Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. Announces
Support For Tire Recall Safety Act Bill

Nashville, TN (October 3, 2000) – Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. today sent a letter to Congressman Ed Bryant (R-TN) in support of the Tire Recall Safety Act (H.R. 5332), a bill introduced by Mr. Bryant last week that imposes criminal penalties on any person who knowingly sells or leases a tire that is subject to a recall. 

A copy of the letter appears below.

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BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE, INC.

50 Century Boulevard
P. O. Box 1408900
Nashville, TN 37214-8900
Phone: 615-872-5000
Fax: 615-872-1599

October 3, 2000


The Honorable Ed Bryant
408 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4207

Dear Congressman Bryant:

We are writing this letter to express Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.'s support for the Tire Recall Safety Act (H.R. 5332), a bill that you introduced last week, which would impose criminal penalties on any person who knowingly sells or leases a tire which is subject to a recall under 49 U.S.C. § 30120.

The practice of reselling used tires under a recall is not only illegal and unethical but, most importantly, jeopardizes public safety. We strongly support any efforts at the federal, state, or local level to prevent the resale of recalled tires, as well as efforts to punish those persons engaged in the sale of recalled tires. In fact, at the suggestion of attorneys general in 14 U.S. states, we introduced a voluntary "bounty program" last week in an effort to get all tires subject to the August 9th voluntary recall of certain Firestone ATX, ATX II, and Wilderness AT tires out of circulation. Under the Bridgestone/Firestone Bounty Program and Used Tire Return Program, we pay a used tire dealer $10.00 per tire when the dealer completes an Inventory Return Form and the recalled tires are shipped back to Bridgestone/Firestone or are shredded at the tire reselleršs place of business.

Bridgestone/Firestone believes that the Tire Recall Safety Act, combined with our voluntary efforts to get all recalled tires out of circulation, will help eliminate the pernicious practice of reselling used tires under a recall. We are committed to working with Congress, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), state authorities, and tire dealers to ensure that no recalled tire is resold or put back into service.

We support your leadership on this important public safety issue and will provide any support and assistance you find necessary.


Sincerely
John T. Lampe
Executive Vice President
Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.