The Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration carried out a court order March 12 to lock down an illegal auto repair facility.
An injunction was granted against Chris Wood, owner of Wood’s Auto Body & Collision in Columbus, for failing to register with the board. When Wood failed to meet the registration requirements after the injunction, the board filed a “Contempt of Court” complaint, and Wood was given a deadline to become compliant and pay back fees to 2003. When the deadline passed, the board was granted a “lock-down” order, which will stay in effect until Wood registers the shop.
“Enforcement efforts against illegal repair facilities increased in 2007 and 2008, and the trend will continue,” said Michael Greene, executive director of the agency. “It is not the board’s intention to close down repair shops, but rather bring them into compliance with state and federal regulations.”
The Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Collision Repair Registration was created in 1999 to regulate the collision repair industry and provide consumer protection. The board is entirely funded by registration fees from collision shops, auto glass businesses, paintless dent repair companies and airbag replacement units throughout the state. The Board is made up of five collision repair shop owners, one mechanical repair shop owner and one person who represents the public and has no financial interest in the auto repair industry.
In November 2008, consumer advocate/attorney Erica Eversman sent a letter to the Ohio Department of Insurance (DOI) regarding insurance companies’ inclusion of unregistered collision repair facilities in their DRP networks and also the DOI’s failure to address the issue despite her and others’ actions. Eversman noted that she and others had brought the issue before the Ohio Department of Insurance “with no result.” To read Eversman’s letter in full, click HERE.
For more information about the collision board, visit www.collisionboard.ohio.gov.
