Aftermarket Wins Calif. OBD Law
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--After three years of relentless grassroots campaigning by state and national aftermarket groups, California Gov. Gray Davis has signed Senate Bill 1146 into law.
The bill mandates that the independent aftermarket will have access to service information and tools necessary to repair and maintain vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic computers. The bill further requires that independents have access to the information necessary to ensure that replacement components are compatible with the on-board computers.
“This is a monumental victory for the aftermarket and consumers. SB 1146 ensures that car owners will continue to have access to the most convenient and affordable vehicle aftermarket in the world,” said Al Gaspar, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
“We are extremely pleased that the governor has chosen to support the continued rights of consumers to obtain quality and competitively priced parts and repairs from the independent aftermarket,” said Gaspar. “This new law will help level the playing field between the aftermarket and new car companies and their franchised new car dealers in providing sophisticated parts and service for late model vehicles.”
AAIA and the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association comprise the Automotive Parts and Service Alliance (APSA). The Alliance worked closely with the California Consumer Choice Coalition, a group of state and national aftermarket groups, consumer and vehicle safety groups to spearhead a concerted grassroots effort to obtain passage of the bill.
“Our job is only three-quarters complete,” cautioned Jim Eady, president of the Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association. “The Alliance now looks forward to working with the California Air Resources Board in developing regulations in order to implement the SB 1146 requirements. With a Jan. 1, 2002 deadline, there’s still a great deal of work to be done.”
The bill, which passed by a 70-3 vote on Aug. 29 in the California Assembly, passed the Senate by a vote of 36-1 the next day. In June, the California Transportation Assembly unanimously passed the bill 17-0. Davis signed the bill into law on Sept 30.
Specifically, SB 1146 would provide:
* Full access to all emissions related service information, enhanced diagnostic tools and reprogramming capabilities.
* Disclosure of information which will assist aftermarket manufacturers build parts that work properly with OBDII systems.
* Yearly reports by the California Air Resources Board and the Bureau of Consumer Affairs to the State Legislature regarding the availability of competitive parts and repairs for emissions related systems.
* Ability of manufacturers to petition courts for trade secret protection, while still requiring disclosure if necessary to provide for competition in the aftermarket.
* Prohibition against the use of any encryption or defeat devices that would prevent the installation of a non-original equipment part.
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose member companies manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. The organization is comprised of manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturer’s representatives and other companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket. AAIA formerly served the aftermarket as APAA and ASIA.
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors Association was founded in 1947 and is the oldest organized group of warehouse distributors and their respective suppliers of parts, accessories, tools and other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. AWDA consists of more than 300 warehouse distributor manufacturer members, in addition to affiliate, marketing association and press members.