The Tire Industry Association (TIA) is opposing Maryland House Bill 1110 regarding tire aging introduced to the Economic Matters Committee in the Maryland House of Delegates by its chief sponsor Delegate Benjamin F. Kramer (D-19th District).
TIA, in conjunction with the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), the Chesapeake Automotive Business Association (CABA), the Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association (WMDA), and numerous tire retailers, distributors and manufacturers, formed a coalition that came to Annapolis, Md., on March 13, 2013 to testify in opposition of the bill and educate lawmakers on the real facts about tire aging.
The bill would prohibit a merchant from selling a tire to a consumer as a new tire in the state of Maryland if the tire is a retreaded, previously used, or recycled tire or was manufactured more than a certain number of years before the date of sale to the consumer.
It requires the merchant who sells a certain tire to provide a specified notice and disclosure to the consumer relating to tire age and safety. The bill also establishes a penalty for a violation of the act.
Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president, told lawmakers about TIA's role in tire safety education including TIA's tire technician training program that has trained over 80,000 tire technicians and its online training program that 930 dealers have participated in since its launch last year.
"We are very active in educating consumers and tire technicians around the country about tire safety and would love to partner with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on a consumer education program," said Littlefield.
In 2012, Delegate Kramer introduced a similar tire aging bill, House Bill 729, that was voted unfavorably after TIA and other industry groups testified in opposition.
For more information see Update: Tire aging bill is 'dead for the year' and Sean Kane takes TIA and RMA to task.
