Automotive Recyclers Association Meets With Members of Congress to Seek Support for Auto Titling Reform

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2007; Members of Automotive Recyclers Association held their annual Hill Days Conference on March 6-7, 2007. The focus of ARA's 2007 Hill Days Conference was to encourage lawmakers to pass total loss vehicle title fraud prevention legislation. ARA members applauded recent title fraud prevention legislation but urged the Congress to amend the legislation. Amending the legislation will provide law enforcement agencies important tools in their fight against narcotics trafficking, theft, insurance fraud, terrorist financing and other crimes through the inclusion of export provisions.

Representatives Charlie Wilson (D-OH) and Zack Space (D-OH) addressed ARA members at the Congressional Breakfast meeting. Both members of Congress announced their support for vehicle title fraud legislation with export control language. They also pledged to continue to work with ARA on other issues of importance. As a small business owner, Representative Wilson related his experiences in business and the challenges faced by small business owners in meeting payroll and expanding a business. Congressman Space stressed the importance for ARA of continuing to work with members of Congress and of following up on their Congressional meetings. Both Representatives stated their doors are always open to ARA and provided encouragement for the members who had meetings scheduled with their legislators.

Over the last year, ARA, along with a coalition of automotive dealers, automakers, service organizations and others, has called for consumer-protection legislation designed to unmask fraud in the titling process by making total-loss data available to the public. Educated consumers are less likely to purchase a wrecked, flooded or stolen vehicle that has been declared a total loss.

"People need to know if the car they are about to purchase was wrecked, fire or water damaged, or totaled," said George Eliades, Executive Vice President of ARA. "Why shouldn't they have access to this information before they make their purchase?"

ARA looks forward to working with the Congress to enact comprehensive title and vehicle fraud legislation during this session.

Founded in 1943, the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), based in Fairfax, Va., is an international trade association representing an industry dedicated to the efficient removal and reuse of automotive parts, and the safe disposal of inoperable motor vehicles.