(a) General rule Notwithstanding any provision of any Federal, State , or local law, any odd-even fuel purchase plan in effect in any State may not prohibit the sale of motor fuel to any person for use in a vehicle bearing a license plate issued by any authority other than that State or a State contiguous to that State. (b) “Odd-even fuel purchase plan” defined For purposes of this section the term “ odd-even fuel purchase plan ” means any motor fuel sales restriction under which a person may purchase motor fuel for use in any vehicle only on days (or other periods of time) determined on the basis of a number or letter appearing on the license plate of that vehicle (or on any similar basis). ( Pub. L. 96–102, title II, § 222 , Nov. 5, 1979 , 93 Stat. 767 .)