State BillsNew Jersey Assembly, 212th Legislature, 2006-2007 Session Legislation on Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act Provides that motor vehicle manufacturers are responsible for providing to vehicle owners, repair facilities and the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, information necessary to diagnose, service or repair a motor vehicle. The information is to include information necessary to integrate replacement equipment into the vehicle and any other information of any kind used to diagnose, service, repair, activate, certify or install any motor vehicle equipment in a motor vehicle. However, a manufacturer would not be required to disclose information that, if made public, would reveal trade secret information. The director is to establish a uniform method by which a manufacturer would provide the necessary diagnostic and repair information to vehicle owners. A violation of this bill would result in a penalty of not more than $10,000 for the first offense and not more than $20,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. A vehicle owner or repair facility may also bring a civil action to enjoin a violation of this act and to recover the costs of lititagion including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees. This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2006-2007 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed. Legislative Activity01/10/2006 Introduced by Reed Gusciora, (D), and Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D), Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee 10/19/2006 Hearing held and reported out of Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs with unanimous donsent, 2nd Reading
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"There will always be people, no matter what, who prefer car dealerships" for repairs, said Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director of the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality in Washington, which supports the legislation. "But they should also have the right to go to the aftermarket."
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