The Right to Repair Coalition announced that it has achieved its final goal of attaining 20,000 voter signatures in its ballot campaign, well above the 11,000 required. The final batch of certified signatures will be delivered to the Secretary of State's office well ahead of the early July deadline. Obtaining these signatures was the final step in the signature gathering process required to put the issue on the ballot.
"We are thrilled that this consumer legislation has easily surpassed the final signature requirement, ahead of the deadline," said Art Kinsman, spokesman of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition. "Motoring consumers have demonstrated their strong support for Right to Repair and are ready to begin saving money on their car repairs and giving them more choice on where they can have their cars repaired when Right to Repair passes," he added.
This announcement brings the Right to Repair signature gathering total to 126,000.
The Right to Repair measure would "require a manufacturer of motor vehicles sold in the Commonwealth to make available for purchase by owners of motor vehicles…and by independent repair facilities the same non-proprietary diagnostic and repair information, including repair technical updates, that the manufacturer makes available to its dealers and authorized repair facilities..."
Currently, auto manufacturers provide only some of the non-proprietary diagnostic and safety information needed to repair vehicle owners' cars with independent technicians, limiting consumers' choices and losing business for neighborhood repair shops.
"We have heard from consumers about how pleased they are with the State Senate for acting on their behalf last month when it passed the Right to Repair legislation," said Kinsman. "We are looking forward to final passage in the legislature or on the November ballot so that we can ensure cost savings and convenience for the Massachusetts motoring public."
Thousands of independent repairers, the AAA and neighborhood garages support Right to Repair. John Paul, the AAA "Car Doctor" and radio personality, said recently that, "consumers are enduring expensive dealership costs and the legislature has the ability to bring relief now. They need to act."
A study posted on www.cartalk.com and independent from the Right to Repair coalition, shows that, on average, consumers could save up to $420 per year on car repairs if local repair shops were able to buy the code data.
Log onto www.massrighttorepair.com to contact your state legislators.
