Nov. 11, 2011—The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) on Thursday announced they will commit the resources necessary to ensure passage of the Massachusetts Right to Repair question on the state’s 2012 ballot.
The Massachusetts Right to Repair voter initiative would allow consumers to access all of the non-proprietary repair information required to have their vehicles repaired where they choose, according to the AAIA. The proposed law would also require car companies to provide independent shops with access to diagnostic software through a standardized vehicle interface, using a generic laptop.
The AAIA said the law would permit all independent shops to obtain affordable access to the latest non-proprietary automobile repair information that is currently available to the manufacturers’ dealers and new car dealerships.
“While we are hopeful that the Massachusetts legislature will pass Right to Repair legislation in the coming months, we are committed to the issue and will devote the resources necessary to make sure the ballot initiative is successful,” said Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the AAIA. “If Massachusetts lawmakers do not act, the AAIA and CARE boards are committed to making sure the voters of Massachusetts have the ability to decide if Right to Repair becomes a reality in their state.”
Rep. Garrett Bradley, D-Hingham, and Sen. John Hart, D-South Boston, introduced the Right to Repair Act in Massachusetts for the 2011-2012 legislative session. The legislation has more than 60 co-sponsors, according to the AAIA.
“The people of Massachusetts have expressed their strong support of Right to Repair and their desire to vote on the issue in 2012. In fact, it took only 19 days to far exceed the number of signatures required to get this legislation on the ballot,” said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of CARE. “We will make sure the Massachusetts motorists get the chance to vote on this pro-consumer initiative if their state legislative representatives do not act on their behalf and pass the Right to Repair Act.”
For more information, visit massrighttorepair.com or righttorepair.org.
