[Mrfnews] 07LR06 - Leaders Report - June

[mrfnews at mrf.org]

MRF E-MAIL NEWS Motorcycle Riders Foundation
236 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20002-4980
202-546-0983 (voice)
202-546-0986 (fax)
http://www.mrf.org (website)


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jeff Hennie, MRF Vice-President of Government Relations
jeff at mrf.org (e-mail)

Do You Have the Right to Repair?

We all know that we have certain inalienable rights such as life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. We also have the right to remain silent and
the right to an attorney.  What we don't have is the guaranteed right to
repair our own vehicles.

That's right, the way it is right now, vehicle manufacturers only have to
make a very small percentage of the large and growing number of diagnostic
tools, training and codes available to the general public.  The original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must make all information available to
everybody only as it pertains to emissions.  So that leaves you at the
mercy of authorized dealerships exclusively if you need work on your
antilock brake systems, some fuel injection systems, security systems and
any other electronic systems on your car or bike.  The Motorcycle Riders
Foundation (MRF) has been working on this issue for a couple of years.

This is a case of the legislative process catching up with itself. 
Congress mandated that by 1996 all vehicles built for sale in this country
must have a universal on board diagnostic (OBD) plug to harmonize the
industry.  When Congress did that they gave all the power to the OEMs,
leaving the aftermarket and shade tree mechanics to catch as catch can. 
An OBD plug is the interface mechanics use to plug a computer into the
vehicle in order to rapidly determine what is wrong with the vehicle. Now
OEMs get to design the tools and software specific to each vehicle and can
then decide who can have access to the diagnostic codes, software and
tools.

Now the OEMs refuse to make some of the necessary diagnostic information
available outside of the dealer network.  This forces those trying to make
a living in the aftermarket to turn away business and also shuts out the
consumer who wants to do his or her own diagnosing.

The last Congress introduced HR 2048 which would level the playing field
here.  That bill made it through committee but never to the floor for a
vote.  Legislation has not been reintroduced yet this year, but it is
close.

This week in Washington the coalition of organizations supporting this
proposed legislation held a fly-in, which is really just a fancy term for
a lobby week.  The fly-in brought over 400 individuals to DC to meet with
legislators in both bodies and voice their support for the proposed
measure.  A wide range of groups in support of this proposed legislation
includes the automotive aftermarket, consumer electronics groups, retail
groups and even the 60+ (a senior American advocacy group).

Obviously the opposition comes from the dealers and the manufacturers, as
they claim that they have intellectual property rights and should not have
to expose their proprietary information.  No one wants more American jobs
lost, but as Americans we should have the right to service and maintain
our vehicles in the manner we see fit – be that at the dealership or in
the driveway.

The legislation that has been drafted and is being reviewed by potential
sponsors in the House and Senate, which means it should be reintroduced
and assigned a bill number soon.  Of course, when that happens the MRF
will make you aware of the necessary information so you can contact your
legislators about this issue.

Keep your fists in the wind . . . Jeff Hennie


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(c)All Information contained in this release is copyrighted. Reproduction
permitted with attribution. The Motorcycle Riders Foundation, incorporated
in 1987, is a membership-based, national motorcyclists' rights
organization headquartered in Washington, DC. The first motorcyclists'
rights organization to establish a full-time presence in Washington, DC,
the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is the only Washington voice devoted
exclusively to the street rider. The MRF established MRFPAC in the early
1990s to advocate the election of candidates who would champion the cause
of rider safety and rider freedom.

The MRF proudly claims state motorcyclists' rights organizations and the
very founders of the American riders' rights movement among its leading
members. The MRF is involved in federal and state legislation and
regulations, motorcycling safety education, training, and public
awareness. The MRF provides members and state motorcyclists' rights
organizations with direction and information, and sponsors annual regional
and national educational seminars for motorcyclists rights activists, as
well as publishing a bi-monthly newsletter, THE MRF REPORTS.