The proposed bill establishes the crime of airbag fraud in Alaska, defining it as the act of knowingly selling, importing, or installing noncompliant, counterfeit, or nonfunctioning airbags, as well as selling vehicles with such airbags. Specifically, it outlines various actions that constitute airbag fraud, including the manufacture of counterfeit airbags and the intentional sale of vehicles with defective airbags. The bill also provides specific exemptions for certain individuals and situations, such as police vehicles, dealership employees unaware of the airbag's condition, and insurance companies handling total loss vehicles.

Airbag fraud is classified as a class A misdemeanor, escalating to a class C felony if the fraudulent actions result in death or serious physical injury. The bill includes definitions for key terms such as "airbag," "counterfeit," "nonfunctioning," and "recalled," ensuring clarity in the enforcement of the law. Additionally, it clarifies that the new section does not preclude civil liability or impose a duty on vehicle owners or dealership employees to inspect airbags prior to sale.

Statutes affected:
SB0017A, AM SB 17, introduced 01/10/2025: