Political
New Jersey Assembly and Small Business Auto Repair Shops Reintroduced 'Right to Repair Act'
By prnewswire.com
Jan 11, 2008, 12:53

Alexandria, VA — Jan. 10, 2008 — PRNewswire-USNewswire — "Dedicated to the rights and well-being of New Jersey's motoring consumers and free-market competition in the automotive repair industry, several Assemblypersons, led by Reed Gusciora (D-Trenton); Consumer Affairs Committee Chairwoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-Camden); and Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Mercer), along with Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Brooklawn) have reintroduced 'The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, AB 803,'" stated David Parde, president, The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).

Due to several issues on the legislative calendar in 2007, including the state budget, the legislative clock ran out on the pro-motoring consumer legislators. Thus, at the first opportunity, Assemblyman Gusciora prefiled AB 803. Immediately joining him in the initial introduction were Assemblypersons Cruz-Perez, and Watson Coleman. In addition to these original sponsors, AB 803 was introduced with cosponsors: Joseph Vas (D-Perth Amboy); Sheila Oliver (D-E. Orange); John McKeon (D-S. Orange); Douglas Fisher (D-D-Bridgeton); John Burzichelli (D-Thorofare); Upendra Chivukula (D-Somerset); Joseph Cryan (D-Union); Vincent Prieto (D-Secaucus); Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) and Joan Voss (D-Ft. Lee).

The passage of The Right to Repair Act is imperative to motorists who have 1994 and newer vehicles equipped with computers. The computers, even on out-of-warranty vehicles, often preclude the independent repair shops from fully repairing them, thereby forcing motorists of all financial backgrounds back to the car dealerships. The car manufacturers have locked the independent repair industry out of much of the necessary repair information in order to keep their repair monopoly, to the detriment of motorists.

The great difficulty in repairing newer vehicles, and the often inability to fully repair, has created a safety hazard for those who need immediate repairs but may not be near the "appropriate" car dealership or ANY car dealership, hurts low and fixed income motorists, hurts fuel efficiency, the environment, jobs and competition.

"The question is," stated Parde, "who owns YOUR car? You or the car companies? Motorists spend many thousands of hard-earned dollars to purchase a vehicle. They should have the right to choose where, how and by whom to have their vehicles repaired, whose parts they wish to purchase, even work on their vehicles themselves. No one knows better what is good for the consumer but the consumers themselves," stated Parde.

New Jersey is a unique position to be the first state to pass The Right to Repair Act and give motoring consumers a victory over decisions on their own property. AB 803 will boost the national Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act, HR 2694, which will help all motoring consumers nationwide.

"New Jersey has 7,036 aftermarket locations, many of them small, family owned businesses. AB 803 gives New Jersey the ability to have cleaner air, better fuel efficiency, fair market competition and consumers the choices they deserve and need," concluded Parde.

Source: Coalition for Auto Repair Equality
CONTACT: Sandy Bass-Cors of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality, 800-229-5380 ext. 2