Massachusetts voters added their stamp of approval on the state’s August Right to Repair law by overwhelmingly supporting Question 1 in the Nov. 6, 2012, 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,” says 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 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.
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition says it 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 the wishes of Massachusetts voters and car owners in mind.
For more information about the Right to Repair Act, visit www.righttorepair.org and www.massrighttorepair.com.
