PRINTER'S NO. 629
No. 567 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY PETRONE, BELFANTI, FOX, VAN HORNE, KOSINSKI, VEON,
PISTELLA, LAUGHLIN, TRELLO, GIGLIOTTI, SAURMAN, HERMAN,
CAWLEY, LASHINGER, MELIO, J. L. WRIGHT, CORNELL, DALEY,
REBER, OLIVER, OLASZ, GEIST AND HOWLETT, FEBRUARY 15, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, FEBRUARY 15, 1989
AN ACT
1 Providing for reductions in automobile insurance rates for motor
2 vehicles equipped with antitheft devices.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Antitheft
7 Automobile Insurance Premium Reduction Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Alarm." A horn, bell, siren or other sounding device which
13 is audible at 300 feet.
14 "Department." The Insurance Department of the Commonwealth.
15 "Electronic lock or keyless device." An electronic coding
16 device with more than 10,000 combinations which are entered
17 through a keyboard or similar data entry device or by means of a
1 remote control device.
2 "Passive." An antitheft device or system which is activated
3 automatically when the operator turns the ignition key to the
4 off position.
5 "Tubular." A type of lock whose key is cylindrically shaped
6 and which has at least 50,000 combinations.
7 Section 3. Reduction in premium rates.
8 Insurers engaged in writing automobile insurance within this
9 Commonwealth shall make appropriate reduction in premium
10 charges, as provided in this act, for comprehensive coverage
11 applied to those motor vehicles equipped with antitheft devices
12 which are approved under regulations of the department.
13 Section 4. Discounts.
14 (a) Five percent.--Motor vehicle insurance companies shall
15 give a 5% discount on comprehensive coverage on a motor vehicle
16 equipped with any of the following antitheft devices:
17 (1) An ignition or starter cutoff switch which is
18 inserted into the ignition wiring of a motor vehicle that has
19 flush or tapered door-lock buttons.
20 (2) A nonpassive, externally operated alarm which is
21 activated if a door or the trunk or hood is opened.
22 (3) An internally operated alarm which is activated if a
23 door or the trunk or hood is opened and which meets all the
24 criteria in subsection (b)(1) or (c)(1).
25 (4) A steering column armored collar which clamps on the
26 steering column over the ignition lock.
27 (b) Fifteen percent.--Motor vehicle insurance companies
28 shall give a 15% discount on comprehensive coverage on a motor
29 vehicle equipped with any of the following antitheft devices:
30 (1) An internally operated alarm system which
19890H0567B0629 - 2 -
1 automatically cuts off the ignition or disconnects the
2 starter and is activated if a door or the trunk or hood is
3 opened but which does not meet all the criteria in subsection
4 (c)(1).
5 (2) A nonpassive fuel cutoff device which is activated
6 when a switch is tripped or when the device is engaged by a
7 key.
8 (3) A nonpassive steering lock, operated by a tubular
9 key, which consists of a steel collar and barrel into which
10 the shackle of a lock fits and which is permanently attached
11 to the steering post.
12 (4) An armored cable hood lock and ignition cutoff
13 switch where the cable extends through the firewall and is
14 secured to prevent retraction but which does not meet all the
15 criteria in subsection (c)(6)(i).
16 (5) A window identification system in which
17 identification letters or numbers are etched into all windows
18 of the motor vehicle other than small vent windows.
19 (c) Twenty percent.--Motor vehicle insurance companies shall
20 give a 20% discount on comprehensive coverage on a motor vehicle
21 equipped with any of the following antitheft devices:
22 (1) A passive alarm system which meets the following
23 criteria:
24 (i) The ignition is cut off automatically or the
25 starter is disabled automatically.
26 (ii) The alarm is triggered by opening of doors,
27 hood or trunk.
28 (iii) The hood does not open unless unlocked from
29 inside the vehicle by a key or by an electronic keyless
30 device.
19890H0567B0629 - 3 -
1 (iv) The alarm sounds for no more than eight minutes
2 and resets itself.
3 (v) The alarm does not emit a pulsating, whooping or
4 yelping sound which could cause it to be mistaken for a
5 police, fire or other emergency vehicle siren.
6 (vi) The alarm is installed in the engine
7 compartment so as to be inaccessible without opening the
8 hood.
9 (vii) The system is engaged passively by turning the
10 ignition key to the off position. A tubular lock or
11 electronic keyless device is used to disarm the system.
12 (2) A passive fuel cutoff device, engaged by turning the
13 ignition key to the off position, which requires that a trip
14 be switched to start the motor vehicle and which meets the
15 following criteria:
16 (i) The fuel line is blocked when the power is off.
17 (ii) The switch to open the fuel line is hidden from
18 view but accessible to the driver from the driver's seat.
19 A tubular key or electronic keyless device may be used.
20 (iii) A parking service attendant override switch is
21 provided which is not accessible from the passenger
22 compartment unless a warning buzzer sounds while the
23 engine is running and the override switch is engaged.
24 (iv) Under-the-dash wiring installed with the device
25 blends in color with factory-installed wiring.
26 (3) An armored ignition cutoff switch which is designed
27 to resist tampering and which meets the following criteria:
28 (i) The armored cable runs from a separate key to
29 the coil, starter, solenoid or other engine component.
30 (ii) The device prevents hot-wiring of the motor
19890H0567B0629 - 4 -
1 vehicle.
2 (iii) A separate lock of the tubular type is
3 installed inside the motor vehicle. An electronic keyless
4 device may be used.
5 (4) A passive multicomponent cutoff switch which is
6 activated when the key is turned to the off position and
7 which meets the following criteria:
8 (i) The primary wire to the ignition coil is
9 disconnected.
10 (ii) The device disconnects the starter.
11 (iii) One or more wires to the electronic ignition
12 system or to the points and condenser are disconnected
13 and grounded to the chassis.
14 (iv) The wiring shall blend with factory-installed
15 wiring and the disconnecting grounding wires shall be
16 routed to random points in the electrical system.
17 (v) The control module, if separate from the
18 electronic locking mechanism, is hidden in the engine
19 compartment or other place where it will not be easily
20 detectable.
21 (vi) In order to start the car, a lock or electronic
22 device is used to deactivate the system.
23 (5) A passive time delay ignition system which requires
24 the operator to wait a prescribed time before moving the
25 ignition key from the on position to the start position.
26 (6) An armored cable or electrically operated hood lock
27 and ignition cutoff switch which is a supplemental hood lock
28 operated from within the motor vehicle and which also cuts
29 off the ignition when engaged and which meets the following
30 criteria:
19890H0567B0629 - 5 -
1 (i) The armored cable hood lock has tubing which
2 extends through the firewall. The system is engaged by a
3 pushbutton or other device which facilitates use, and no
4 portion of the hood lock cable is accessible from
5 underneath the motor vehicle.
6 (ii) The electrically operated hood lock remains
7 locked even if the wiring operating the hood lock is cut.
8 The system is engaged by turning the ignition key to the
9 off position. The lock is shielded or armored so that it
10 cannot be operated manually.
11 (7) A passive, delayed ignition cutoff system which
12 disables the ignition circuit at a preset engine speed and
13 meets the following criteria:
14 (i) The ignition cuts off automatically as soon as
15 the engine reaches a speed in the range of 1500 to 2000
16 RPM.
17 (ii) The system is automatically armed when the
18 ignition key is turned to the off position.
19 (iii) A pushbutton or other type of disarm switch is
20 well hidden, and the wiring blends with factory-installed
21 wiring if placed under the dash.
22 (iv) An alarm or horn is actuated at the same time
23 the ignition is disabled.
24 (v) If a parking service attendant switch is
25 provided, a buzzer sounds all the time the engine is
26 running.
27 (8) A passive ignition lock protective system that
28 consists of a protective cap which fits over the ignition to
29 prevent extraction of the ignition lock cylinder.
30 (9) A high-security ignition replacement lock which
19890H0567B0629 - 6 -
1 conforms to Federal standards and cannot be removed using a
2 conventional slide hammer or lock-puller equipment.
3 Section 5. Two or more devices.
4 If two or more antitheft devices listed in section 4 are
5 attached to a motor vehicle, the total discounts shall be that
6 applicable to the device which meets standards for the highest
7 discount.
8 Section 6. Application of act.
9 This act shall apply to all motor vehicle insurance polices
10 issued or renewed on and after January 1, 1990.
11 Section 7. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect immediately.
A18L40VDL/19890H0567B0629 - 7 -