[karr95]

Just pulled this article from NJ Biz:

Mechanics Seek The Keys To Servicing All Cars
By Scott Goldstein
43 min. ago

All mechanics would be able to service any car under a first-of-its-kind bill, passed yesterday by the state Assembly, that’s being pushed aggressively by business and consumer advocates.
The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act, A-803, would give motorists the ability to obtain the manufacturer’s “codes” necessary to diagnose, service and repair their vehicles — eliminating the need for a trip to a dealership for maintenance and repairs.

“As cars have become more technologically advanced, manufacturers have been able to gain an unfair advantage by forcing owners to rely on dealerships for even the most routine maintenance,” said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), a sponsor of the bill. “It is time to break the monopoly dealerships and manufacturers have held on car maintenance for too long.”

If enacted, New Jersey would be the first state in the country to have such a law.

Under the measure, motor vehicle manufacturers would be required to provide owners, car repair shops and the state Division of Consumer Affairs access to the information and computer codes necessary to service a vehicle. Exemptions would be granted in cases where disclosure of the codes would reveal proprietary information.

Dealers or manufacturers violating the law would be punished by fines of up to $10,000 for a first offense, and up to $20,000 for subsequent offenses. The measure passed 49 to 22, with eight abstentions. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.