US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill

[urq]

I found out about SEMA's SAN operation a couple years ago.  Living in the
State of California it is best to know what the legislature wants to do to
help you help yourself ... :-(

They publish a monthly newsletter that covers automotive hobbyist
legislative issues; I don't remember seeing this one before, but it seems
well aligned to opposing this sort of garbage.  I'd recommend that those
folks from Massachusetts who are opposed to this sort of action to join
SEMA-SAN ... it is free.  If you don't see that they are already active in
their opposition of the practice you can work with them to get the effort
started.  

    http://www.semasan.com

Since SEMA is more into hot rods and the aftermarket industry there isn't
necessarily a strong connection with maintaining used Audis, but I do find
the newsletters informative, and they do send out action notices when
there's a need for the members to speak to their representatives ...

Steve Buchholz

-----Original Message-----
From: Cody Forbes
Sent: Saturday, February 13, 2010 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill

I believe you have this backwards. They are fighting for the OEMs to  
STOP preventing you from working on your own car.

Like Brett said, our own Audi has been developing electronic locking  
fasteners that would require the Audi factory tool to send a signal  
telling the bolt to unlock. They had been justifying it following the  
rash of Audi HID headlight thefts. You think they'd sell the unlocking  
tool at a price you could afford? I doubt it. Others restrict scan  
tool and repair manual availibility.

-Cody (mobile)

On Feb 13, 2010, at 8:43 PM, "Brian K. Ullrich"  
<bullrich at ullrichsys.com> wrote:

> Freakin' MA. Why am I not surprised? In one sense, they are ALL for  
> the
> diversity and liberty of any person, yet in another, they actually  
> consider
> restricting the ability of their own constituency to repair their own
> vehicles in a cost effective manner.
>
> You know, now that I think about it, there is just so much wrong  
> with this.
> How exactly would the manufacturer enforce it? Create "MA" cars?  
> That works
> in limited capacity, where changes are minor, universal, and the  
> market is
> large enough to justify it (a la "CA" emissions cars). I don't see  
> how that
> would work with what is being discussed here.
>
> Besides, doesn't buying the automobile give you a de facto license  
> to repair
> it? Or shouldn't it?
>
> This whole thing is disgusting to me. But then again, I'm from Texas.
>
> OK...off my soapbox. I'm sure I've overspoken, or worn out my  
> welcome on
> this topic, but it just irks me that there are some states whose  
> political
> climate is so polarized as to even consider such a thing.
>
> OK...now I'm really done. I'm retreating into my den filled with  
> hunting
> trophies, life-sized wax figures of LBJ and Sam Rayburn, smelling of  
> Lone
> Star Beer brewed with pure Artesian water, and mesquite-smoked BBQ.  
> I'll be
> hugging my guns, my dog, and my Audis. And remembering the day of the
> Conservative Democrat.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brett Dikeman [mailto:brett.dikeman at gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 6:17 PM
> To: 200q20V mailing list; quattro at audifans.com; s-car- 
> list at audifans.com
> Subject: US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill
>
> http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00/ht00282.htm
> http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/02/right_to_repair.html
>
> It just cleared committee- and moves to voting/discussion THURSDAY in
> the MA Senate.
>
> If you live in MA, PLEASE WRITE YOUR STATE SENATOR NOW.  Fax, email,
> call, whatever (actual written notes tend to impress the most.)  Call
> 'em too, even if you write.  Get your local independent mechanic to do
> the same.
>
> As someone who owns a (non-Audi) vehicle which suffers from pretty
> horrendous manufacturer lock-in on diagnostics, repair info- even
> firmware (a problem when modules/parts bought from the manufacturer
> have no firmware, and firmware is coded to individual vehicles!) this
> IS A PROBLEM.
>
> Manufacturers are doing everything in their power to lock out (or
> 'tax') both owners and indie shops and non-dealer service chains.  A
> couple years ago Audi was working on piezo-electric bolts for
> assemblies...which would only operate with tools that authenticated
> themselves to the BOLT!  Some day you may not even be able to take
> apart your car without paying a license fee.  They are fighting the
> 'right to repair' movement tooth and nail, claiming it would expose
> trade secrets and (horrors!) allow other companies to MAKE PARTS and
> COMPETE!   I can hear your screams of horror now at the thought of
> facing CHOICE when buying parts...
>
> There's a large coalition of parts/service/small business associations
> and chains behind this push, and we can only benefit as owners (I hate
> the word "consumer") and DIY'ers. Check in your state to see if
> there's a similar bill afoot.  More info on the coalition:
> http://www.righttorepair.org/
>
>
> -Brett
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