Bringing over from Canada

[neutral]

ahah that makes no sense u cant just have airbags, an airbag will kill u if u dont have ur seatbelt on

You're right of course that could happen. Most US state laws require seatbelt use and you can be fined for not wearing one, a fine most likely to happen in event of an accident although some states allow you to be pulled over just for not wearing it. These cars all have airbags and seatbelts but only one of those systems is required by law to be a passive restraint system that works without human intervention. So, you either see the motorized autobelts OR airbags with manual type seatbelts.

There must be a statute of limitations wrt seatbelt specs after a vehicle hits a certain age.

As I understand it, the mandatory US state vehicle inspections for getting a car titled and getting/renewing registration stay in force forever it seems, defined by a set of safety pass/fail standards that apply to that model year(s) and the design of the vehicle at that time no matter how much time passes. e.g., a 1966 Ford Mustang didn't have bucket seats with headrests and so wouldn't be required to have headrests today - it would still pass inspection. A 1969 Mustang would have to have those headrests because it was US law by '69 and applied to all cars starting in whatever year that law was passed. (68 maybe?)

[Hoodzy]

ahah that makes no sense u cant just have airbags, an airbag will kill u if u dont have ur seatbelt on

You're right of course that could happen. Most US state laws require seatbelt use and you can be fined for not wearing one, a fine most likely to happen in event of an accident although some states allow you to be pulled over just for not wearing it. These cars all have airbags and seatbelts but only one of those systems is required by law to be a passive restraint system that works without human intervention. So, you either see the motorized autobelts OR airbags with manual type seatbelts.

yah but the entire point of this wack law is because they want lazy people protected, ie people whom too lazy to buckle up with manual seatbelt. the auto seatbelts reaffirms this law. but on the other hand this law is proving that airbags alone are useless because they need a law for auto seatbelts. if u try and get what i'm saying ahh its rather confusing

just basically auto seatbelts are not the same as airbags so u cant make a law stating u need one or the other in order to protect the lazy people u can only have auto seatbelts

[de_sjiem]

I was just going over my favourites list.. and i came across the website about bringing vehicles into the states from canada.. Not sure if the original poster (can't remember his name anymore) is still interested or not.. but even if he isn't.. someone else may need this in the future... here it is:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/imp ... 07032.html

just lists some of the guidelines and who to contact etc.. hope this helps someone.. thanks