"Right to Repair" headed for Massachusetts November ballot

7/13/2012

The debate over "Right to Repair" laws in Massachusetts will come to an end one way or the other in November, as the issue has been announced for the official state ballot, reports Autoblog.

The "Right to Repair" movement mainly consists of independent vehicle maintenance and auto repair shops battling with automakers. Many automakers have introduced software into their vehicles that spits out encrypted error codes. The information contained in these reports is only accessible by the automaker's franchised dealers, meaning service shops and third-party mechanics are left in the dark.

The issue will likely take legislation to change, as the automakers will have to be forced to give the information on the error codes to the independent garages. The Massachusetts version of the law calls for automakers to sell the data to third-party shops within the state.

Advocates for the law tell the news source that the battle in Massachusetts could have broader implications for the rest of the country. "Right to Repair" laws have been debated in other states, including New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. It's thought the legislatures in these state will wait to see what happens in Massachusetts before putting forth formal proposals.