WASHINGTON—Rep. Ed Bryant, R-Tenn., introduced a bill Sept. 28 to create a criminal penalty of up to 10 years in prison for people who knowingly sell tires that are subject to recall.
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., which recently introduced a "bounty" program that pays used-tire dealers $10 for every recalled tire they ship back to BFS, is backing the Bryant bill.
At presstime Oct. 5, Mr. Bryant's staffers expected the bill to be added to the House bill to strengthen NHTSA's ability to respond to product defects, which was before the House Commerce Committee.