National Poll Reveals 92 Percent of Americans Support Provisions of Barton-Towns Bill - Care Sponsored HR 2735 Introduced

    ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 7 In order to ensure that America's
motoring consumers will be able to have their 1996 and newer vehicles
repaired, maintained and purchase the vehicle parts of their choice, U.S.
Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY) have introduced HR 2735,
"The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act."
    "For the first time since the invention of the automobile, motorists will
have legislation introduced, and eventually passed, to protect them from the
ills of monopoly car parts and repair prices," stated CARE president David
Parde.
    Parde was praising the Barton-Towns bill, introduced August 2nd, which
addresses and corrects "unintended" consequences which occurred over a decade
ago, when Congress mandated that 1996 and newer vehicles had to be equipped
with an On-Board-Diagnostics (OBD) system to monitor emissions.  At the same
time, Congress had the foresight to mandate that anyone who works on vehicles
or vehicle engines have access to the OBD system.
    "Rather than abide by Congress' wishes, the car manufacturers took
advantage of these regulations and instead "locked-out" the independent repair
industry.  As the vehicles have advanced, so have the computer systems on the
vehicles, making it extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to get all
of the necessary information to repair these cars in a quick and safe manner,"
continued Parde.
    The computers referred to completely control vital systems such as:
brakes, steering mechanisms, air bags, ignition, ignition key and climate
control.
    "It's unconscionable for the car manufacturers to place profits over
safety by denying car owners access to all of the information vital to the
safe operation of their vehicles.  Motorists should not be forced to drive a
great distance in a 'problematic' vehicle, thus forcing them to jeopardize
their safety and the safety of others.
    A recent national poll of 803 registered voters reveals that 92 percent
stated that they would support a national bill in Congress that would assure
the availability of the repair and parts information to all involved in the
repair of the vehicle.
    In addition, 72 percent of the respondents said they would be more likely
to vote for a candidate for Congress if the candidate supported this national
bill.
    "CARE is proud to have taken the lead in writing, promoting and
encouraging this bill to be introduced.  It's taken CARE a year of writing and
preparation, as well as compiling complaints from motorists who have been
unable to have their vehicles repaired.
    "The Barton-Towns bill simply allows motorists to own the information
contained in their own vehicle, making motorists -- and not the car
manufacturers -- the ultimate decision maker on where, how and by whom to have
their vehicles repaired and to choose the vehicle parts of their choice.

    The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) is a national organization
representing companies in the automotive aftermarket, among them: NAPA, Midas,
CARQUEST, AutoZone, Advance Auto, Jiffy Lube, O'Reilly's Auto Parts, CSK
Automotive (parent company of Checker, Schuck, Kragen), and Discount Auto
Parts.

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