Unpaid for Blurb: Community, Business and Government Leaders Announce Major Effort to Protect Illinois Used Car Buyers

Coalition Calls for Legislation to Make Police-Reported Accident Info Available to Consumers

Campaign Website Launched -- http://www.protectcarbuyers.org

CHICAGO, Jan. 12 -- A growing coalition of community and business groups and elected officials announced today the launch of the Illinois Used Car Buyers Right-to-Know Campaign, a major effort to protect Illinois used car buyers. Each year, more than 700,000 vehicles are involved in police-reported accidents on Illinois roads. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) collects an electronic record of these accidents and the damage the vehicles involved sustain, but this information is never disclosed to Illinois consumers.

The Used Car Buyers Right-to-Know Bill (SB 1839), sponsored by Senator James Meeks (D-15) and Senator Kirk Dillard (R-24), would require the IDOT to make police-reported auto accident history records available to consumers, without releasing personal information.

"People have a right to know all the facts before they buy a used car and this bill is an important step in providing that information," said Attorney General Lisa Madigan. "We know that accidents can affect how a car runs and its safety. Access to the information provided by this bill will help consumers to make decisions based on facts, not hidden histories." Joining Attorney General Madigan in support of the initiative are Secretary of State Jesse White and a bi-partisan group of state legislators.

"We all benefit from being informed. Undisclosed accidents put everyone at risk," said Senator Meeks. "There is no reason Illinois should continue to shy away from this basic public safety issue. It's really very simple. Let's keep our families safe and pass this bill."

Valuable information comes from police reports that record the damage from vehicle accidents. The reports may indicate, for example, if the airbag deployed, if the vehicle hit a deer, or if it was towed or driven away among other observations collected at the scene.

Armed with this information, along with mechanical inspections, consumers can protect themselves and make better decisions about the cars they purchase, something community leaders say is critical to people's self-sufficiency.

"When low-income car buyers get ripped off, it has serious economic impact on their families," said Nina Harris, President and CEO of the Springfield Urban League. "We have an opportunity to help prevent that from happening with this bill. It only makes sense that we should be able to find out if the car we have saved long and hard for has hidden damage that could end up hurting us. After all, information is power."

Illinois voters overwhelmingly support the proposed bill. A recent statewide poll shows that more than 9 out of 10 Illinois voters believe used car buyers should have access to state reports on whether or not a car has been in an accident.

"Just as consumers wouldn't want to unknowingly buy a flood damaged car from Hurricane Katrina, consumers need to know the accident history of used cars," said Senator Dillard. "Often people find out too late what really happened in a car's past. Dealers get taken at trade-in; unscrupulous sellers rip off consumers. It's time for used car buyers and sellers to have access to police-reported accident information for their own peace of mind.

Added Juan Rangel, CEO of United Neighborhood Organization (UNO), "We shouldn't be asked to settle for less when our family's safety is at stake. After all, we depend on our cars to get us to work, to get our kids to school, and to run errands on a daily basis. There is no reason Illinois should continue to shy away from this basic safety issue."

The Used Car Buyers Right-to-Know Coalition also unveiled a Website today, http://www.protectcarbuyers.org/ where consumers can find more information about the proposed legislation and email their elected officials.

The Used Car Buyers Right-to-Know Coalition is currently comprised of the following business groups and community organizations: Carfax, Illinois Coaches Association, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Illinois Drivers Education Association, Illinois Independent Auto Dealers Association, NAACP of Springfield, Rainbow PUSH, Springfield Urban League, United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) and the Urban League of Champaign County.