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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/27/2024 04:55 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=13577
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 24, 2013 10:24 AM
From: Representative Katharine M. Watson
To: All House members
Subject: Right to Repair
 
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to ensure motor vehicle owners and independent repairers have the repair information and diagnostic tools necessary to successfully repair a motor vehicle. Specifically, my legislation:
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  • Provides for disclosure of motor vehicle information and for the powers and duties of the Bureau of Consumer Protection; and prescribing penalties.
  • Confirms that vehicle owners have the right to utilize an auto repair facility of their choice by requiring auto manufacturers to report software and manuals used to repair a make and model to the Attorney General.
  • Finally, the information is to be made available to the vehicle owner and service facility as well.

Right to Repair exists to ensure three facets when maintaining your vehicle: choice, safety and rights of ownership.

Choice: Consumers must have the option of taking their vehicle to a dealer or an independent repair facility of their choosing. No matter where you live, the right to choose who services your car is fundamental to owning a vehicle. Limited choice inhibits competition and ultimately hurts consumers.

Safety: The ability to diagnose, service and repair a motor vehicle in a timely, reliable and affordable manner is essential to the safety and well-being of automotive consumers in the United States. Why should a car owner be compelled to use service facilities that may have previously delivered poor service, or be denied the opportunity to get a second opinion? All service technicians need access to information to repair the critical safety functions of the vehicle.

Rights of Ownership: When you buy the car, you own its parts — whether it’s a muffler or computer chip within the electrical system. Why should only some people be able to obtain the information while others do not have access to it? Technology has made cars smarter. Specialized tools are now required to accurately diagnose and repair these vehicle systems. In fact, computers now control as much as 80 percent of a vehicle’s diagnostic components, but there is no obligation for this information to be shared with the owner of the car or the owner’s chosen service technician.

This legislation is necessary to ensure that critical repair information is made available to all professional repair technicians.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.