Appeals Court overturns tire pressure monitoring mandate

WASHINGTON (Aug. 7)—A U.S. Appeals Court in New York has overturned the tire pressure monitoring requirement mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, declaring it "contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious." A three-judge panel at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the rule vacated and remanded it back to NHTSA for further rulemaking. NHTSA reportedly has the option to appeal the decision to the full Second Circuit court. The suit was brought nearly a year ago by three public advocacy groups: Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen and New York Public Interest Research Group, which argued against NHTSA´s decision to allow car makers to opt for an indirect monitoring system because such systems are accurate only half the time. "This decision will block the pro-industry, anti-consumer, deregulatory campaign of the Bush Administration," said Clarence Ditlow, executive director of CAS, in a prepared statement. The tire pressure monitoring rule was mandated by the Transportation Recall Enhancement and Accountability Act of 2001.