Sept. 14, 2011—The Automotive Service Association (ASA) on Tuesday announced it opposes Houston's new Automotive Repair and Collision Shop Licensing regulation proposal in its current form.

According to the ASA, the regulation would place a great deal of paperwork burden and liability on shop owners, and falls short in other requirements such as technician training and equipment.

Many concerns regarding the proposed regulation could have been avoided if the city had included independent repairers in early stakeholder meetings, according to the ASA. There are critical differences in the operations of collision and mechanical repair facilities, which the city’s current proposal does not adequately address.

Federal law has stringent equipment requirements and training guidelines for collision repair facilities. These provisions should be referenced in the regulation, specifically requiring the use of auto refinishing spray booths for collision repair facilities, according to the ASA.

The proposed regulation is presently in Houston’s legal department and could be considered by the city council at any time, according to the ASA. The organization urges independent automotive repairers in Houston to contact their city council members in opposition to the proposed regulation in its current form.

For more information, or to view the full proposed regulation, visit ASA’s legislative website at TakingTheHill.com.