New Jersey auto association urges Right to Repair legislation
Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline, C-Store and Automotive Association, urged the New Jersey legislature to pass its Right to Repair bill in the following commentary:
Millions of car owners in New Jersey trust neighborhood repair shops to provide affordable and competitive automotive repair service. Unfortunately, car manufacturers are making it difficult for independent repair shops to obtain the technical information needed to repair today's vehicles. As technology becomes more sophisticated, the situation will become worse.
Thousands of neighborhood small businesses in New Jersey that repair automobiles will be forced out of business without the technical and safety information available only from the car companies. Withholding information will eventually prevent both car owners and highly skilled technicians from being able to make the simplest repairs to vehicles, and that's the makings of a disaster for consumers unless something is done.
Manufacturers use these tactics to prevent you from bringing your car to a repair shop of your choice, and force you to patronize a manufacturer's dealer. Consumers will lose their choice to have repairs made more conveniently, and less expensively.
The New Jersey Legislature is now considering the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act. This legislation will make it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold technical information from car owners and repair shops. After all, shouldn't car owners choose where they have their vehicle repaired and not the manufacturers?
If New Jersey fails to pass this legislation, then car owners will no longer be able to choose from the 4,500 independent repair shops for service, but will instead be forced to take their vehicles to one of the 643 manufacturers' car dealers for necessary repairs.
Please ask your elected officials to support this legislation. Visit www.njrighttorepair.org and send a letter to your representatives.