(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Air bag.” Has the same meaning as in 49 C.F.R. § 579.4, as amended.
(2) “Counterfeit air bag.” An air bag displaying a mark identical or similar to the genuine mark of a motor vehicle manufacturer, without the authorization of the motor vehicle manufacturer.
(3) “Nonfunctional air bag.” Any of the following:
A. A replacement air bag that has been previously deployed or damaged;
B. A replacement air bag that has an electrical fault that is detected by the air bag diagnostic system of a vehicle after the air bag is installed;
C. A counterfeit air bag, air bag cover, or some other object that is installed in a vehicle to deceive an owner or operator of the vehicle into believing that a functional air bag has been installed.
(b) No person shall install or reinstall in any motor vehicle a counterfeit or nonfunctional air bag or any object intended to fulfill the function of an air bag other than an air bag that was designed in conformance with or that is regulated by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 208 for the make, model, and model year of the vehicle, knowing that the object is not in accordance with that standard.
(c) No person shall knowingly manufacture, import, sell, or offer for sale any of the following:
(1) A counterfeit air bag;
(2) A nonfunctional air bag;
(3) Any other object that is intended to be installed in a motor vehicle to fulfill the function of an air bag and that is not in conformance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard Number 208 for the make, model, and model year of the vehicle in which the object is intended to be installed.
(d) No person shall knowingly sell, install, or reinstall a device in a motor vehicle that causes the diagnostic system of a vehicle to inaccurately indicate that the vehicle is equipped with a functional air bag.
(e) (1) Whoever violates division (b) or (d) of this section is guilty of improper replacement of a motor vehicle air bag, a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense. On each subsequent offense, or if the violation results in serious physical harm to an individual, the person is guilty of a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(2) A violation of division (c) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(3) Each manufacture, importation, installation, reinstallation, sale, or offer for sale in violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.
(R.C. § 4549.20)