Massachusetts voters added their resounding stamp of approval on the Right to Repair law by overwhelmingly supporting Question 1 in Tuesday’s election, according to the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition.
“Voters sent a clear message to automakers: It’s my car; I paid for it; and I’ll get it fixed where I want and not where some big corporation tells me to,” said Art Kinsman of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Committee. “Right to Repair is about true ownership. When you buy a car from a manufacturer’s dealer, you ought to have the information necessary to fix that vehicle. Technology should never leave the rights of car owners behind.”
In Massachusetts, it is now illegal for automakers to withhold repair and diagnostic information for passenger cars, and also for motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and larger trucks and construction vehicles. By supporting Question 1 by a vast majority, voters told vehicle manufacturers they are tired of paying significantly more for their out-of-warranty repairs at a franchised dealership
Kinsman promised that members of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition will be vigilant following Tuesday’s vote to ensure there is complete compliance with the law and that independent repairers and car owners will have the resources they need to ensure they receive the full benefit of this landmark consumer protection law.
Passage of Question 1 follows the Massachusetts legislature’s unanimous passage, and the governor’s signing, of a first-in-the-nation Right to Repair law this summer. The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition remains committed to working with lawmakers and all associated parties to ensure that any reconciliation of the ballot question with existing law is done with careful thought and consideration of the wishes of Massachusetts voters and car owners, especially in light of the resounding and historic nature of the vote.
Supporters of Right to Repair hope the victory in Massachusetts will spur a national agreement as soon as possible. Currently at the federal level, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act (HR 1449) was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Todd Platts (R-PA) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) and currently has 52 co-sponsors including Reps. Michael Capuano (D-MA-8), Barney Frank (D-MA-4), James McGovern (D-MA-3), John Olver (D-MA-1) and Niki Tsongas (D-MA-5).
.
