Massachusetts Voters Deliver Overwhelming 'First-In-Nation' Historic Shot By Passing Pro-Consumer Right To Repair Ballot Question

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Massachusetts voters have once again fired the first shot in the nation to pass the pro-consumer/pro-small business Right to Repair Act," stated Sandy Bass-Cors, executive director for The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality.

Voters in Massachusetts by an 85% to 15% margin overwhelmingly approved the Right to Repair referendum.  More than 2 million Massachusetts voters approved the measure.

Right to Repair allows motoring consumers to choose where, how and by whom to have their vehicles fully repaired, even those more recently out of warranty.  "Voters sent a clear message to automakers: It's my car; I paid for it; and I'll get it fixed where I want and not where some big corporation tells me to," said Art Kinsman of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition.

"Passage of the Massachusetts Right to Repair ballot follows on the heels of the Massachusetts legislature's unanimous passage of the Right to Repair legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick on August 7, 2012.  Massachusetts citizens now have the strength of their own voices on the ballot issue and the backing of the state legislature to ensure that they can spend their hard-earned money on their personal property the way they choose," stated Bass-Cors.

The passage of the ballot question and the legislation will now make it illegal for automakers to withhold repair and diagnostic information for passenger cars, and also motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and larger trucks and construction vehicles.  The Massachusetts legislation and the ballot question will now be reconciled for the best advantage for consumers.

Right to Repair was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives and concluded this congressional session with 52 bi-partisan cosponsors.  Of the 10 Massachusetts U.S. Representatives, five cosponsored HR 1449, the federal Right to Repair bill. They are Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Barney Frank (-MA), Rep. Niki Tsongas D-MA) and Rep. John Olver D-MA).

"The Massachusetts and the federal Right to Repair Act help motoring consumers save money by allowing them the freedom to choose quality, affordable vehicle repairs.  The federal Right to Repair Act does not use taxpayers' money, does not create new regulations and does not request or need proprietary information.  It does, in fact, promote job growth in the automotive aftermarket, which currently employs nearly five million people nationwide. Every Member of Congress should seriously consider cosponsoring this pro-consumer/pro-growth economy legislation," concluded Bass-Cors.

The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE) represents companies in the automotive aftermarket, among them: NAPA, CARQUEST, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, Bridgestone-Firestone Retail Operations and O'Reilly Auto Parts.

SOURCE Coalition for Auto Repair Equality