FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Art Kinsman
Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition
781-635-6912
http://www.MassRightToRepair.com
Doc D’Errico
Vice Chairman, Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
ViceChair@MassMotorcycle.org or 508-954-8881
http://www.MassMotorcycle.org
Right to Repair Coalition Welcomes
Massachusetts Motorcycle Association
As Its Newest Member
The Right to Repair Coalition today announced a significant new member to its growing coalition: the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association (MMA).
Realizing the importance of passing legislation that requires the motorized vehicle manufacturers to sell repair and safety codes to local, independent shops, the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association has now joined the coalition’s effort to give consumers more choice, making less costly repairs more available when they need to get their vehicle fixed. The MMA has been a strong supporter of coalition’s efforts, closely following the issue for the past year. Now, as the Right to Repair bill’s hearing approaches at the State House, a long standing ally in the fight for the law’s passage, is the coalition’s newest member.
“While originally targeting car and truck manufacturers, it's becoming clear that the Right to Repair consumer legislation would also help out the thousands of motorcycle riders in our state in a big way,” said Doc D'Errico, Vice Chairman of the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association. “Just like the issue with cars, we are now seeing more and more motorcycle models that are highly computerized and there are many situations arising where independent service providers cannot perform anything beyond basic maintenance of newer models,” he added.
The MMA, established in 1975, is a not-for-profit organization of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts, committed to protecting motorcyclists’ rights in the Commonwealth. The group promotes better and safer conditions on Massachusetts' roads and highways and supports legislation that implements policies and programs that help motorcyclists.
The Right to Repair legislation is set for a hearing before the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure on June 28th. The legislation would provide consumers across Massachusetts with more choice and convenience when it comes to picking a repair shop to fix the vehicles they paid for. The legislation requires the big car manufacturers to sell the same essential repair information to local repair shops that they now provide to their dealerships. As it stands now, not all of the repair information is available to independent, neighborhood car repair shops.
“We welcome the Massachusetts Motorcycle Association to our effort to pass this important piece of consumer legislation,” said Art Kinsman, the spokesman for the Right to Repair Coalition. “Most motorcycle enthusiasts are also car owners, however, there is a concern that repair information for all motor vehicles be made available for independent repair shops and many motorcyclists who like to do their own repairs.”
“More and more people are realizing what this bill is really about—the consumers’ right to get their cars fixed where they want and at a reduced cost as compared to some big car maker shops. All we are asking for is a level playing field so consumers can have a choice,” Kinsman added. “This issue is not about trade secrets; specific language in the law prohibits any selling of trade secrets. And, it is most certainly not about auto theft or the people who depend on reducing car theft—the Massachusetts Insurance Federation—would not be supporting Right to Repair. This is about the fact that people pay good money for their cars and should be able to get them fixed where they want.”
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition has more than doubled in size since the last legislative session. The legislation passed the Senate last year but did not move forward in the House when most legislation was delayed as the casino issue was debated.
Another sign that momentum is building for the consumer legislation, the MMA decision to join brings the coalition to 34 members. Also, as of today, 64 legislators are co-sponsors of the bill, 1,500 local, neighborhood repair shops have visible signs in support of Right to Repair, and a recent survey that showed over 80 percent of Massachusetts voters favor the Right to Repair bill when told of the arguments for both sides of the issue.
Other Members of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition include AAA Southern New England, the Massachusetts Independent Auto, New England Tire and Service Association, Retailers Association of Massachusetts, Dealers, The National Federation of Independent Businesses, Bridgestone, Firestone, American Car Care Centers, the Massachusetts Insurance Federation, Midas, Consumer Electronics Association, Massachusetts Locksmith’s Association, RetireSafe, the Automotive Recyclers Association, the Automotive Recyclers Association, the Coalition for Auto Repair Equity, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and more than 1,000 independent auto repairers across Massachusetts.
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