49 U.S.C. § 32511
Relationship to other motor vehicle standards
(a) Preemption.—
Except as provided in this section, a State or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe or enforce a bumper standard for a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment only if the standard is identical to a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title .
(b) Enforcement.—
This chapter and chapter 301 of this title do not affect the authority of a State to enforce a bumper standard about an aspect of performance of a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment not covered by a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title if the State bumper standard—
(1)
does not conflict with a standard prescribed under chapter 301 of this title; and
(2)
was in effect or prescribed by the State on October 20, 1972 .
(c) Additional and Higher Standards of Performance.—
The United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State may prescribe a bumper standard for a passenger motor vehicle or passenger motor vehicle equipment obtained for its own use that imposes additional or higher standards of performance than a standard prescribed under section 32502 of this title .
( Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e) , July 5, 1994 , 108 Stat. 1047 .)