacturers are taking very seriously," said Paul Scullion, Manager of Safety at AGA. "This legislation is needed to make individuals think twice before they intentionally make, distribute, sell, install, misrepresent or otherwise encourage the use of non-functional or counterfeit airbags."

Last fall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert after becoming aware of sales and installations of counterfeit airbags that posed a risk of serious injury to the public. Since then, AGA has worked with NHTSA and state legislatures to bring attention to this issue.

"I view this issue as an important consumer protection concern for all Marylanders," said Maryland State Delegate Keiffer Mitchell Jr. "The rising prevalence of counterfeit airbags across the country requires action be taken now in the General Assembly to ensure Maryland's families are not exposed to inadequate protections in the event of a crash."

AGA worked with bill sponsor Delegate Keiffer Mitchell Jr.'s office to provide technical expertise on the issue during the drafting of the legislation. AGA will continue to be proactive on this issue by working with other state legislatures to pass laws addressing counterfeit airbags.