News
Release
For Immediate Release October 2,
2000
For more information, contact Rich White,
(301) 654-6664.
Aftermarket Wins
Three-Year OBD II Battle Governor Gray Davis Signs
SB 1146
BETHESDA, MD - October 2, 2000 - After three
years of relentless grassroots campaigning by state and
national aftermarket groups, California Governor Gray
Davis signed SB 1146 into law on Saturday, September 30,
announced the Automotive Parts Service Alliance (APSA).
“This is a monumental victory for the
aftermarket and consumers. SB 1146 ensures that car
owners will continue to have access to the most
convenient and affordable vehicle aftermarket in the
world,” said Al Gaspar, President and CEO of the
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
Specifically, the bill mandates that the
independent aftermarket will have access to service
information and tools necessary to repair and maintain
vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostic computers.
The bill further requires that independents have access
to information necessary to ensure that replacement
components are compatible with the on-board computers.
“We are extremely pleased that the Governor has
chosen to support the continued rights of consumers to
obtain quality and competitively priced parts and
repairs from the independent aftermarket,” said Gaspar.
“This new law will help level the playing field between
the aftermarket and new car companies and their
franchised new car dealers in providing sophisticated
parts and service for late model vehicles.”
AAIA and the Automotive Warehouse Distributors
Association comprise the Automotive Parts and Service
Alliance (APSA). The Alliance worked closely with the
California Consumer Choice Coalition, a group of state
and national aftermarket groups, consumer and vehicle
safety groups to spearhead a concerted grassroots effort
to obtain passage of the bill.
“Our job is only three-quarters complete,”
cautioned Jim Eady, President of the Automotive
Warehouse Distributors Association. “The Alliance now
looks forward to working with the California Air
Resources Board in developing regulations in order to
implement the SB 1146 requirements. With a January 1,
2002 deadline, there’s still a great deal of work to be
done.”
The bill, which passed by a 70-3 vote on August
29 in the California Assembly, passed the Senate by a
vote of 36-1 the next day. In June, the California
Transportation Assembly unanimously passed the bill
17-0. Governor Davis signed the bill into law on
September 30.
Specifically, SB 1146 would provide:
- Full access to all emissions related service
information, enhanced diagnostic tools and
reprogramming capabilities.
- Disclosure of information which will assist
aftermarket manufacturers build parts that work
properly with OBDII systems.
- Yearly reports by the California Air Resources
Board and the Bureau of Consumer Affairs to the State
Legislature regarding the availability of competitive
parts and repairs for emissions related systems.
- Ability of manufacturers to petition courts
for trade secret protection, while still requiring
disclosure if necessary to provide for competition in
the aftermarket.
- Prohibition against the use of any encryption
or defeat devices that would prevent the installation
of a non-original equipment part.
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
(AAIA) is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose member
companies manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle
parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and
supplies. The organization is comprised of
manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, wholesalers,
retailers, manufacturer’s representatives and other
companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket.
AAIA formerly served the aftermarket as APAA and
ASIA.
The Automotive Warehouse Distributors
Association (AWDA) was founded in 1947 and is the oldest
organized group of warehouse distributors and their
respective suppliers of parts, accessories, tools and
other supplies for the automotive aftermarket. AWDA
consists of more than 300 warehouse distributor
manufacturer members, in addition to affiliate,
marketing association and press members.
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