The Automotive Service Association (ASA) reports that
U.S. Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) introduced legislation
that calls for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) to require the disclosure of all information
pertaining to the fair market value and safety of
damaged vehicles. Stearns is chairman of the Commerce,
Trade and Consumer Protection subcommittee.
The Damaged Vehicle Information Act (H.R. 6093)
would also require that all contracts canceled on a
passenger vehicle because of damage or theft be
disclosed to the public. This would allow the public full
access to any motor vehicle's information. This information
would be available electronically.
The information to be disclosed must include the vehicle
identification number (VIN), date the contract was terminated,
odometer reading on the date of the termination
of the contract, whether any of the airbags were deployed
and the cause of the termination of the contract. Among
reasons for termination include damage caused by water,
collision or fire, and theft and recovery.
Similar legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate
by Senator Trent Lott (R-MS). Lott's legislation (S. 3707)
would require that information held by insurers regarding
total loss vehicles be accessible to the public.
For the full text of both H.R. 6093 and S. 3707, please
visit ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingTheHill.com.
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