By Brian Cruickshank, AAP, Editor aftermarketNews
DALLAS, TX — After nearly three years of Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right to Repair Act (HR 2048) advocacy, the Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA) has withdrawn its support of the bill, instead preferring to seek non-legislative solutions to the repair information issue.
According to ALOA immediate past president Bill Young, automotive security is a complicated issue that involves not just locksmiths and the vehicle manufacturers, but also law enforcement and the insurance industry. After three years of parallel HR 2048 support and NASTF involvement, ALOA decided it wanted to take a more proactive role in finding an equitable solution to the vehicle repair information access issue, one that would find a comfortable common ground for all parties involved. NASTF acts as a liaison between technicians and the voluntarily created OE repair information websites.
On August 12, in a fax to U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), a major Congressional supporter of the bill, ALOA Executive Director Charles Gibson withdrew the association’s support of the bill. “The Associated Locksmiths of America, Inc. (ALOA) has been a strong supporter and advocate of the Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right to Repair Act (HR 2048), which you support in the House,” Gibson wrote. “The locksmith industry came into the process rather late, but still believed the passage of this bill could help locksmiths gain information about key codes that would ultimately benefit the consumer. However, after three years of little progress, we must attempt to find an alternative solution for this problem. We are now seeking non-legislative ways to proceed. Therefore, we withdraw our support of the Motor Vehicle Owner’s Right to Repair Act (HR 2048) at this time.”
According to an ALOA statement, the association had hoped HR 2048 would help locksmiths gain information about vehicle key codes that would ultimately benefit the consumer. However, ALOA now believes there are other non-legislative means to reach the same goal.
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