§ 30103. Relationship to other laws
(a)
Uniformity of Regulations.—
The Secretary of Transportation may not prescribe a safety regulation related to a motor vehicle subject to subchapter
I of chapter
135 of this title that differs from a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the Secretary may prescribe, for a motor vehicle operated by a carrier subject to subchapter I of chapter 135, a safety regulation that imposes a higher standard of performance after manufacture than that required by an applicable standard in effect at the time of manufacture.
(b)
Preemption.—
(1)
When a motor vehicle safety standard is in effect under this chapter, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to the standard prescribed under this chapter. However, the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe a standard for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes a higher performance requirement than that required by the otherwise applicable standard under this chapter.
(d)
Warranty Obligations and Additional Legal Rights and Remedies.—
Sections
30117
(b),
30118–30121,
30166
(f), and
30167
(a) and (b) of this title do not establish or affect a warranty obligation under a law of the United States or a State. A remedy under those sections and sections
30161 and
30162 of this title is in addition to other rights and remedies under other laws of the United States or a State.
(e)
Common Law Liability.—
Compliance with a motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under this chapter does not exempt a person from liability at common law.