Right to Repair Legislation Introduced

WASHINGTON, DC (July 22, 2009) -- Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-NY), along with Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), has reintroduced legislation that would make it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles. Currently vehicle owners are forced to return to the dealership network to have problems diagnosed that the over-the-counter aftermarket code readers cannot read.  HR 2057, the Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (Right to Repair), has 31 cosponsors to date.

The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) strongly supports Right to Repair, and urges Congress to swiftly pass this legislation in order to safeguard individual vehicle ownership rights today and in the future.

"We have formally committed our support to Right to Repair because we believe that consumers are entitled to choose how their motorcycles, cars and other type of vehicles are maintained or upgraded.  The point of Right to Repair is to protect the freedom of American consumers to choose how they take care of their vehicles, be it in their driveways or at trusted repair facilities, and to ensure that they have access to all the information required to complete necessary service and repairs," said Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice President of Government Relations.

A recent letter to the editor from the MRF generated hundreds of articles in publications across the country signaling a resounding level of support from the vehicle operating public. "As the economy continues to be sluggish, people are looking at cost cutting, and getting vehicle maintenance at a premium dealership is high on their list of cuts. Also consider the recent forced government closure of dealerships, not to mention the desire to support small business. All these factors point to the need for this legislation," Hennie added.

Vehicles, including motorcycles, are becoming increasingly complex with the addition of more and more computer technology, which will become more and more sophisticated and complex in the future. Ready access to accurate service and repair information from the manufacturers is essential to the safety and well being of the entire American motoring public.

The MRF encourages all motorcyclists to visit www.righttorepair.org to send a letter to each of their congressional representatives, urging them to support the Right to Repair Act by adding their names to the growing list of co-sponsors.

IN OTHER NEWS

Don't like the condition of your local roads? Got an opinion about that messed up intersection? Road construction ruining your ride? Once again the Federal Highway Administration Motorcycle Advisory Council (FHWA MAC) is asking for your opinions. Now that the country has been riding solid (hopefully) for the past few months, it's a good time to take stock of the roads and let FHWA MAC know how you feel. The information is, of course, confidential and will be used by FHWA MAC to advise Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Take the 10 minute survey here.  To learn more about the FHWA MAC visit this site.