Since federal law required On-Board Diagnostic systems in vehicles, some repair facilities have found it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary information they need to repair newer vehicles. Also, major car companies are trying to lock out your neighborhood repair shops from the technical information and equipments needed to fix your car to sell more parts and service. Consumers are losing their right to choose the repair shop and the replacement parts to maintain their vehicles. Non-dealership repair options are especially important for people living in rural communities, where licensed automobile dealerships may be located more than 100 miles away from independent repair facilities.
The Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2048), introduced in the U.S. House in May 2005, will allow automobile owners or their technicians’ access to the same information and tools available to franchised dealers to repair and maintain late model computer controlled vehicle systems. This bill has 35 House cosponsors so far and currently stays in the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
The National Grange has recently joined the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality to support the Right to Repair Act. As part of this year’s National Grange priority legislative issues, National Grange grassroots delegates adopted the following policy statement under the heading Consumer Protection Law:
“The National Grange requests federal legislators to pass legislation that allows independent vehicle maintenance facilities or car dealership garages to have access to the technology/programming needed to repair all makes of vehicles so that the consumer has a choice of where to take his/her vehicle for maintenance and repair.”
Action Needed:
Please contact your U.S. Representative and the leadership of the House Subcommittee on Commerce to support H.R. 2048!
Sample letter: (Please feel free to copy and paste this letter in your e-mail )
Dear Rep. __________:
Please co-sponsor H.R. 2048, the Motor Vehicles Owners’ Right to Repair Act, which will permit automobile owners to choose the repair shop and the replacement parts to service and maintain their vehicles. Later model cars can sometimes only be serviced at automobile dealerships, making shopping around for the best prices and most convenient service locations difficult for the consumer. Especially those who live in rural communities, where licensed automobile dealerships may be more than 100 miles away, need the bill to assure the non-dealership repair options.
Please join to protect consumer’s “right to repair” by co-sponsoring H.R. 2048.
Thanks for your support.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
(Name)__________________________
(Grange name and number) __________________________
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Capitol switchboard: (202) 225-3121
For contact information of your Representative, click HOUSE
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
Chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Commerce
Phone: 202-225-5744
Email: wyr.fl06@mail.house.gov |
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See also:
If
you have any questions or comments please contact Legislative Research Analyst
Chil-Sook Hwang by e-mail: chwang@nationalgrange.org
by fax: 202-347-1091 or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext 109. Are
you a Grange member who is interested in discussing public policy issues with
other Grange members? CLICK HERE
Thank
you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative program. |
