Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB17

Alaska SB 17: Crime of Airbag Fraud

Last scannedSep 14, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This bill makes it illegal in Alaska to knowingly sell, install, import, manufacture, or trade vehicles with fake, broken, recalled, or non-compliant airbags.

Creates a new crime called 'airbag fraud' for selling, importing, installing, reinstalling, manufacturing, or trading bad airbags or parts that hide them.
Sets the penalty as a Class A misdemeanor for most violations.
Increases the penalty to a Class C felony if death or serious physical injury results from these acts.

People who sell, import, install, reinstall, manufacture, lease, or trade airbags in Alaska.
Dealers and owners who knowingly sell, lease, or trade vehicles with bad airbags.
Manufacturers of counterfeit or nonfunctioning airbag parts.

The law does not apply to people installing airbags on vehicles used solely for police work.
Dealers and owners are only guilty if they know the airbag is bad; there is no rule forcing them to inspect every car before selling it.
People transferring a vehicle title to an insurance company because of a total loss claim are exempt.
Insurance companies that sell or dispose of vehicles as authorized by law are exempt.

Plain language

Counterfeit: A replacement airbag displaying an unauthorized mark that is identical to, or substantially similar to, the genuine mark of a manufacturer or supplier.
Nonfunctioning: An airbag that is inoperable, damaged, recalled, previously deployed, tricks the car computer into thinking it works when it does not, or causes an electric fault after installation.

Official record

Validated

CRIME COUNTERFEIT/NONFUNCTIONING AIRBAG An Act establishing the crime of airbag fraud.

Official activity