April 24, 2013—The Maine Legislature recently held a hearing on the state's proposed right to repair bill LD 788, titled "Vehicle Owners and Repair Facilities.” The hearing was held in the Joint Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development.
The legislation would require motor vehicle manufacturers to make available to vehicle owners and independent motor vehicle repair facilities diagnostic and repair information and equipment at no more than fair market value, and in a way that does not favor the manufacturers’ dealers and authorized repair facilities.
Ken Boyce, owner of Ken’s Auto Repair Inc. in Buxton, Maine, testified in opposition to the legislation on behalf of the Automotive Service Association (ASA).
“I see nothing positive that will come from this legislation. It will do nothing to compel the flat world to subscribe to information or purchase tooling that the OEs already have to offer, nor will it compel any technician[s] to get the training they need. Instead, all that I can see it has to offer, through unintended circumstances, is to flatten out the round world of shops like mine,” Boyce said in his testimony. “I don’t want that and my customers don’t want that. The key is proper education, proper tooling, and support of the agreement that is already in place, not legislation. If our voluntary, industry service information process fails, we will be the first in line asking for the state of Maine’s help. We see no signs of failure to date. ASA opposes ME LD 788.”
