49 CFR § 578.2 - Purpose.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s578.2"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 578.2 - Purpose."
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "578.2"
section_name: "Purpose."
chapter_name: "NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
part_number: "578"
part_name: "CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "Pub. L. 92-513, Pub. L. 94-163, Pub. L. 98-547, Pub. L. 101-410, Pub. L. 102-388, Pub. L. 102-519, Pub. L. 104-134, Pub. L. 109-59, Pub. L. 110-140, Pub. L. 112-141, Pub. L. 114-74, Pub. L. 114-94 (49 U.S.C. 30165, 30170, 30505, 32308, 32309, 32507, 32709, 32710, 32902, 32912, 33114, and 33115); delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.81, 1.95."
regulatory_source: "62 FR 5169, Feb. 4, 1997, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "578"
---


# 578.2 Purpose.

One purpose of this part is to effectuate the remedial impact of civil penalties and to foster compliance with the law by specifying the civil penalties for statutory and regulatory violations, as adjusted for inflation. Another purpose of this part is to set forth NHTSA's interpretation of the civil penalty factors listed in 49 U.S.C. 30165(c). A third purpose of this part is to set forth the requirements regarding the reasonable time and the manner of correction for a person seeking safe harbor protection from criminal liability under 49 U.S.C. 30170(a).

[81 FR 10527, Mar. 1, 2016]