NFIB/New Jersey Victory: Assembly Passes "Right to Repair"
Against strong opposition, the Assembly passed legislation that will provide New Jersey drivers unprecedented choice in the automobile repair marketplace. The "Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act" will give motorists the ability to obtain all information necessary to provide for the diagnosis, service and repair of their vehicles -- eliminating the need for a trip to a dealership for routine maintenance and repairs.
NFIB small and independent repair shop owners rallied together to get this proposal passed by the Assembly, making countless phone calls, sending letters and faxes and meeting at the state house in Trenton to testify in support.
In a recent survey of NFIB members who own independent garages, 78 percent of those responding reported that they have been forced to turn customers away or refer them to a manufacturer-owned dealership because they were unable to get the repair information necessary to fix the car. In an effort to keep their customers, 44 percent of the repair shops surveyed report that they have paid a dealer technician to get access to the undisclosed manufacturer information. This under-the-table practice further proves that independent shops are at a disadvantage and manufacturers are not disclosing information equally.
The bill sponsor, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (Mercer), spoke on the floor: "As cars have become more technically advanced, manufacturers have been able to get an unfair advantage by forcing owners to rely on dealerships for even the most routine maintenance. Every motorist should have access to the array of diagnostic codes locked into a vehicle's computer and decide for themselves who they want to service their vehicle. It is time to break the monopoly dealerships and manufacturers have held on car maintenance for too long."
This measure passed 49-22, with eight abstentions. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
Revised toll hike proposal
After an unsuccessful attempt by Gov. Jon Corzine to pass a proposal that included a 800 percent toll hike over 14 years to pay down state debt, buy open space and fund transportation projects, the New Jersey Turnpike has approved a revised plan. The proposal will raise tolls on the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway twice, in 2008 and 2012, while eliminating a proposed increase for 2023.
The toll for the average truck trip on the New Jersey Turnpike will increase by $2.05 in 2008 and $3.75 in 2012. The toll for the average truck trip on the Garden State Parkway will increase by 60 cents in 2008 and 95 cents in 2012. That is a 40 percent increase for the first adjustment compounded by an additional 53 percent in 2012. Overall, this is roughly a 115 percent increase once the hikes are fully implemented in 2012.
A new 5 percent discount will apply to truckers who use EZ Pass during off-peak hours. There are 20 hours of off-peak per day (seven days a week) as only 7-9 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. are considered peak hours. Gov. Corzine is expected to provide final approval to the plan, which will go in to effect around the first of December of this year.
Gov. Corzine was presented a list of pared-down transportation projects including widening sections of the Turnpike and some expansions to the Parkway. The plan also includes a $1.25 billion contribution to a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River -- a part of the plan that has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers who say that it is illegal to pay for a mass transit tunnel with toll dollars.
Corzine and Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri contend that the construction projects will create thousands of jobs and stimulate the economy. The governor told the public at a recent hearing that the increases are the minimum necessary to maintain safe roads and bridges. Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. said that the cost "will still ripple through the economy at a time when we can least afford it."
