The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has
submitted a final letter of opposition to the National Conference of Insurance
Legislators’ (NCOIL) Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair Model Act in advance of NCOIL’s spring meeting March 4-6
in Washington, D.C.
The letter, which is signed by 37 other automotive
associations, restates this coalition’s opposition to the amendment introduced
by Rep. Brian Kennedy (D-RI) due to its similarity to the amendment offered by
Rep. George Keiser (R-ND), that had been voted on and defeated at the NCOIL
annual meeting in Austin, Texas, last fall: "This amendment falsely
presumes that a certified part will restore a vehicle to its pre-loss condition
and falsely equates that part to an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) part,
since the pre-loss vehicle in almost all instances would have OEM parts."
The letter also states: "Over 40 states have already
addressed the use of aftermarket parts by passing notice and disclosure
legislation. Many of these states have statutes with language similar to the
proposed model act or that actually go further in protecting the rights of
consumers, some of which include consent clauses that give consumers the right
to choose which parts are used by repairers to fix vehicles after a crash.
Rather than addressing new issues or creating some innovative new approach to
the issue, this proposed model act rehashes old issues that have already been
resolved and passed into law in the vast majority of states."
More information:
NCOIL Defeats Proposed Anti-Steering Legislation
NCOIL Defeats Amendment Equating Aftermarket Crash Parts to OEM Parts
SCRS Encourages Industry Opposition to Proposed NCOIL Model Acts