ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The New Jersey Assembly's Consumer Affairs Committee this week unanimously voted to pass A-931, the New Jersey version of 'The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act,” according to David Parde, president of The Coalition for Auto Repair Equality (CARE).

The New Jersey "Right to Repair Act" gives motoring consumers the ability to choose where, how and by whom their vehicles are repaired, as well as whose parts they wish to purchase.

Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, sponsor of A-931 and a member of the Consumer Affairs Committee (D-Trenton), stated, "A-931 takes great strides in promoting fairness and equality in the marketplace for both service providers and consumers. This bill is pro-small business and creates competition in the auto repair industry which will give car owners greater options in choosing who can work on their vehicles. In a state, like New Jersey, where reliable personal transportation is a necessity, The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act will help control vehicle upkeep costs and ensure that those who rely on their cars can maintain them properly."

Three New Jersey aftermarket technicians testified in favor of passing A-931: Dave Scaler of The Mechanics Education Association (MEA), John O'Connor, owner of Shade Tree Mechanic, and Robert Everett, past president of the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP-NJ) and owner of Bayville Auto Parts. There are more than seven thousand independent repair shops throughout New Jersey.

Among those supporting passage for A-931 are: Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP-NJ); Service Station Dealers of America, Tire Industry Association, American Automobile Association, Consumer Electronics Association, NFIB, Keystone Automotive, and others.

The next stop for A-931 is a second reading on the Assembly Floor. A date has not yet been scheduled.