Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue proposes LB 690 for the state to adopt the Counterfeit Airbag Prevention Act for people who knowingly and intentionally manufacture, import, install, sell fake airbags.
"People are unknowingly driving these ticking time bombs," said Blood.
These counterfeit airbags can show up online on websites like Ebay or vehicle repair shops. Blood said you'll know from the price as real airbag can cost more thn a thousand dollars whereas the fake ones would only cost a couple hundred.
"Unfortunately not everybody is trying to sell you something that is a safe vehicle," said Blood.
This scam is big business as Blood points out the crooks make over $600 billion from these air bags, "Lines the pockets of people who don't care whether you live or die, they only care about how much money they make".
A representative from Honda said in the hearing many of these are produced overseas in places like China.
Anyone who does his will face at least a Class II felony or more depending on the severity of the injury.
Only 15 states have a similar law in the books.
It's up to the judiciary committee on whether it will advance to the full legislative floor.
